Cooling Temps Spark Early Fall Bass Frenzy on Lake Champlain

Artificial Lure here with your Friday morning Lake Champlain fishing report for September 19, 2025. Big winds are rolling off the north at 10–15 mph early with cloud cover settling in, and temps dropping into the mid-50s. Sunrise came in crisp at 6:33 AM, with sunset expected at 6:56 PM tonight. These weather swings and cooling water mark the start of true early fall on Champlain, and the bass can feel it—so can the anglers. Just yesterday, Day 1 of the Bassmaster EQ saw Matt Messer haul a five-fish limit of smallmouth tipping the scales at 23 pounds, 9 ounces outside Plattsburgh. He stuck to about a mile-and-a-half stretch of water, culling out multiple four-pounders as the bite stayed steady all morning. Forty-six bags cleared the 20-pound mark, most full of chunky smallmouth. Grae Buck (Green Lake, PA) came in just an ounce behind, blending big smallies with largemouth, and local Alec Morrison of Peru dropped 22-10 of brown bass[2][3][5]. The pattern is clear—**smallmouth are dominating**, fattening up as the fall feed ramps up. Largemouth are harder to pattern with water historically low and wind scattering both bait and fish. Smallies are grouping in pairs and trios, suspended, rarely schooled up in big pods. That means covering water is key today—mobility wins. If you’re launching near Plattsburgh, the north wind will force baitfish and smallmouth into windblown points, humps, and shallower creek mouths. In the South Bay area, check the backs of feeder creeks and rocky drop-offs. Come mid-morning, keep your eyes open for bait flickers on the surface; once you find feeding action, stay mobile and follow. As for what’s working: - **Best Lures:** Dropshot rigs with 5–6 inch worms, wacky rigged in Watermelon Red or Green Pumpkin. The new Pumpkin Spice or Electric Chicken colors are hot sellers. Ned rigs with a mushroom-head jig take shy eaters, while Carolina- or Texas-rigged creature baits (like craws or lizards) catch reaction strikes in the grass. If trophy hunting, upsize to an 8-inch MagDingo Worm in Zombie Blood or Black & Blue, rigged with an Ultrahead Jig or heavy EWG hook for those bottom cruisers[6]. - **Best Bait:** Scented soft plastics outperformed live this week, though folks running shiners for multi-species have seen bonus catfish in the mix. If you’re after walleye or pike, bring some bigger swimbaits; several anglers reported bonus catches when bass fishing with larger plastics earlier in the week[1]. Recent reports show bass action shifting shallower as temps cool—Bill and Cheryl from Tennessee called their trip “epic,” catching double-digit smallmouth in the shallows before 1 PM and heading in early, their arms sore from the action. Expect consistent catches with cooler nights; the deep bite is slowing, and high-number shallow days should keep stacking as fall runs closer[1]. **Hot Spots to Try Today:** - Plattsburgh’s windblown points and rocky shelves—especially the stretch north toward Cumberland Head. - South Ba This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.