Lake Champlain Fishing Report for March 21, 2025: Trout, Salmon, and Bass Bite Strong as Ice Melts

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 21, 2025. The sun's peeking over the horizon at 6:50 AM today, and we'll see it dip back down around 7:05 PM. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-40s Fahrenheit. There's a light breeze coming from the southwest at about 5-10 mph. Now, onto the fishing! The ice is finally off most of the lake, and the fish are starting to get active. Water temps are hovering around 38°F, which means we're seeing some good action, especially for cold-water species. Tides aren't a huge factor on Champlain, but there is a slight fluctuation. We've got a low tide at 10:43 AM and a high at 3:03 PM. Lake trout and landlocked salmon have been the stars of the show lately. Anglers are reporting good success trolling with spoons in 40-60 feet of water. The Sutton 71 in copper or silver has been a hot lure. For you salmon chasers, try working the mouths of tributaries with stick baits or small spoons. Bass fishing is starting to pick up, especially for smallmouth. They're hanging out on deep drop-offs and near rocky structure. Jerkbaits and hair jigs have been producing well. A few anglers have been catching some nice largemouth in the shallower bays using chatterbaits or slow-rolling spinnerbaits. Pike fishing has been excellent in the shallow bays. Big spoons and swimbaits are the ticket here. We've seen some real monsters come in from Missisquoi Bay and the Larabee's Point area. For you panfish enthusiasts, yellow perch are biting well in 15-20 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with minnows or worms are working great. As for hot spots, I'd recommend checking out Mallets Bay for a mix of species. The Inland Sea area has been producing some nice lakers and smallmouth. If you're after salmon, try trolling near the mouth of the Boquet River. Remember, folks, the key to success this time of year is to fish slow and deep. Don't be afraid to switch up your presentations if you're not getting any bites. That's all for now, anglers. Stay safe out there, and tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.