Natural lake

Lake Champlain

Franklin, Grand Isle, Chittenden, Addison & Rutland Counties (shared with NY), Vermont

Lake Champlain forms much of the border between Vermont and New York and reaches into Quebec. It is a well-known bass lake that also holds lake trout, landlocked salmon, pike, and walleye.

Air temp in Charlotte, VT Loading current temperature…

Red pins match the numbered boat launches below. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Lake Champlain (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area328,960 acres

Max depth400 ft

Shoreline587 mi

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Smallmouth Bass●●●●●

Fish rocky shoals and islands in the broad lake.

Largemouth Bass●●●●●

Work weed beds in shallow bays like those at the south end.

Lake Trout●●●●○

Troll deep in the main lake in summer.

Northern Pike●●●●○

Look in weedy bays and the Missisquoi Bay area.

Yellow Perch●●●●○

Ice anglers catch many in sheltered bays.

When they bite

Month-by-month activity for each target species.

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Lake Trout
Northern Pike

SlowFairGoodHot

Boat launches

6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

1Vantines Access AreaFree
VT Fish & Wildlife, 205 West Shore Rd, Grand Isle; concrete ramp, plowed in winterDirections ↗
Malletts Bay Access AreaFree
VT Fish & Wildlife, ColchesterDirections ↗
Saint Albans Bay Access AreaFree
VT Fish & Wildlife, St. AlbansDirections ↗
Keeler Bay Access AreaFree
VT Fish & Wildlife, South HeroDirections ↗
Larry Greene Access AreaFree
VT Fish & Wildlife, SwantonDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See Vermont Fish & Wildlife or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Largemouth Bass Combined with smallmouth; season 2nd Sat June-Nov 30	12 in	5 / day combined
Smallmouth Bass Combined with largemouth; season 2nd Sat June-Nov 30	12 in	5 / day combined
Lake Trout	15 in	3 / day
Northern Pike	20 in	5 / day
Yellow Perch	See Vermont rules book ↗	No limit
Walleye Season 1st Sat May-Mar 15	18 in	3 / day
Crappie	8 in	25 / day
Brown Trout Combined brook+brown+rainbow	12 in	3 / day combined
Rainbow Trout Combined brook+brown+rainbow	12 in	3 / day combined

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (2026 guide on eRegulations) ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (2026 guide on eRegulations) before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Island BaitNearby
71 Hyde Rd, Grand Isle, VT(802) 363-9116 Directions ↗
North Country Bait & TackleNearby
23 N River St, Swanton, VT(802) 868-7843 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Lake Champlain ↗

Local tips

You need the right state license for the water you fish, so check the Vermont and New York line.
The main lake can get rough fast in a north or south wind.
Landlocked salmon run up the tributaries in spring and fall.

Angler reports

Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Champlain.

Loading reports...

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.