Vermont fishing reports
54 reports for Vermont — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Lake Champlain bass and walleye move into post-spawn feeding stride
USGS gauge 01135300 recorded 50.9 cfs on a Connecticut River tributary Monday morning, signaling low, clear flows well-suited to wade fishing and technical presentations. No temperature reading accompanied the gauge; typical early-June Vermont rivers run in the mid-50s to low-60s°F range. Post-spawn bass are the headline this week: Tactical Bassin reports that drop-shots, neko rigs, and crankbaits targeting offshore structure are producing quality fish as smallmouth shake off spawn recovery and push into early-summer feeding lanes. On Lake Champlain, walleye should be in active post-spawn feeding mode, typical for this point on the June calendar. Fly anglers are in a productive window: MidCurrent recently covered Vermont's Battenkill fly fishing scene and featured surface attractor dries and CDC-film patterns suited to clear, pressured water, conditions that parallel Connecticut River tailrace and pocket-water stretches. On The Water's June 5 update notes Northeast water temperatures running slightly below seasonal norms, which may be moderating Vermont's river warmup heading into the week.
Lake Champlain smallmouth enter post-spawn feeding window
Water temps in the Lake Champlain basin are reading 54°F per USGS gauge 04294500 as of June 7, placing smallmouth bass firmly in the post-spawn transition. Fish that wrapped up spawning in the shallows over the past few weeks are beginning to push toward deeper flats, rocky points, and offshore humps in search of a meal. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn bass coverage highlights dropshot, neko rig, and chatterbait presentations as go-to options for transitioning fish holding just outside spawning bays, patterns that translate directly to Champlain's rocky structure. Landlocked salmon remain fishable at 54°F, still within their preferred temperature window, though expect fish to run deeper through the heat of the day as temperatures climb. No flow data was available from the basin gauge for this cycle. Timing the low-light windows at dawn and dusk, aligned with the Last Quarter moon this weekend, will be the key variable for productive sessions on either species.
Bass and trout prime up on Vermont waters as rivers clear to summer lows
The USGS Passumpsic River gauge (site 01135300) logged 58 cfs early Sunday morning, signaling that Connecticut River tributaries are settling into their summer-low range as snowmelt wraps up. Vermont-specific bite reports are limited this cycle, but MidCurrent's coverage of the Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival in Arlington, Vermont this spring reflects an active trout community already working the region's technical streams. Tactical Bassin reports post-spawn bass are producing well right now on comparable inland waters, with chatterbaits and shaky-head worms around isolated offshore structure drawing quality fish, a pattern that translates directly to Lake Champlain's early-June bass bite. Hatch Magazine's current guide to fishing through low-water drought conditions is timely: as Vermont rivers continue to drop and clear, trout will concentrate in deeper pools and become more selective. Plan morning and dusk sessions around the Last Quarter moon for the best shot at active fish.
Lake Champlain smallmouth entering prime pre-spawn window as June opens
USGS gauge 04294500 on the Missisquoi River — a key tributary feeding Lake Champlain's northern arm — logged 53°F on the evening of June 2, placing regional water temps just below the 55°F threshold where smallmouth bass begin moving onto spawning gravel in earnest. No Lake Champlain-specific charter or tackle shop reports came through our feed this week, but The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's May 26 coverage of the Berkshire Hills shows anglers targeting salmonids in deep water with downrigged lures while pivoting to bass on structure later in the day, a transitional pattern consistent with what Champlain fish are likely doing right now. Landlocked salmon remain accessible while surface temps hold below 60°F — that window is narrowing as summer approaches. The waning gibbous moon supports extended low-light feeding activity for both species, making early-morning sessions the priority this week.
Connecticut River Running Lean as Shad Thin Out and Trout Hold Deep
USGS gauge 01135300 on the upper Connecticut River recorded 90.2 cfs on June 2 — lean early-summer flows that are concentrating trout in the deeper holding water. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports that the American shad run along the Connecticut River corridor is "definitely slowing," while carp fishing has surged to a springtime peak at river access sites. Trout at lower Connecticut River stocked reaches are described as "holding and hitting in deeper pools" where cooler water lingers as flows drop — a pattern that typically mirrors conditions on Vermont's upper-river stretches as well. On Lake Champlain, smallmouth bass and walleye are easing out of post-spawn recovery and into early-summer feeding patterns, with June historically producing some of the season's best structure fishing for both species. MidCurrent's recent coverage of the Battenkill Fly Fishing and Arts Festival in Arlington, Vermont, is a timely reminder of the cold-water trout fishery within reach of many Vermont anglers as summer heat begins to build.
Lake Champlain smallmouth eye pre-spawn run as cool water holds into June
USGS gauge 04294500 recorded 50°F water temperature on the morning of May 31, signaling that Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass remain locked in pre-spawn staging mode heading into the weekend. At 50°F, bass are congregating along rocky points, shallow boulder fields, and transitional depth edges, close but not yet committed to full spawn activity, which typically fires when temps climb into the low-to-mid 60s. The full moon on May 31 adds a biological push: expect shallow-water activity to peak near dawn and dusk. No direct Lake Champlain shop or captain intel appeared in this week's feeds, but Tactical Bassin's coverage of post-spawn bass patterns highlights chatterbaits worked over isolated offshore structure and finesse presentations including neko and dropshot rigs, a useful cross-reference for anglers targeting fish staging on deeper adjacent flats. Landlocked salmon remain a viable target on cooler portions of the lake before warming surface temps push them to their summer depth.
Shad run pushing north on the Connecticut River ahead of June
USGS gauge 01135300 clocked the Connecticut River at 155 cfs early this morning — low-moderate flows that keep most wadeable stretches accessible and concentrate fish in predictable seams. The headline this week is the advancing American shad run: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports the Holyoke, Massachusetts section of the Connecticut River already loaded with shad, with white perch arriving as bonus catches on sandworms. Vermont's upper Connecticut River corridor is next in line as the migration pushes north toward June. Trout remain plentiful per the same source, though angler attention has largely shifted toward the shad action. On Lake Champlain, post-spawn smallmouth bass are entering their early-summer feeding phase; Tactical Bassin reports isolated offshore structure, chatterbaits, and Neko rigs producing quality bass across similar northern freshwater systems right now. The full moon this weekend opens aggressive low-light windows on both the river and the lake.
Lake Champlain smallmouth hit peak spawn as temps climb
Water temperature at USGS gauge 04294500 on Lake Champlain registered 55°F on May 26, placing conditions squarely in the smallmouth bass spawn window. Male smallmouth should be actively fanning beds on shallow rocky and gravel substrate, with larger females moving through transition edges. Wired 2 Fish's overview of post-spawn bass behavior notes that fish coming off beds split sharply between aggressive feeders and finesse-only biters, so presentations should stay flexible as the cycle progresses. Tactical Bassin's smallmouth playbook for clear-water fisheries emphasizes soft plastic tubes and drop-shots in natural colors when fish are locked on beds in the 55 to 65°F band. Landlocked salmon, meanwhile, are likely pressing deeper as late-May surface temps rise, making vertical jigging and trolling at depth the more reliable approach. No Lake Champlain-specific shop or charter reports were available in this update cycle; the picture below draws on gauge data and regional smallmouth coverage from Tactical Bassin and Wired 2 Fish.
Shad pushing north on the Connecticut River as Champlain bass fire post-spawn
The Connecticut River's spring shad run is in full stride. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports the river is 'the most popular fishing destination at this time,' with shad filling stretches from Middletown north through Holyoke, Massachusetts, a push that historically carries well into Vermont by late May. USGS gauge 01135300 shows the upper watershed flowing at a moderate 99.4 cfs this afternoon, with water temperature data unavailable from automated sensors. On the lake side, Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass are transitioning through the post-spawn window typical for this week of the season. Per Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn bass breakdown, some fish are gorging aggressively while others are holding spooky and shallow near fry. No direct Lake Champlain charter or shop reports came through our feeds this cycle, but the waxing gibbous moon favors active evening feeds across the region's shallow flats and boulder fields.
Champlain smallmouth in pre-spawn staging ahead of Memorial Day weekend
Water temperature hit 51°F at USGS gauge 04294500 on May 25, placing Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass squarely in pre-spawn territory. Smallmouth typically begin bedding when temps climb past 55°F, so this week finds fish schooled on transitional rock-and-gravel structure, feeding aggressively before the move to spawning grounds. Tactical Bassin notes that in clear northern fisheries comparable to Champlain, prespawn smallmouth school together on staging flats and points, making them receptive to swimbaits and blade baits that cover water efficiently. Regionally, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports bass action "keeps steadily improving" as waters warm, with Keitech-style swimbaits and paddletails producing alongside live shiners. Landlocked salmon, which thrive in water below 55°F, should be actively feeding near surface and mid-column. No specific Champlain-basin charter or shop intel surfaced this cycle; the outlook draws on regional NE freshwater reports and gauge data.
Vermont's Connecticut River shad run peaks with bass in post-spawn transition
The Connecticut River is running at 107 cfs at USGS gauge 01135300 this morning — low, clear flows that mark the end of spring runoff and signal prime conditions for the late-May shad migration. Downstream in Connecticut, Fishin' Factory 3 (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) confirms shad are actively moving through Connecticut River sections, a northward push that tracks into Vermont through late May. Largemouth bass are described as deep in the spawn and 'trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' while Fisherman's World (same source) reports that largemouth and smallmouth action is 'steadily improving' as water warms, with Keitech swimbaits and paddletail lures among the top-producing artificials. Wired 2 Fish notes post-spawn bass split into two behavioral camps: some gorging aggressively near shad spawns, others staying shallow and spooky — a finesse-first approach covers both. No Lake Champlain-specific reports reached us this cycle.
Lake Champlain smallmouth on the pre-spawn edge as late-May temps tick up
Water at 52°F per USGS gauge 04294500 as of early Sunday morning — Lake Champlain's smallmouth bass are sitting right below the 55°F threshold that typically pushes Vermont fish to spawning beds. No direct Champlain charter or shop reports reached this cycle's intel feeds, but regional New England freshwater signals point to building momentum: Fisherman's World (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) noted that largemouth and smallmouth action "keeps steadily improving" at comparable lake fisheries as water climbs from a cold spring, with shiners and Keitech-style swim baits leading the catch. Tactical Bassin's breakdown of top smallmouth producers for northern clear-water fisheries highlights covering water quickly during prespawn, when fish school on staging structure. Landlocked salmon remain a strong secondary target — the low 50s fall squarely in their comfort zone before the summer thermocline deepens. First Quarter moon this weekend should sharpen low-light feeding windows for both species.