October 18, 2025 • 3 mins
Artificial Lure here, with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Saturday, October 18th, 2025.
First light broke over the lake right at 7:14 AM, with sunset tonight coming around 6:09 PM. You’ll have about 11 hours of good daylight to wet a line. The sky is partly cloudy, with a few misty pockets lingering in the valleys and temps starting in the low 40s, warming to the upper 50s this afternoon – ideal for fall fishing. Winds are expected to stay calm out of the northwest, 5-8 mph. It’s been a dry stretch for our region, and Vermont Daily Chronicle notes water levels are lower than usual due to drought, so expect exposed shoreline and slightly tougher launches for larger boats.
Lake Champlain isn’t a tidal lake, but those lower water levels will definitely nudge fish into deeper channels and along abrupt drop-offs. If you’re launching from the western edge around Plattsburgh, you’ll find good access and some protected coves, while New York’s Point Au Roche State Park offers plenty of natural shoreline and undeveloped habitat for casting from the bank.
Recent catches have been mixed but encouraging. Bass anglers have been reporting a solid late fall bite, with smallmouth moving out to 15-25 feet and largemouth hanging near what weed edges remain. Local chatter plus this week’s Spreaker podcast recap mention “steady numbers” of smallies up to three pounds north of Valcour Island and scattered largemouth toward Missisquoi Bay. Walleye haven’t turned on strongly yet, but a few mid-October fish have come from the deeper holes near the ferry crossing and just outside the Cumberland Head area, mostly hitting jigs tipped with nightcrawler.
Northern pike and pickerel are getting more active with cooling water. Several catches in the six to nine-pound range came from near the mouth of the Saranac River and the South Lake south of Crown Point, local Ticonderoga shops and Norm’s Bait & Tackle confirm. Perch and panfishing activity remains solid, especially in the protected shallows off Malletts Bay – folks are filling buckets with mixed yellows and a handful of slab crappie.
Best lures for the conditions today:
- For bass, downsize to **quarter-ounce football jigs**, **tube baits** in pumpkinseed or watermelon, and **drop shot rigs** with finesse worms.
- For walleye, a **chartreuse jig head** with 3” paddletail or live bait (nightcrawlers especially) works best on the steeper ledges.
- Pike and pickerel: **silver minnow spoons**, **white spinnerbaits** and **soft jerkbaits** mimic the late-season baitfish schools.
- Perch and panfish: stick to **small hair jigs**, **Minnow-tipped ice spoons**, and classic bits of cut nightcrawler under a float.
A couple hot spots to check out:
- **Valcour Island’s east drop-off** for solid smallmouth action throughout the morning.
- The **South Bay marshes and weedlines** for big pike and occasional largemouth in shallower pockets.
Remember, launch early for the best chance before sun warms the shallows. Stay alert to changing wind, especially mid-afternoon.
Thanks for tuning in – be sure to subscribe for tomorrow’s report and send in those bragging-rights photos. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
First light broke over the lake right at 7:14 AM, with sunset tonight coming around 6:09 PM. You’ll have about 11 hours of good daylight to wet a line. The sky is partly cloudy, with a few misty pockets lingering in the valleys and temps starting in the low 40s, warming to the upper 50s this afternoon – ideal for fall fishing. Winds are expected to stay calm out of the northwest, 5-8 mph. It’s been a dry stretch for our region, and Vermont Daily Chronicle notes water levels are lower than usual due to drought, so expect exposed shoreline and slightly tougher launches for larger boats.
Lake Champlain isn’t a tidal lake, but those lower water levels will definitely nudge fish into deeper channels and along abrupt drop-offs. If you’re launching from the western edge around Plattsburgh, you’ll find good access and some protected coves, while New York’s Point Au Roche State Park offers plenty of natural shoreline and undeveloped habitat for casting from the bank.
Recent catches have been mixed but encouraging. Bass anglers have been reporting a solid late fall bite, with smallmouth moving out to 15-25 feet and largemouth hanging near what weed edges remain. Local chatter plus this week’s Spreaker podcast recap mention “steady numbers” of smallies up to three pounds north of Valcour Island and scattered largemouth toward Missisquoi Bay. Walleye haven’t turned on strongly yet, but a few mid-October fish have come from the deeper holes near the ferry crossing and just outside the Cumberland Head area, mostly hitting jigs tipped with nightcrawler.
Northern pike and pickerel are getting more active with cooling water. Several catches in the six to nine-pound range came from near the mouth of the Saranac River and the South Lake south of Crown Point, local Ticonderoga shops and Norm’s Bait & Tackle confirm. Perch and panfishing activity remains solid, especially in the protected shallows off Malletts Bay – folks are filling buckets with mixed yellows and a handful of slab crappie.
Best lures for the conditions today:
- For bass, downsize to **quarter-ounce football jigs**, **tube baits** in pumpkinseed or watermelon, and **drop shot rigs** with finesse worms.
- For walleye, a **chartreuse jig head** with 3” paddletail or live bait (nightcrawlers especially) works best on the steeper ledges.
- Pike and pickerel: **silver minnow spoons**, **white spinnerbaits** and **soft jerkbaits** mimic the late-season baitfish schools.
- Perch and panfish: stick to **small hair jigs**, **Minnow-tipped ice spoons**, and classic bits of cut nightcrawler under a float.
A couple hot spots to check out:
- **Valcour Island’s east drop-off** for solid smallmouth action throughout the morning.
- The **South Bay marshes and weedlines** for big pike and occasional largemouth in shallower pockets.
Remember, launch early for the best chance before sun warms the shallows. Stay alert to changing wind, especially mid-afternoon.
Thanks for tuning in – be sure to subscribe for tomorrow’s report and send in those bragging-rights photos. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Artificial lure. Here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Saturday,
October eighteenth, twenty twenty five. First light broke over the
lake right at seven to fourteen am, with sunset tonight
coming around six zero nine pm. You'll have about eleven
hours of good daylight to wet a line. The sky
is partly cloudy, with a few misty pockets lingering in
(00:21):
the valleys, and tempts starting in the low forties warming
to the upper fifties this afternoon. Ideal for fall fishing.
Winds are expected to stay calm out of the northwest
five to eight miles per hour. It's been a dry
stretch for our region and Vermont Daily Chronicle notes water
levels are lower than usual due to drought, so expect
exposed shoreline and slightly tougher launches for larger boats. Lake
(00:51):
Champlain is in a tidal lake, but those lower water
levels will definitely nudge fish into deeper channels and a
long abrupt drop offs. If you're launishing from the western
edge around Plattsburg, you'll find good access and some protected coves.
While New York's Point a Roche State Park offers plenty
of natural shoreline an undeveloped habitat for casting from the bank.
(01:13):
Recent catches have been mixed but encouraging. Bass Anglers have
been reporting a solid late fall bite, with small mouth
moving out to fifteen to twenty five feet and largemouth
thanging near what weed edges remain local chatter plus. This
week's Spreaker podcast recap mentioned steady numbers of small eyes
up to three pounds north of Valcore Island and scattered
(01:35):
largemouth towards missus Quall Bay. While I haven't turned on
strongly yet, but a few mid October fish have come
from the deeper holes near the Ferry crossing and just
outside the Cumberland Head area, mostly hitting jigs tipped with
night collar. Northern pike and pickerel are getting more active
with cooling water. Several catches in the six to nine
pound range came from near the mouth of the Saranac
(01:57):
River and the South Lake south of Crown Point. Local
to Conderoga shops and norms bait and Tackle confirm. Perch
and pan fishing activity remain solid, especially in the protected
shallows off Mallet's Bay. Folks are filling buckets with mixed
yellows and a handful of slab crappy. Best lures for
the conditions today for bass downsize to quarter ounts, football jigs,
(02:20):
two baits and pumpin seed or watermelon and dropshot rigs
with finest worms. For walleye, a chartreuse jighead with three
paddle tail or live bait. Nightcrawlers especially works best on
the steeper ledges. Pike and pickerel, silver minnow spoons, white
spinner baits and soft jerk baits mimic the late season
(02:42):
baitfish schools, perch and panfish, stick to small hair jigs,
minnow tipped ice spoons and classic bits of cut night
crawler under a float. A couple hot spots to check
out the Valcour Islands East drop off for solid smallmouth
(03:08):
action throughout the morning, the South Bay marshes and weed
lines for big pike and occasional largemouth in shallower pockets.
Remember launch early for the best chance before sun warms
the shallows. Stay alert to changing wind, especially mid afternoon.
Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe for tomorrow's
(03:31):
report and send in those bragging rights photos. This has
been a quiet please production. For more check out Quiet
please dot ai
Artificial lure. Here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Saturday,
October eighteenth, twenty twenty five. First light broke over the
lake right at seven to fourteen am, with sunset tonight
coming around six zero nine pm. You'll have about eleven
hours of good daylight to wet a line. The sky
is partly cloudy, with a few misty pockets lingering in
(00:21):
the valleys, and tempts starting in the low forties warming
to the upper fifties this afternoon. Ideal for fall fishing.
Winds are expected to stay calm out of the northwest
five to eight miles per hour. It's been a dry
stretch for our region and Vermont Daily Chronicle notes water
levels are lower than usual due to drought, so expect
exposed shoreline and slightly tougher launches for larger boats. Lake
(00:51):
Champlain is in a tidal lake, but those lower water
levels will definitely nudge fish into deeper channels and a
long abrupt drop offs. If you're launishing from the western
edge around Plattsburg, you'll find good access and some protected coves.
While New York's Point a Roche State Park offers plenty
of natural shoreline an undeveloped habitat for casting from the bank.
(01:13):
Recent catches have been mixed but encouraging. Bass Anglers have
been reporting a solid late fall bite, with small mouth
moving out to fifteen to twenty five feet and largemouth
thanging near what weed edges remain local chatter plus. This
week's Spreaker podcast recap mentioned steady numbers of small eyes
up to three pounds north of Valcore Island and scattered
(01:35):
largemouth towards missus Quall Bay. While I haven't turned on
strongly yet, but a few mid October fish have come
from the deeper holes near the Ferry crossing and just
outside the Cumberland Head area, mostly hitting jigs tipped with
night collar. Northern pike and pickerel are getting more active
with cooling water. Several catches in the six to nine
pound range came from near the mouth of the Saranac
(01:57):
River and the South Lake south of Crown Point. Local
to Conderoga shops and norms bait and Tackle confirm. Perch
and pan fishing activity remain solid, especially in the protected
shallows off Mallet's Bay. Folks are filling buckets with mixed
yellows and a handful of slab crappy. Best lures for
the conditions today for bass downsize to quarter ounts, football jigs,
(02:20):
two baits and pumpin seed or watermelon and dropshot rigs
with finest worms. For walleye, a chartreuse jighead with three
paddle tail or live bait. Nightcrawlers especially works best on
the steeper ledges. Pike and pickerel, silver minnow spoons, white
spinner baits and soft jerk baits mimic the late season
(02:42):
baitfish schools, perch and panfish, stick to small hair jigs,
minnow tipped ice spoons and classic bits of cut night
crawler under a float. A couple hot spots to check
out the Valcour Islands East drop off for solid smallmouth
(03:08):
action throughout the morning, the South Bay marshes and weed
lines for big pike and occasional largemouth in shallower pockets.
Remember launch early for the best chance before sun warms
the shallows. Stay alert to changing wind, especially mid afternoon.
Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe for tomorrow's
(03:31):
report and send in those bragging rights photos. This has
been a quiet please production. For more check out Quiet
please dot ai
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