Frigid Winter Fishing Report: Lake Champlain Smallies, Lakers, and Panfish Crushing Lures in Open Water

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for this crisp winter morning, December 22nd, 2025. Winds howling west at 15-25 mph with gusts to 50, per the National Weather Service—bundle up, it's chilly out there with short days, sunrise around 7:25 AM and sunset by 4:25 PM. Lake's mostly open water still, but ice edges forming in spots like Malletts Bay; check conditions close. Tides running steady today—low around 8 AM near Point Atkinson, high mid-morning per Canadian tides data, then dropping afternoon—fish the current seams for best action. Early winter bite's on fire for smallmouth bass, lake trout, and panfish, just like yesterday's Spreaker report. Anglers pulling limits of 3-6 pound smallies in 20-40 feet off deep points, lakers stacking drop-offs with 23 caught on first ice per Woods N Weeds YouTube, slabs of perch and pike hitting hard too. Family guides noting feisty panfish galore on minnows. For lures, rip lipless crankbaits like the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap in 1/2 to 3/4 oz on stiff jig rods with 15-lb fluorocarbon—Dicky Newberry from Major League Fishing swears by 'em for reaction strikes over grass. Swap to Gamakatsu Nano round-bend trebles for hookups. Live bait? Minnows or worms on jigs for panfish and lakers—yo-yo that crankbait with fast reels or flutter drops to trigger 'em. Hot spots: Deep structure off Colchester Reef for smallies, Malletts Bay drop-offs for lakers—ice might thicken soon. Thanks for tuning in, folks—subscribe for daily updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.