5.0(4 Reviews)Half Day Morning Fishing on Lake Champlain
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Fourhour morning charter targeting trout, bass, and pikeExperienced guides lead trips to Lake Champlain's best spotsAccommodates up to four guests with sunrise departure times
There's something magical about watching the sun rise over Lake Champlain while you've got a line in the water. This half-day morning charter puts you right in the heart of one of the Northeast's premier fishing destinations, where trophy smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, and largemouth bass are waiting. Captain Scott Thurber knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll get you on fish fast. With four hours of guided fishing starting at sunrise, you'll experience the lake when it's most active and most beautiful. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting started, this trip delivers consistent action in waters that have been producing quality fish for decades.
Your morning starts early, but trust me – it's worth every minute of lost sleep. Lake Champlain covers over 400 square miles, and Captain Scott has spent years learning every drop-off, weed bed, and structure that holds fish. He'll pick you up right at sunrise when the water is calm and the fish are hungry. The boat is equipped with everything you need, from rods and reels to tackle and bait. You'll cover different depths and structures throughout the four-hour trip, targeting whatever species are most active that day. The lake stays relatively calm in the morning hours, making it perfect for anglers of all experience levels. Scott's approach is hands-on – he'll help you with technique, teach you to read the electronics, and make sure everyone on board gets plenty of action. Groups of up to four anglers can fish comfortably, and Scott makes sure everyone gets equal time with the hot bite.
Lake Champlain fishing requires different approaches depending on what you're targeting and where you're fishing. For smallmouth bass, we'll work rocky points and drop-offs with jigs, tubes, and live bait. The lake trout action happens in deeper water, typically 40-80 feet down, where we'll jig with spoons and heavy tackle. Northern pike love the weed edges and shallow bays – perfect for casting spinnerbaits and live bait rigs. Largemouth bass hang around structure and vegetation, where we'll use everything from topwater lures to soft plastics. Scott provides all the gear, but if you've got favorite rods or lures, bring them along. The boat is rigged with quality fish finders and GPS, so we can locate fish quickly and stay on productive water. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you might find yourself jigging in 60 feet of water one minute and casting to shallow weed beds the next. That variety keeps things interesting and gives everyone a chance to learn different techniques.
"Captain Scott is an amazing captain! Extremely knowledgeable about the lake and he knows right where to go and get on top of the fish. I highly recommend booking with him!" - Meghan. "Captain Scott was very impressive in his knowledge of the lake and history of the area. Great stories and great guide for a fishing trip. Would absolutely recommend an outing!" - Devin. "What a wonderful fishing trip on Lake Champlain - Scott is a really great guide and companion on a well organized and executed fishing encounter - I would do it again in an Instant!" - Juliusz. "5 hours of excellent nonstop jigging for lake trout. Captain Thurber put me onto fish immediately. Caught too many to count and left them biting." - Steven.
Smallmouth bass are the bread and butter of Lake Champlain fishing, and these bronzebacks fight like fish twice their size. They're most active in spring and fall when water temperatures are in the 60-70 degree range, but you can catch them all season long. These bass average 2-4 pounds, but 5-6 pounders are common, and the lake produces plenty of fish over 7 pounds. They love rocky structure, drop-offs, and gravel beds, and they'll hit everything from tubes to live bait. What makes smallmouth special is their fight – they jump, run, and never give up until they're in the net.
Northern pike are the apex predators of Lake Champlain's shallow waters and weed beds. These toothy critters can reach 40+ inches and provide explosive strikes that'll get your heart pumping. Pike are most active in cooler water, making spring and fall prime time, but they feed aggressively all season when you find them in the right spots. They ambush prey from heavy cover, so we'll target weed edges, shallow bays, and drop-offs where they can hide and strike. Pike fishing is visual and exciting – you'll often see them follow your lure before deciding to crush it.
Lake trout are the deepwater giants of Lake Champlain, and catching one is always a thrill. These cold-water fish live in the lake's deepest areas and can reach impressive sizes – 10-20 pounders are caught regularly, and the lake holds fish over 30 pounds. They're most active in spring and late fall when they move into shallower water, but you can catch them year-round by jigging in 50-100 feet of water. Lake trout fight deep and strong, using their weight and the depth to their advantage. The bite can be subtle, so reading your electronics and feeling the rod tip is crucial.
Largemouth bass in Lake Champlain grow fat and healthy in the lake's weedy bays and protected coves. While not as numerous as smallmouth, the largemouth that call Champlain home are typically thick, healthy fish that average 3-5 pounds. They're most active during warmer months when they move into shallow cover to feed and spawn. These bass love vegetation, fallen trees, and structure where they can ambush prey. Largemouth fishing often involves sight fishing in shallow water, where you can watch the fish react to your
Step aboard the Irish Raider II, a sleek 21-foot Trophy boat that's your ticket to Lake Champlain's best fishing spots. This 2021 beauty runs on a reliable 150HP Mercury engine, getting you to the productive waters quickly and smoothly. The wireless trolling motor lets you drift silently over structure where trout, bass, and pike love to hang out, while the fish finder helps pinpoint exactly where they're holding. Navigate confidently with the GPS system and stay connected with the VHF radio. Built for serious anglers, this boat handles Lake Champlain's conditions with ease, whether you're working the drop-offs for lake trout or casting shallow for bass. With space for up to 4 guests, everyone has room to fish comfortably without tangled lines. The stable platform makes fighting fish and landing your catch a breeze, perfect for morning sessions when the fish are most active.
Salvelinus NamaycushLake trout are the heavyweights of Champlain's cold depths - these char can reach 15-30 pounds and live for decades. They spend most of their time suspended in deep, cold water, often 60+ feet down during summer. Spring after ice-out is your best chance to find them shallow, but most of the year means deep water trolling or jigging. What makes them special is their size and the challenge of finding them in all that deep water. They're also fantastic eating with firm, pink meat. The fight is more of a steady pull than acrobatics, but when you hook a big one, you'll know it. Here's what works: right after ice-out, try jigging deep points and structure with heavy spoons or jigs. They love that slow, vertical presentation when the water's still cold.
Micropterus SalmoidesLargemouth bass are classic shallow water bruisers that love cover and structure. These chunky fish typically run 12-20 inches in Champlain, with that trademark big mouth and dark horizontal stripes. Look for them around weed beds, fallen trees, docks, and shallow coves - anywhere they can ambush prey. Spring through fall are productive, but early morning and evening are prime times. They're incredibly popular because they hit hard, jump, and fight dirty - plus they're not too spooky so beginners have good luck. The meat's decent eating from clean water too. They're opportunistic feeders that'll slam everything from plastic worms to topwater poppers. Local trick: in the weedy bays, try a wacky-rigged soft plastic worm around structure. Let it fall naturally - they often hit on the drop.
Esox LuciusNorthern pike are the lake's apex predators - long, mean, and built for ambush hunting. These toothy critters average 2-3 feet but can push 40+ inches in Champlain's deep water. They lurk around weed edges, drop-offs, and shallow bays where they can surprise prey. Spring right after ice-out and fall are your best shots when they're shallow and aggressive. Summer pushes them deeper into cooler water. What guests love is the explosive strike and hard fight - plus they're just plain cool looking with those razor teeth. Fair warning though, bring pliers and keep your fingers clear! My go-to trick: work a large spoon or spinnerbait slow and steady along weed lines. When you feel that tap, don't set the hook right away - let them run with it first.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouth bass are real scrappy fighters that'll give you a memorable battle on light tackle. These bronze-colored beauties typically run 12-18 inches and 2-4 pounds in Champlain, with females getting bigger. They love rocky bottoms and structure - think drop-offs, points, and boulder fields. Spring and fall are prime time when they're shallow and active, but summer means going deeper for cooler water. What makes them special is that pound-for-pound fight - they'll jump, run, and test your drag like few other freshwater fish. The meat's firm and tasty too if you decide to keep a few. Here's a local tip: when the water hits that 62-65 degree sweet spot in late spring, work a tube jig around rocky transitions slowly. They can't resist it.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Scott is an amazing captain! Extremely knowledgeable about the lake and he knows right where to go and get on top of the f...
Captain Scott was very impressive in his knowledge of the lake and history of the area. Great stories and great guide for a fishin...
What a wonderful fishing trip on Lake Champlain - Scott is a really great guide and companion on a well organized and executed fis...
5 hours of excellent nonstop jigging for lake trout. Captain Thurber put me onto fish immediately. Caught too many to count and le...
Lake Champlain