Winter Wonderland: Champlain's Ice Fishing Bounty

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for all things angling on Lake Champlain. It's December 27th, 8:38 AM, and we're deep in winter—ice is building fast after those frosty nights. No tides on this big lake, but Snoflo reports Vermont streams at just 25% of normal, keeping water levels low. Sunrise was at 7:22 AM, sunset around 4:28 PM, with cloudy skies, highs near 28°F, and light winds per local forecasts—perfect for hardwater but bundle up. Fish activity's picking up under the ice. Spreaker's Dec 26 report notes solid perch and crappie bites through holes, panfish stacking mid-water, and whispers of walleye. BInya OutDoors' YouTube from yesterday landed a northern pike on first ice, plus schools of perch and bluegill peeking at baits—slow start but action by midday near structure and grass edges. Bass are deeper and sluggish post-fall, but Champlain's generous limits let you target 8-12 inchers. New Vermont regs tighten panfish elsewhere for 2026, so load up here. Best lures: 1/32 oz glow spoons or tungsten drop-shot rigs, jig 'em slow. Top baits are maggots, small minnows, waxies, or eurolarvae—tip-ups for pike near shore. If edges soften, try rattling grubs on light line. Hot spots: Inner Mallets Bay for easy access and black ice, Shelburne Bay shallows where perch school tight. South of the bridge if bold, but test ice thick—NEIYA says patchy from Mallets to Burlington via Sentinel-2. Drill safe, respect ridges, check local reports. Thanks for tuning in—subscribe for more! 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.