Ok I am heading up to Champlain in either the spring or summer, havent decided yet, and could use a little info on the lake. I fish mainly for LM but would be willing to fish for the schooling SM..

The SM are a little harder to find.  Where are you fishin out of?  If you're fishin near Ticonderoga, especially in the spring, fish the creeks,  loads of cover packed with LMB's.

If your up on the north end around Rhouses Point. Try floating between Windmill Point south to Reynolds Point on Isle LaMotte. It will take you over Windmill Point Reef, Motte Reef and Goose Island.

The bridge pylons on Rte 2 from New York to Vermont work well too. And the south end of Isle LaMotte. And check out Horseshoe Shoal to the east. Have had real good luck on all these places.

Good Luck

A little clarification. Ok I have never fished this lake before so I have no idea of where to go or even where things are. Where would be the best place to stay? I will be staying overnight and could use some tips on a place to stay!! Also what kind of baits work well?? Black Yamasenko are one of my go to bait. Are the fish in the shallow or deeper, like crank bait deep. When would be the best time to go?? Spring or Summer?? Thanks for any help!

Lemme give you my  ideal Lake Champ:  Mid-late may,  Launch out of Ticonderoga.  It's a nice launch.  The Super 8 there is nice.  Senkos work well.  The water is usually pretty stained. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits should be good too.  If you do go in summer frogs are good.  The south end of the lake has some of the best fishin, in the last BASS pro tourney there, all the top finishers were fishing near Ticonderoga and catchin big LM's.  It's n awesome lake.  Pretty big so break it down, don't launch out of plattsburgh and plan on fishin Ticonderoga, my advice is just stay right in the Ticonderoga area.  It's off I-87

I 'd be happy to send you some GPS spots that would produce you some fish.  I fish Ticonderoga, and South, and Up to the Crown Point bridge.  No secret spots, just the ones I hit when there.  I will be there June 20-24.  

Jamie

I would say mid-June to early July is my favorite time to be on Champlain, all though there is no bad time. (Except for now with 18" of ice  >) For the southern part of the lake, the guys are right Ticondergoa, NY is the best place to stay.  There are no good places close to the lake in that part of VT to stay  :'(.  Spinnerbaits, Senko's, and jigs are all effective.  I also like to run buzzbaits over submerged weed beds.

On the north end, you can stay at the Log Cabin Motel in Rhouses Point. Call ahead to make sure he's open. If the weathers good, we camp. There's a lot of places to stay along Rte 9.

If you hit the spawn, head over to Kelly Bay on the Vt side. There's a boat launch right as you come into Vt on Rte 2. Kelly Bay is good for L/M too. And there are pike in there. Some big ones.

Senkos, tubes and jerk baits work well. On the NY side, around the marinas. black and blue jigs.

Anyone fish in the apple island area? 

I live in that area... 

On ‎4‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 1:58 PM, Gabe9421 said:

Anyone fish in the apple island area? 

I am staying at Apple Island Resort June 1-4.  We are renting a pontoon boat on the 2nd and 3rd.  Could use some tips on productive areas there.