Vermont · United States

Lake Champlain VT fishing forecast

61 Good of 100

Lake Champlain VT is a freshwater fishing spot in Vermont, United States. Anglers here target Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September.

Quick answer

Best monthsMay, June, July, August

Top speciesSmallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike

Score now61/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #333 of 432 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending down — 5 points below this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±7 points, from 7 live signals

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Waves+15.0Barometric pressure+4.4

Pressure trend

Pressure stable — fish feeding on their usual rhythm

Next solunar peak

minor 10:00

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	20.9 °C
Wind	37 km/h from S, gusting 55 km/h
Pressure	1006 hPa
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	10.49 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
UV index	0
Precipitation (24h)	1.4 mm
Wind sea	0.0 m
Ground swell	0.0 m at 0 s

The water here is 2.2 °C warmer than the September average of 18.6 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Lake Champlain VT

Lake Champlain VT currently scores 61 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 20.9 °C. 7 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +15.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Waves +15.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Thermocline +3.0: a defined layer stacks fish at one depth
Gust factor +2.8: gustiness versus steady wind
Moon phase +2.6: lunar feeding rhythm

What’s biting now

The model expects today: walleye, smallmouth-bass, yellow-perch, largemouth-bass, northern-pike, sauger, common-carp, european-carp-entry

Bite windows

Moon

Waning Crescent · 3% lit

Solunar day rating

70 / 100

Best months for Lake Champlain VT:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-08-13, 81/100

18 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Lake · Freshwater

Lakes have no tide, so target structure, drop-offs, and seasonal thermoclines where fish concentrate by depth and temperature.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · beach

What you can catch

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu
Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides
Northern Pike

Esox lucius
Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Best months by species at Lake Champlain VT

Smallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieu
Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides
Northern PikeEsox lucius
Yellow PerchPerca flavescens

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.