5.0(3 Reviews)Extended Half Day Lake Champlain Fishing Trip
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Six-hour Lake Champlain fishing adventure with expert guideTarget lake trout, bass, and northern pike speciesAccommodates up to four guests with prime location access
Looking for a solid fishing adventure on one of the Northeast's premier waters? This 6-hour guided trip on Lake Champlain puts you right where the fish are biting. Captain Scott Thurber knows these waters like few others, and he'll get you on everything from chunky Lake Trout to scrappy Smallmouth Bass. With room for up to 4 anglers, this extended half-day charter gives you plenty of time to work different spots and target multiple species without feeling rushed. Whether you're chasing your personal best or just want to bend some rods with good company, this Lake Champlain experience delivers the goods.
Lake Champlain stretches over 120 miles between New York and Vermont, offering some of the most diverse freshwater fishing in the region. Captain Scott's been working these waters for years, so he knows exactly where to find the fish based on season, weather, and water conditions. You'll spend your 6 hours moving between productive spots, from rocky points where bass ambush baitfish to deeper structure where lake trout cruise. The boat's equipped with quality gear, but feel free to bring your favorite rods if you've got them. Scott's approach is straightforward - find the fish, put you on them, and make sure everyone gets in on the action. The pace is relaxed but productive, giving you time to really work each spot before moving on to the next honey hole.
Depending on what's biting and where, you'll likely be using a mix of trolling, jigging, and casting techniques. For lake trout, Scott often runs downriggers or lead core setups to get lures down to the thermocline where these cold-water fish hang out. Bass fishing might involve working rocky shorelines with jigs and soft plastics, or casting spinnerbaits around weed edges. Northern pike love the shallower bays, especially around vegetation, where they'll smash spoons and large swimbaits. Scott's got all the gear dialed in, from rod selections to lure colors that work best in Champlain's varying water clarity. The lake's structure is perfect for holding fish - you've got everything from shallow flats to deep drop-offs, rocky reefs to weed beds. Each spot requires a different approach, and that's what makes this extended trip so productive.
"Great trip, got plenty of large Lake Trout and some very fun Smallmouth Bass that were very fun and was in my son's bucket list of fish to catch. Captain was great, knew right where to take us to hook plenty of fish, would definitely book again." - Christian
"He knows the lake and hot spots like the back of his hand" - John
"Hired captain Scott to take my son out fishing (while my husband and I tagged along for the boat ride). We all had an excellent time! My son can't wait to go again with Captain Scott next year!" - Meghan
Lake Trout are the crown jewel of Lake Champlain, and for good reason. These native char can grow massive in Champlain's cold, deep waters - we're talking fish in the 20-30 pound range, with some real monsters pushing even bigger. They're most active in spring and fall when water temps are cooler, but Scott knows the deep-water haunts where they hold during summer months. Lakers fight with surprising power for their size, making long runs and using their weight to test your drag. The best part? Lake Champlain's lake trout population is incredibly healthy, so your chances of hooking into something memorable are excellent.
Smallmouth Bass in Lake Champlain are absolute fighters. These bronze-backed beauties average 2-4 pounds but don't let the size fool you - pound for pound, they're one of the strongest freshwater fish you'll tangle with. They love the lake's rocky structure and are most aggressive from late spring through early fall. Smallies will hit everything from tubes and grubs to topwater baits, and their acrobatic fights make them a favorite among serious anglers. The lake's clear water and abundant forage means these bass are fat and healthy, with plenty of fish in the 4-5 pound range to keep things interesting.
Largemouth Bass prefer the lake's weedy bays and backwaters, where they can ambush prey from cover. Champlain's largemouths don't get quite as big as their smallmouth cousins on average, but they make up for it with explosive strikes and bulldogging fights in shallow water. Spring and early summer are prime time when they're up shallow for the spawn, but Scott knows the deeper weed edges where they hold during hot weather. These fish respond well to spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and topwater lures, especially around dawn and dusk.
Northern Pike are the lake's apex predator, and hooking into one is always exciting. These toothy critters can exceed 40 inches and 15 pounds in Champlain, with their aggressive nature making them a blast to target. Pike prefer the lake's weedy bays and drop-offs adjacent to shallow water, where they ambush everything from perch to small bass. They'll hit large spoons, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits with violent strikes that'll get your heart pumping. Spring through fall offers the best pike action, with fall being especially productive when they're feeding heavily before winter.
American Yellow Perch might be smaller than the other species, but they're incredibly fun to catch and excellent table fare. Champlain's perch run in schools, so when you find them, you can often catch them steadily. They're most active during cooler months and prefer deeper water with structure. Perch average 8-12 inches but the lake produces some real jumbos over a pound. They
The Irish Raider II is your ticket to serious fishing action on Lake Champlain's legendary waters. This 21-foot Trophy boat packs a reliable 150HP Mercury engine that'll get you to the hottest fishing spots where the bass are biting and the northern pike are lurking. Built in 2021, she's equipped with everything you need for a productive day on the water - a wireless trolling motor for those stealthy approaches to structure, GPS to mark your honey holes, VHF radio for safety, and a fish finder that'll show you exactly where the lake trout are holding. With room for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to work the rods without getting tangled up. Whether you're casting for smallmouth around the rocky points or trolling the deeper channels for those trophy lake trout, this boat handles Lake Champlain's conditions with ease.
Perca FlavescensYellow perch are the bread-and-butter fish of Lake Champlain - reliable, tasty, and perfect for families. These golden fish with dark vertical bars typically measure 8-12 inches and travel in schools, so when you find one, you'll usually find more. They hang around weed beds, docks, and shallow structure most of the year, though they move deeper in summer heat. Perch are fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're also great for kids since they bite readily on simple rigs. Use small jigs tipped with worms or minnows, and here's my secret: when you catch your first perch, stay put and work the area thoroughly. Schools often contain 50+ fish, so keep your bait in the strike zone.
Salvelinus NamaycushLake trout are the deep-water giants of Champlain, reaching 20-30 pounds in these cold depths. They're char, not true trout, with grey-green coloring and cream-colored spots. You'll find them suspended over deep basins or hugging bottom structure in 60-100+ feet of water. Early season right after ice-out is prime time when they're shallow, but summer means going deep with downriggers or heavy jigs. What draws anglers is the chance at a true trophy fish with incredible stamina and excellent eating quality. The key is finding the thermocline where water temps drop - that's where baitfish concentrate and lakers hunt. Vertical jigging with spoons or swimbaits works well, but patience is essential since these fish move slowly in cold water.
Micropterus SalmoidesLargemouth bass are the classic game fish - green with a bucket mouth and plenty of attitude. They average 2-5 pounds in Champlain and love shallow, weedy areas around docks, fallen trees, and vegetation beds. Spring through fall are productive, with early morning and evening being peak times. What makes largemouth special is their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights, plus they're surprisingly good eating from clean water like this. They'll hit everything from topwater poppers to plastic worms, but they're structure-oriented fish. My favorite approach is flipping soft plastics into heavy cover where other anglers won't go - that's where the bigger fish hide. Work your bait slowly and be ready for that explosive strike when it comes.
Esox LuciusNorthern pike are Lake Champlain's apex predators - long, torpedo-shaped fish with razor-sharp teeth and an attitude to match. They average 24-30 inches but can push 40+ inches in these waters. Look for them around weed beds, drop-offs, and shallow bays where they ambush prey. Spring right after ice-out and fall are your best shots when they're hunting aggressively in cooler water. What guests love about pike fishing is the explosive strikes and powerful runs - plus they're not picky eaters. Use a steel leader or heavy fluorocarbon to prevent bite-offs. My go-to technique is casting spoons or large swimbaits near structure, then retrieving with an erratic stop-and-go action that mimics wounded baitfish.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouth bass are scrappy fighters that'll give you a real battle on light tackle. These bronze-colored fish with dark vertical stripes typically run 12-18 inches and love rocky areas, drop-offs, and points around the lake. Spring and fall are prime time when they're active in shallower water - summer pushes them deeper where it's cooler. What makes smallies special is their incredible fight-to-size ratio and clean, firm meat that's excellent eating. They hit everything from tube jigs to live minnows, but here's a local tip: when you're fishing rocky structure in 15-20 feet of water, try a small jig with a grub tail worked slowly along the bottom. These fish are ambush predators, so let your bait sit for a few seconds between hops.
5.0 out of 5.0Great trip, got plenty of large Lake Trout and some very fun Smallmouth Bass that were very fun and was in my son’s bucket list of...
He knows the lake and hot spots like the back of his hand
Hired captain Scott to take my son out fishing (while my husband and I tagged along for the boat ride). We all had an excellent ti...
Lake Champlain