"Late Summer Bite on Lake Champlain: Smallies, Largemouth, and More - Artificial Lure Fishing Report"

Lake Champlain anglers woke up to a crisp, late summer morning this Friday, September 5th, 2025. Sunrise hit the water right around 6:19 a.m., with skies clearing off overnight and temps starting out in the upper 60s. Forecasts called for sunny skies and a high near 81°F—almost perfect for an early fall bite. Winds were light out of the southwest, so expect calm conditions, and with the lake running about a foot below average after a dry August, shallow structure sets up especially well today according to the Upper Saranac Foundation. No tide forecast is necessary here, but watch the water level near launch ramps and shoreline weed beds as receding lake edges concentrate bass and panfish. Water clarity is excellent in most bays, and the morning, with low boat traffic, is prime time. Lately, bass fishing has been the main draw. Just yesterday, Advanced Bassin' Plus reported that the bite for both largemouth and smallmouth is “absolutely on fire.” Luca from Switzerland hammered plenty of chunky smallies on the drop shot rig, and some solid largemouth have been mixed in too. The action has been steady across depths—fish are hitting both deep and shallow, so versatility pays. A surprise twist: even catfish smashed typical bass rigs twice in one day, out near the drop-offs! Throughout recent days, anglers have notched up good numbers using soft plastics—think green pumpkin worms, tubes, and flukes. Local advice from Bassin’ USA says a basic plastic worm (Texas or drop shot) will catch Champlain bass in almost every condition. Don’t forget Keitech-style shad impact jerkbaits for topwater follow-up, especially with the calmer weather. For crankbait fans, midsize shad or perch patterns keep moving fish interested, especially when worked along rock piles or inside the autumn weedlines. Best bait selections right now: - **Soft plastics** in natural colors (green pumpkin, watermelon) - **Drop shot rigged worms** - **Topwater walking baits** for low-light periods - **Live craws and shiners** if you’re after the multi-species bite Reports are still light on walleye, and trout action slows as lake temps stay warm, but catfish and perch are becoming increasingly active in evening hours. The northern pike bite has also picked up along the outer edges of milfoil beds—try white spinnerbaits or suspending jerks. If you’re looking for today’s hot spots: - **North Hero Drop-offs:** Early morning smallmouth and occasional walleye. Best hit on a drop shot or tube bait. - **Missisquoi Bay:** Largemouth along the weed lines, with bonus perch schools. Senkos and chatterbaits are killer. - **Outer Malletts Bay:** Pike have been staging near submerged timber, and smallies working rock points at mid-depth all day. Late summer crowds have thinned out, leaving more shoreline, docks, and rock piles for the locals and regulars. Sunset is at 7:26 p.m., so anglers planning to fish into dusk should target transition structure where bass stage, and don’t overlook ripr This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.