Artificial Lure with your Lake Champlain fishing report for October 11th, 2025.
We’re waking up to a classic Champlain fall Saturday—cool and crisp, air flirting with the mid-40s at sunrise and expected to climb just shy of 60 by mid-afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, expect mostly sunny skies, light winds out of the north at 5–10 mph, and calm waters to start the day, picking up a bit toward evening. Sunrise hit at 7:01 AM EDT and sunset will settle in at 6:18 PM, giving us a solid window for casting lines out[National Weather Service Burlington].
Lake Champlain doesn’t see tides like a coastal estuary, but water levels and clarity are solid for fall fishing this week. Surface temps are hovering in the low 60s, which has fired up both the smallmouth and largemouth bite. The recent run of chilly nights has schools of bass prowling the shallows and weed edges on the lookout for baitfish—perfect conditions for anglers who like moving baits.
Now for the action: Just last week, top kayak anglers lit up the leaderboards during the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Champlain. Bailey Eigbrett and Nick Audi cracked the 100-inch mark with their best five on Day 1 out of 37 full limits. Both smallmouth and largemouth were caught in good numbers around points and flats, especially in the mid-lake region. While Day 2 was cut due to weather, anglers reported solid action before the front moved in, especially on steeper drops and isolated rock piles[Kayak Top Baits: Lake Champlain, Bassmaster].
What’s working best right now? The standout lures from this week and last included:
- Z-Man JackHammer Chatterbaits fished in shad or perch colors through shallow grass.
- Berkley MaxScent Flat Worms or Ned rigs—deadly on smallmouth, especially around rocky transitions.
- Strike King KVD 1.5 squarebills and Rapala DT6 crankbaits over submerged structure in brighter colors.
- Topwaters like a Heddon Spook or a Pop-R for those surprise blitzes—especially early morning or around dusk.
Live bait’s also producing: big golden shiners or nightcrawlers under floats pulled a mixed bag of smallmouth, largemouth, and even the occasional northern pike for those working back bays and weed lines[American Bass Anglers].
Recent reports say the north end, especially around Swanton and the Champlain Islands, has been hot for both numbers and size—lots of smallmouth on the chew near rocky outcrops and bridge pilings. In the south, Ticonderoga to Crown Point, largemouth are feeding heavy on craws and baitfish around thick grass beds. Don’t sleep on Missisquoi Bay or the mouth of the Winooski—both are holding solid fish with less pressure this time of year.
Big takeaways from this week:
- Fish are schooling and moving shallower with the bait—look for birds diving.
- Windblown shorelines are your best friend.
- Mix up moving baits with finesse—some days they’ll chase, some days you gotta slow down.
That wraps up today’s Lake Champlain fishing report from your pal, Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss fresh, local tips and real-time updates.
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