Lake Champlain is a Lake located in Chittenden County, VT. Starting in Lake Champlain has a total surface area of 415.2 miles. The Lake Champlain has an elevation of 95 feet. Find maps, fishing guides, and recreation info at Guidesly.

About Lake Champlain, VT

Lake Champlain is the 6th largest lake in the country with a whopping 435 square miles of surface water and 587 miles of shoreline. From the north, the lake starts from the mouth of Missisquoi Bay and Richelieu River in Quebec, Canada, stretching southward to the US with New York to the west and Vermont to the east sharing the lake right smack in the middle, until it finally drains to the South Bay near Whitehall, NY. The average depth is just around 65 feet, but there are still parts that can reach depths of about 400 feet, which is said to be between Essex, NY, and Charlotte, VT.

Spanning across two US states and one Canadian province, it’s no wonder Lake Champlain played an important role in both countries’ history and economy. It was named after Samuel De Champlain, a French explorer who visited the area in 1609. Early settlers used the lake as a waterway between trading centers in the communities around the vast lake. It was also a key site for historical events, including the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. By the early 20th century, however, railroads and roadways were constructed, and fewer and fewer people used the lake to transport goods. This was when numerous beach resorts and state parks were developed around the lake, beginning the transformation to what it is today—a popular cultural and recreational destination for holidaymakers.

Another interesting thing about the lake is that one of the oldest fossil reefs (which is said to be approximately 450 to 480 million years old) in the world can be found here. Some of the preserved prehistoric specimens found in the lake include cephalopods, echinoderms, gastropods, stromatoporoids, brachiopods, sponges, corals, and stromatolites. 

All About Fishing in Lake Champlain, VT

When we say “lake monsters’, we meant huge smallmouth and largemouth bass, tiger muskies, northern pike, salmon and lake trout, brown bullhead, and a variety of other popular targets. It is even said that with the vastness of the lake, there are plenty of places for fish to hide. There may be around 80 to 90 species of fish living in the lake, which, unsurprisingly, is why the lake is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts from all over the country. As the whole lake is mostly flanked on both the New York and Vermont sides with mountains, hills, and greeneries, not to mention the equally green islands in between, fishing in Lake Champlain can be relaxing.

Fishing can be done in several ways in Lake Champlain. One can fish on a boat in the middle of the lake via fishing charters available around the lake. These charters are professionally manned and properly equipped to handle whatever species any angler is targeting. You can also stay inshore and still catch some prized fish via the docks and piers scattered around the lake, which are, of course, open for both experienced and beginner anglers. There are also numerous bait and tackle shops around that can provide you with all your fishing needs, not to mention giving you some professional tips—from the best bait or lure to use to specific locations where you can land a particular species you’re targeting.

If you’re itching for a great fishing experience, Lake Champlain is the place to be with so many fishing opportunities in and around this vast body of water. Some of the most popular fishing spots where you can catch some huge lake monsters include the waters around the Law Island State Park, Knight Island State Park (N. Hero), Upper Fish Bladder Island (S. Hero), Woods Island State Park (in Saint Albans Bay), which, incidentally, are also great for fishing while paddling a kayak or a canoe.

Fishing Seasonality

The season and the water temperature dictate the behaviors of all the fish living in the lake, and this will, of course, can affect your fishing experience in Lake Champlain. So if you’re targeting a particular fish, you will need to know the prime months to catch specific fish species. 

April, May, October, and November are the best months to land a smallmouth bass. For largemouth bass, May, June, and September are said to be when this particular bass is most actively biting. If you’re going to be targeting aggressive Northern Pikes, you may want to visit the lake in May, September, up to early October. Atlantic and brown trout fishing is said to be the best in April, May, October, and November. Lakers, on the other hand, can be caught through trolling between April and May while June and August are the best months to go jigging. 

Fishing Seasonality

The season and the water temperature dictate the behaviors of all the fish living in the lake, and this will, of course, can affect your fishing experience in Lake Champlain. So if you’re targeting a particular fish, you will need to know the prime months to catch specific fish species. 

April, May, October, and November are the best months to land a smallmouth bass. For largemouth bass, May, June, and September are said to be when this particular bass is most actively biting. If you’re going to be targeting aggressive Northern Pikes, you may want to visit the lake in May, September, up to early October. Atlantic and brown trout fishing is said to be the best in April, May, October, and November. Lakers, on the other hand, can be caught through trolling between April and May while June and August are the best months to go jigging. 

All About Fishing in Lake Champlain, VT

When we say “lake monsters’, we meant huge smallmouth and largemouth bass, tiger muskies, northern pike, salmon and lake trout, brown bullhead, and a variety of other popular targets. It is even said that with the vastness of the lake, there are plenty of places for fish to hide. There may be around 80 to 90 species of fish living in the lake, which, unsurprisingly, is why the lake is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts from all over the country. As the whole lake is mostly flanked on both the New York and Vermont sides with mountains, hills, and greeneries, not to mention the equally green islands in between, fishing in Lake Champlain can be relaxing.

Fishing can be done in several ways in Lake Champlain. One can fish on a boat in the middle of the lake via fishing charters available around the lake. These charters are professionally manned and properly equipped to handle whatever species any angler is targeting. You can also stay inshore and still catch some prized fish via the docks and piers scattered around the lake, which are, of course, open for both experienced and beginner anglers. There are also numerous bait and tackle shops around that can provide you with all your fishing needs, not to mention giving you some professional tips—from the best bait or lure to use to specific locations where you can land a particular species you’re targeting.

If you’re itching for a great fishing experience, Lake Champlain is the place to be with so many fishing opportunities in and around this vast body of water. Some of the most popular fishing spots where you can catch some huge lake monsters include the waters around the Law Island State Park, Knight Island State Park (N. Hero), Upper Fish Bladder Island (S. Hero), Woods Island State Park (in Saint Albans Bay), which, incidentally, are also great for fishing while paddling a kayak or a canoe.