Champlain on Fire: Big Smallies, Largemouth, Walleye Slam the Bite in Early Fall Transition

Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, September 20th, 2025 Lake Champlain fishing report—the kind of early fall morning that makes you thankful for every minute outside. Wind’s light but brisk out of the north, and as the sun started rising around 6:38 AM, there was that first snap in the air that tells you fall is moving in. Expect a high around the upper 60s today, with clear skies persisting until sunset at 6:56 PM. No tides to worry about on the lake, but that north breeze will create some current, especially in the open water and the southern bays. The Bassmaster Elite Qualifier rolled through Plattsburgh this week, and if the pros proved anything, it’s that Champlain is on fire right now for both smallmouth and largemouth. Emil Wagner and Matt Messer stacked back-to-back bags over 22 pounds, with Wagner’s two-day total at 45-11 and Messer right on his heels with 45-9 according to the latest from Bassmaster.com. Wagner alone doubled up on 4-pound smallmouths—said he landed at least twenty yesterday that cracked four pounds and even stuck a solid 5 out on a main lake ledge. Most boats are finding numbers and decent size by following the bite from the offshore humps and drop-offs into the shallower flats as water temps cool. Dropshot rigs with small baitfish imitations—think Berkley MaxScent Flat Worms, Z-Man Trick Shots—have been the winning ticket for big smallies. If you’re after that kicker bite, a Ned rig or a compact tube in goby or smoke colors will still get love. For largemouth, a few boats are finding their fish inside protected bays with thick milfoil—Texas-rigged plastics, punched jigs, or even a frog if you’re working the mats. Don’t overlook a topwater approach in low light—expert Brent Chapman notes that this is prime buzzbait time up north. That commotion up top will pull fish out from under docks and blowdowns. When the sun’s high and the shallows feel cooler, switch to jerkbaits or crankbaits along riprap and submerged grass edges. For multi-species chasers, the last week saw a consistent grind on walleye and pike—some pulling double-duty using big jerkbaits or trolling stickbaits after bass numbers slow in late morning. Reports out of Quebec matched what we’ve seen on Champlain, with good walleye action on deep humps and plenty of pike near the mouths of feeder creeks, especially as we hit cooler mornings stretching into next week. If you’re searching for hot spots, there are two you shouldn’t miss: - **Missisquoi Bay:** Classic autumn transition water, with a mix of rock, weed, and current pushing baitfish into striking range. Early risers tossing topwaters and later throwing swimbaits or dropshots off the points are stacking impressive bags. - **Valcour Island Ledges:** Proved itself this week in the tournament—those complex drop-offs are holding schools of smallies. Watch for wind-driven bait balls and work the breaks from 15-25 feet with finesse gear. In the southern end, the Ticonderoga ‘Ti’ stretch has been pr This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.