Lake Champlain Fishing Update: Smallmouth Crushing It, Largemouth Slowing but Still Biting

Artificial Lure here, your Lake Champlain fishing insider, bringing you this morning’s boots-on-the-dock report for Monday, November 3rd, 2025. We kicked the day off chilly but clear, with a crisp 41°F air temp at sunrise at 7:35 AM—not a bad way to welcome in November. Expect partly cloudy skies all day, highs peaking near 52°F, and only a light southern breeze ruffling the bays. Water temps are holding steady at 59°F on the surface, dropping off quick if you fish around 10-15 feet down, according to SeaTemperature.info. These dropping temperatures mean fall patterns are still in full effect, and the fish are well aware winter’s nipping at their tails. Lake Champlain isn’t tidal, so no worries juggling those moon charts, but if you’re venturing up any of the tributaries, low flows mean fish are bottlenecked in their favorite holes, especially where moving water meets deeper pools. Local sunrise was 7:35 AM, with sunset at 5:37 PM, giving nearly 10 hours of decent light—just enough to hit an early bite and have time for a late afternoon swing if the morning runs cold. Now, onto what you all care about: the fish. Reports rolling in from Lake Champlain United’s forums say smallmouth are still chewing, but they’ve pushed off shallow flats and are stacking on main lake points and steep rock transitions, especially near Split Rock and the deeper stretches off Thompson’s Point. Folks are posting about solid bags—multiple bronzebacks in the 3 to 4-pound range, and a few even bigger, with one lucky angler boating a 5.2-pound giant over the weekend. Largemouth are moving slower but haven’t fully shut off—those working mid-depth grass beds and dock edges in Missisquoi Bay or the shallows near Sandbar State Park are getting action, mostly throwing compact jigs and creature baits. Local sharpies on the United forums mentioned jerkbait and finesse techniques have been the ticket, with a handful of fish pushing 3 pounds. As for best baits: the consensus is bright. A 1/6-ounce marabou jig has accounted for a mess of bigger smallmouth, while others are drop-shotting with Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worms or Flatnose Minnows in natural brown and green pumpkin—imitating the late-season goby and shiner activity. Some are still snapping up fish on soft swimbaits and tube jigs, especially when bounced down steep, rocky slopes. If you’re targeting largemouth, downsized jigs, Texas-rigged creature baits, and weighted green pumpkin Senkos are catching fish in the thicker grass. As usual, switch to a slow drag or subtle hop and keep an eye on your line for those subtle November takes. Reports from tournament recaps on Major League Fishing say the bite is best if you can adapt by the hour—a bit of wind picks up, and the jig bite lights up. Calm and clear? Downsize, go natural, and work those baits slow. For those new to Lake Champlain, here are this week’s hot spots: - **Thompson’s Point**: Deep rocks loaded with smallmouth, especially on sunny afternoons. - This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.