Well, howdy, anglers—Artificial Lure here, coming at you live from the shores of Lake Champlain, where the fishing’s finer than a crisp Vermont maple leaf on a sunny autumn day. Let’s dive into your local fishing roundup for Sunday, October 5, 2025.

## Weather & Water Conditions

First off, the weather’s in our favor today. After morning rain cleared out late last night, we’re looking at a mix of sun and wispy clouds—perfect for keeping both the fish and you comfortable. The water’s calm, still holding onto some summer clarity, but the air’s got that unmistakable Adirondack nip. According to FishingReminder, sunrise lit up the lake at 7:15 am, and we’ll see darkness roll in around 4:14 pm. That gives us a solid window to hit the water before the evening chill settles in. Moon’s a waxing crescent, but don’t put too much stock in moon phases this time of year—it’s all about the right spot and the right bait as we transition toward fall.

## Tides, Timing, & Tactics

Lake Champlain, of course, isn’t tidal like the coast, but the old-timey bite times still matter. For today, FishingReminder pegs the major bite windows from 2:34 am–4:34 am and 2:48 pm–4:48 pm, with minor bites around 10:15 am–12:15 pm and 7:22 pm–9:22 pm. Whether you’re an early bird or a sunset chaser, these are the sweet spots to focus your casts. The best advice I ever got? “If you ain’t catchin’ at sunrise, move deeper.” As the sun climbs, so do the fish—slow-rolling swimbaits and Carolina-rigged craws along the drop-offs can turn a slow morning into a hot afternoon.

## Recent Catches & What’s Biting

Local charters, especially from outfits like Irish Raider Outfitters out of Cumberland Head, have been slaying the smallmouth and largemouth bass all summer, and they’re not slowing down now. The Wood family, regulars with Captain Scott Thurber, landed more and bigger fish than ever on their recent trip. Kids have been out-fishing the adults, proving that sometimes fresh eyes and enthusiasm matter more than years on the water. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are going strong, too—double-digit lakers are getting hooked, and jigging is the ticket for numbers and size. Northern pike (Esox lucius) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are putting up a good fight, especially on warmer afternoons. And don’t sleep on rainbow trout—they’ve been showing up in the catch photos, especially for those trolling early or late.

## Hot Lures & Baits

Let’s talk gear. For smallmouth, topwater poppers and crankbaits at first light have worked magic all season. As the day warms, switch to soft plastics—Senkos, Ned rigs, and creature baits—dead-sticked near rocky structure. Largemouth? Try flipping and pitching jigs and creature baits into the slop and submerged timber. Lake trout? Vertical jigging with heavy metal, like KastKing Speed Demons and Kodiak Custom Jigs, gets you down to the depth where the big ones lurk. Northerns are hammering spinnerbaits and jerkbaits, while live bait—shiners, worms, and crawlers—never fails for mixed-species days. Remember, the water’s still holding plenty of baitfish, so match the hatch with silvery, shad-patterned lures.

## Don’t Miss These Hot Spots

Cumberland Head, NY, is a classic for both bass and trout. Work the rocky points and nearby drops—boats and kayaks both do well here. For lake trout, drift the depths off Maquam and St. Albans bays—plenty of double-digit lakers reported there this week. If you’re shorebound, King Bay and Catfish Bay are sneaky-good for smallmouth and pike, especially at sunrise and sunset. And, heads up: Hatchery Cove, a Grand Isle honey hole, is temporarily closed through November 30—so stick to the open water for now.

## Local Color & Notes

Captain Scott Thurber says the best days are those when you’re catching memories, not just fish. Beginners, families, and old salts are all getting on the board. The boats are clean, the gear’s quality, and the folks are friendly—just what you’

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI