Fishing Lake Champlain's Autumn Glory: Crankbaits, Dropshots, and Trophy Bass

Artificial Lure here with your September 24, 2025, fishing report from Lake Champlain. Early autumn has arrived in the North Country and the lake’s putting on a show, both with foliage and with fishing action. Sunrise hit at about 6:42 AM, and sunset rolls out around 6:49 PM tonight. We’re midway through a calm, classic Champlain fall pattern—skies are mostly overcast with occasional clearing, winds are light out of the north, and temps are peaking in the upper 60s by midday. That keeps surface water temperatures hovering near the low 70s, still warm enough for active fish but cooling quick as nights get longer. There’s no tidal activity on Lake Champlain since it’s inland, but local anglers know the winds and barometer matter just as much. West and north winds earlier this week made for some chop, but today’s gentle breeze is perfect for casting and cruising. Yesterday wrapped up the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier out of Plattsburgh, and the lake saw heavy tournament pressure. Still, anglers are reporting healthy bites with smallmouth and largemouth bass caught throughout the main basin and into the bays. According to Bass Angler Magazine, local kayak angler Bailey Eigbrett just landed a big win on the kayak circuit, bringing home a qualifying berth to nationals and a boatload of nice bass, plenty in the three- to five-pound class. Tournament bags came in heavy this week, most 16 to 19 pounds for five-fish limits, so the bite’s on. The hottest action is coming from midlake grass beds and rocky points, especially northwest of Burlington and over towards the Sand Bar and Malletts Bay. The Inland Sea and Missisquoi Bay also continue to produce, with reports of schooling smallmouth chasing juvenile perch and alewife. Smallmouths are locked in on reaction baits. Chad Pipkens just wrapped up a run on the EQ circuit and swears by burning a Damiki DC 300 crankbait fast over grass and rock patches. “You don’t have to hit bottom—just keep it moving and those smallies will chase it down,” Pipkens recommends. The feedback’s unanimous: erratic retrieves and covering lots of water is key. Mix in stop-and-go cranking to trigger strikes whenever you see bait busting near the surface. If you’re slowing down, drop-shot rigs with minnow-style plastics and live shiners are pulling in both numbers and size, especially in deeper holes near Valcour Island and the Four Brothers. Largemouth are still tucked into thick milfoil and docks, and flipping jigs, Texas-rigged creatures, and chatterbaits are bringing fish up in the shallows. Lake Champlain’s famous yellow perch schools are easy pickings this week on small spinners and garden worms. Northern pike and some accidental walleye have also been taken from weedlines near Point Au Roche and the mouths of the Lamoille and Saranac rivers. Top lures for today: - **Damiki DC 300 crankbait** (for smallmouth, especially around grass and gravel) - **Drop-shot rigs** with small minnow plastics or live bait - **Spinnerbaits an This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.