Winter Fishing Forecast for Lake Champlain: Perch, Trout, and Bass Await Anglers on December 26th

For December 26, 2024, the fishing scene on Lake Champlain is looking promising despite the winter conditions. Here’s what you need to know: ### Tidal Report Today, the tidal times are as follows: low tide at 3:43 AM with a height of 0.85 meters (2.79 ft), high tide at 8:04 AM with a height of 1.08 meters (3.54 ft), low tide at 2:40 PM with a height of 0.84 meters (2.76 ft), and high tide at 7:36 PM with a height of 1.23 meters (4.04 ft)[2]. ### Weather and Daylight Sunrise is at 7:32 AM, and sunset is at 4:08 PM. The moon rises at 3:25 AM and sets at 12:47 PM. Be prepared for cold winter conditions, with possible ice formation in the bays. ### Fish Activity Winter fishing on Lake Champlain is active, especially for smallmouth bass, trout, and perch. Anglers have been reporting good catches of yellow perch, particularly in the mud and muck-bottomed areas and around rock piles and reefs. Lake trout are also active, often found in deeper waters, typically between 80 to 100 feet deep[4]. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Yesterday, anglers caught a significant number of yellow perch, with many in the 8- to 10-inch range. Smallmouth bass and lake trout were also common catches. The perch fishery is particularly strong during the ice fishing season, but even without full ice cover, the bays and deeper areas are producing well[4]. ### Best Lures and Bait For yellow perch, use small jigs tipped with minnows or worms. For lake trout, jigging or trolling with lures that mimic rainbow smelt is effective. Smallmouth bass can be caught using crankbaits, soft plastics, and jigging spoons[4]. ### Hot Spots Shelburne Bay and Town Farm Bay are excellent spots for largemouth bass. For lake trout, the area from Westport to Cumberland Head is highly recommended. Bulwagga Bay near the south end of the lake is a popular spot for yellow perch[4]. Make sure to bundle up and stay warm, and don’t forget your gear before you head out. Good luck on the water This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.