How warm is Lake Champlain on November 6?

About 53°F at the surface on the latest clear reading (on November 6). Shallow coves can run a few degrees warmer on sunny afternoons.

How deep is Lake Champlain?

Around 400 ft at its deepest. It covers about 278,000 acres with roughly 587 miles of shoreline at full pool.

Lake Champlain fishing report: 53°F water, northern pike lead the way

Lake Champlain read 53°F at the surface on the latest clear reading (on November 6). That is right in the comfort zone for northern pike and yellow perch, with northern pike the best bet.

The level was 93.5 ft, steady on the week, 0.9 ft below normal for the season.

Where the season stands

Where does November leave a lake like Lake Champlain? Late fall in the North is the last open-water stretch. Fish gather on deeper structure, the bite gets slower and the weather gets less forgiving. On Lake Champlain at 53°F, northern pike and perch fit that pattern best.

What's biting

Expect smallmouth bass on Lake Champlain to be worth a try. Smallmouth handle cool water well; the 50s often bring some of the biggest fish of the year onto rocky points.

Then there are largemouth bass, a fair bet. In the 50s bass still feed, but in shorter bursts, often on sunny afternoons when the shallows warm a little. Try slow baits on points and deeper channel edges.

Northern pike on Lake Champlain are a strong bet. Cool water is big-fish season for pike and muskie; they fatten up along weed edges and breaks.

Yellow perch on Lake Champlain are in a good mood. Perch school near weed edges and soft bottom as the water cools.

Surface water temperature on Lake Champlain, °F. Each dot is a clear-day reading; cloudy days leave gaps.

Where to start

Our pick to start on Lake Champlain is the back of a cove in 10 to 14 ft of water, marked on the map. Sheltered, shallower water where baitfish gather. Expect northern pike and yellow perch there; try spoon or spinnerbait on the weed edge.

Depth map of Lake Champlain: shoreline, depth shading and contour lines, with today's free fishing spot — **Lake Champlain lake bed.** Darker blue is deeper water; contour lines every 100 ft. The star marks the free spot named in this report (back of a cove, 10 to 14 ft).

See this spot in 3-D

Water level

The level reads 93.5 ft, about the same as a week ago. That puts it 0.9 ft below the usual level for this time of year. A steady level keeps fish on familiar spots, so what worked last week should still be close.

Water level on Lake Champlain, ft, over the last 26 days. Dashed line: normal for this time of year.

About Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain spreads over about 278,000 acres and roughly 587 miles of shoreline at full pool. At its deepest the lake reaches around 400 ft. Anglers come to Lake Champlain for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike. Knowing which fish are comfortable at that day's temperature narrows a big lake down to a few good spots.

How to fish it that week

Set your depth for 53°F water: The surface is 53°F (on November 6). Work the middle of the range early, then follow the fish shallower as the sun warms the water.
Tie on the right bait: At this spot, try spoon or spinnerbait on the weed edge. Northern pike: weed edges and shallow bays.
Work the edge, not the middle: Slow everything down: long pauses, light line, small baits. Most bites come as the bait sits still. Position the boat in deep water and cast up onto the shallow side, so your bait falls down the slope the way fish face.