World class fishing
The sea-cret is out. The Lake Champlain Region is home to some of the best fishing around. From deep corners of Lake Champlain to secluded ponds to trout streams, wherever you choose to drop a line, there is a waterway ripe for whichever species you prefer to fish. You don’t want to be a fish out of water, so read on to learn all our region has to offer!
Lake Champlain is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country! Check out these numbers for a glimpse of why Lake Champlain's fishing opportunities are never-ending:
- 500 miles of shoreline
- Depths of up to 400 feet
- 80 species of fish
- 120 miles long
- And 70 islands
Best in class for bass
Lake Champlain is consistently ranked by Bassmaster as one of the top bass fisheries in the nation for the scenery and quality of fishing — including ranking top 5 in the country! But if you speak with any of the pro anglers, they might give it first!
The best largemouth territory is roughly defined by the Champlain Bridge. The shallows south of the bridge are full of tournament winning bass. Launch your boat right in the middle of the action from either the Port Henry or Ticonderoga state launch sites.
Big fish, small pond
While Lake Champlain is the most obvious spot on the map, don't overlook other hot spots, where the waters are smaller and quieter. We love to fish the Boquet River, LaChute River, Putt’s Creek, the Ausable River, and Ensign and Bartlett ponds in Moriah, and other smaller ponds and lakes with wild settings.
The tiger muskellunge of Lincoln Pond can be just as illusive as Lake Champlain's lake monster, Champ. They're a prize to catch too! From the shore, or from a boat, the smaller bodies of water in the Lake Champlain Region have rewarding fishing and a wide variety of species.
Lord of the flies
You don’t need a boat to cast a line in the Lake Champlain Region! Sure, you can fish from shore at many of the lakes and ponds, but for a real adventure, don’t pass up an opportunity to drop a fly in the famous Boquet River. The trout fishing is exceptional, but the real excitement comes in the spring and fall, when landlocked salmon run.
The landlocked salmon have been here since the Ice Age, becoming trapped inland as the glaciers melted. The population has been thriving since then.
And that’s good for anglers! The best salmon fishing in the spring is below Willsboro with fall runs extending farther upriver.
Leave No Trace and Love Your ADK
The magic of the Adirondacks is the result of previous generations taking a long view and protecting the mountains, lakes, and rivers within the Blue Line. That tradition continues today as we support and encourage everyone to practice Leave No Trace ethics, which help protect the lands and waters of the Adirondacks.
The Adirondacks are massive, legendary, and wild. Let's keep them that way! Learn your Leave No Trace ethics before you go out, and protect the waters that make this place great.
For anglers, that means taking care to not introduce harmful or non-native species to waters, packing out unused bait, and washing equipment between fishing trips.