Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for October 8, 2025, coming to you bright and early before daybreak. Today’s sunrise in the Burlington-Plattsburgh stretch was at 6:56 AM, with a sunset coming up at 6:19 PM, so you’ve got a solid window for those golden hour bites.

Weather’s the big talk this morning: after a streak of blustery days, we’re starting cool—mid-40s at dawn—and forecasted to warm to the upper 50s by afternoon. Winds are moderate out of the west at 8-12 mph, dying off after noon. No rain in sight, and the water’s holding steady in the low 60s. Overall, classic Champlain fall conditions and the fish are tuned in to the season.

Lake Champlain isn’t tidal, but south winds combined with outflows on the north end can push a little current, especially around bridges and narrows. That’s when you want to target points and drop-offs adjacent to weedlines.

The bite is solid this week with multiple sources—including Advanced Bassin’ Plus and recent YouTube fishing diaries—reporting feisty smallmouth action and pockets of largemouth on the Vermont and New York sides. Walleye catches picked up over rocky humps from Isle La Motte to the Inland Sea, and yellow perch are stacking up along the deeper ledges.

Yesterday’s afternoon trip, as recounted by Advanced Bassin’ Plus, saw “bass after bass” coming boatside, with most fish taken on drop shot rigs and Ned rigs pitched to transition zones where weeds meet gravel. Most smallmouth are running 2 to 3 pounds, with several fish over 4 especially in slightly deeper water—think 15–25 feet. Largemouth are hugging what’s left of the pad beds and milfoil mats closer to shore, key in Missisquoi Bay and the Ti shoals.

Lure selection is making the difference. The hottest ticket this week has been:
- Drop shot finesse worms in green pumpkin or smoke with gold flake.
- Ned rigs in brown or green pumpkin.
- Football jigs with craw trailers for the deep humps, especially brown/orange.
- For topwater, a bone-colored walking bait like a Zara Spook or Berkley Choppo is still drawing late-season blowups early and at dusk, particularly when there’s a ripple on the surface.

Bassmaster’s Davy Hite confirms that keeping it simple on color—think shad, craw, pumpkin, and black/blue—works best. Confidence matters more than chasing fancy patterns.

Hot spots? You can't go wrong working:
- The Four Brothers Islands for mixed smallmouth and bonus pike.
- Missisquoi Bay and pelagic flats north to Swanton for big largemouth and late-moving schools of perch.
- The narrows around Colchester and the mouth of the Winooski for consistent smallmouth staging on rocks.

Recent restrictions: Vermont Public mentioned a temporary closure around a key Lake Champlain salmon tributary to help with spawning. Double-check local signage, especially around river mouths—stick to the main lake and you’ll be good.

Bait of choice: live shiners or medium golden shiners on slip bobbers are lights out for multi-species action. But for those chasing quality, plastics are king and drop shot is putting even pressured smallmouth in the net.

Report any invasive catches and be mindful of bird migration as New England’s waterfowl are moving through—keep those navigation lights on at sunrise.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Champlain fishing update with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily reports and tips—there’s plenty more action to come as fall primes the lake.

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