St Lawrence VS Lake Champlain

[Matt Bacola]

Planning a family vacation for mid/late June and I’d like to fish with a guide for a couple days. Which would be a better option St Lawrence or Lake Champlain? Are there other options in the area I should consider? Anyone have recommendation for a guide?

[desmobob]

St. Lawrence for smallmouths or Lake Champlain for either or both, depending on where on its 120-mile length you fish.

 

I like your avatar.  I raced in WERA C and D Production and Superbike in the mid 1980s (Yamaha RZ350 and FJ600; mid-Atlantic region).  

[Matt Bacola]

2 hours ago, desmobob said:

St. Lawrence for smallmouths or Lake Champlain for either or both, depending on where on its 120-mile length you fish.

 

I like your avatar.  I raced in WERA C and D Production and Superbike in the mid 1980s (Yamaha RZ350 and FJ600; mid-Atlantic region).  

Thanks, I've done some endurance racing but mostly just track days. Lot's of fun! This new GSXR1000 is an amazing motorcycle...

[J Francho]

I mean, they're both awesome fisheries.  You could also look at Chaumont Bay or Lake George as alternatives as well.  I honestly have a hard time recommending one over the other.  I guess maybe Champlain for the sheer size and diversity.  That and it feels like most largemouth I catch there are usually over 4.

[desmobob]

Lake George is my home lake and I grew up fishing there.  There are certainly plenty of smallmouths, but within a few years of fishing Lake Champlain, I caught many larger than my typical "season's best" were in L. George.

 

But that said, it is one of the nicest lakes you'll ever be on.  Just beautiful and worth visiting to fish or even just to relax/vacation.

 

This is the view of the northern part of the 32-mile-long lake, taken from Black Mountain in Dresden:

 

The southern half is studded with islands.  The water is clear and cold and most all the shoreline is rocky.  There's also good cold-water fishing opportunities there for lake trout and landlocked salmon.

[Matt Bacola]

17 hours ago, J Francho said:

I mean, they're both awesome fisheries.  You could also look at Chaumont Bay or Lake George as alternatives as well.  I honestly have a hard time recommending one over the other.  I guess maybe Champlain for the sheer size and diversity.  That and it feels like most largemouth I catch there are usually over 4.

That's good feedback! Champlain is a bit less out of way so if there's not a clear winner in regard to quality of the fisheries that may be the way to go. I typically fish lakes so I was kind of looking forward to fishing a river for a change... decisions, decisions...

[Boomstick]

Honestly you can't go wrong with either. One reason to choose Champlain would be that you can choose to target largemouths if the smallies aren't biting, but on the St Lawrence the largemouth opportunities are generally more limiting.

[stewa107]

I live in Plattsburgh on Champand it's great but I favor the St. Lawrence for sure. As far as a guide I would suggest Burnie Haney https://burniehaney.com/

He generally sticks in Lake Ontario for bass and he is always on fish. I was his co angler for a tournament once and I learned a lot from him. 

[J Francho]

14 hours ago, stewa107 said:

I live in Plattsburgh on Champand it's great but I favor the St. Lawrence for sure. As far as a guide I would suggest Burnie Haney https://burniehaney.com/

He generally sticks in Lake Ontario for bass and he is always on fish. I was his co angler for a tournament once and I learned a lot from him. 

I shouldda mentioned him!  He's a hoot to fish with.  It's been a while, but we've met up a ton of times to chase green, brown, and silver fishies.  Took him to my home lake (Port Bay) and he smoked them.  The guy is a good stick.

 

[webertime]

I live on Champlain and spend 15-20 days on St Lawrence a season.   Champlain has more options as far as fun.  St Lawrence is sort of a one trick pony, albeit a great trick.  If you're not used to currents it can be frustrating.  Champlain you more options.  Smallies down the largest are there.  Both down then a good guide will get you on the big Pike, Sheephead or even Musky.  

The variable that would push me towards Champlain is the off lake things to do.  Burlington is pretty cool, great vineyards, worldclass beers (like some of the best around), great restaurants.  I know A bunch of guides and a guy the owns cabins.  Message me if you want to and I'll get you their info.  (Guides that win BASS opens and ABA anglers of the year).

[Matt Bacola]

Is there a bass "season" that I need to be concerned with? I saw something about the season not opening until June 18th?

[RichF]

2 hours ago, Matt Bacola said:

Is there a bass "season" that I need to be concerned with? I saw something about the season not opening until June 18th?

Yes. 3rd saturday in June for the St. Lawrence area.  Champlain opens a week earlier but also has an open C&R season on bass beforehand.  Champlain would be my choice.

[TnRiver46]

St Lawrence or Champlain……….. both please!!!!!

[Kirtley Howe]

On 11/18/2021 at 3:04 PM, J Francho said:

I mean, they're both awesome fisheries.  You could also look at Chaumont Bay or Lake George as alternatives as well.  I honestly have a hard time recommending one over the other.  I guess maybe Champlain for the sheer size and diversity.  That and it feels like most largemouth I catch there are usually over 4.

I would avoid Lake George.  Few public launch sites, and high launch fees. Plus extra parking fees. Plus "day use fees" if you are not a local. Plus most launches close early evening, so don't stay out late or you will have problems. At least that was my experience about 10 years ago when I was over there.  

[Matt Bacola]

Great people on this forum! I appreciate all of the input. I'm set up to fish Champlain with Bryan Labelle June 16 and 17. Hopefully I can post pics of a bunch of big bass after the trip!

[webertime]

Tell him Weber says hi.   Labelle is the hardest fishing fisherman I've ever seen.

[cyclops2]

Guides are the only way to go to a new lake and BE SURE you will catch some of what you want. Weather can DESTROY all the time & money laid out.  Special trips are a GUIDE  trip.  His equipment works for him when needed.

 

 I enjoy saying ...........I have caught enough. Lets go in...........It is 10:00 am.   Been there.

[JHTR20]

I'm heading to St Lawrence this June for the first time.  Going kind of blind but I like to explore and DIY.  I bought a map of the area near when we are staying.  We will have my friend's brother in law in the boat a day or two.  Not sure how much of a smallie fisherman he is but he boated a 42" muskie last year.

 

I also raced a RZ350 in the mid 80's mostly in AAMRR.  Wicked fun.

 

[Boomstick]

I have fished the point at button bay on Lake Champlain from the state park. That is an amazing fishing location! We got fish every day, on football jigs and spinnerbaits as the sun was going down and a crankbait or topwater as the sun started to set. The last day I was there was a cool day after a heatwave and fish were biting every single cast. Amazing fishing!

 

I fished the St Lawrence but was relegated to Goose Bay due to the current and being in a kayak. It's all weedy and largemouth there, but we got a few.

[Matt Bacola]

Had a great day fishing with Bryan Labelle (Mega Bass Charter) on Friday. Unfortunately, we didn't get to fish in Thursday due to the wind. Bryan put us on the fish immediately, my son and I both caught bass on our first cast and the morning was fast and furious. We doubled up all morning. I'd highly recommend Bryan if your looking for a guide on Champlain.

[JHTR20]

On 3/13/2022 at 2:24 PM, RichF said:

Yes. 3rd saturday in June for the St. Lawrence area.  Champlain opens a week earlier but also has an open C&R season on bass beforehand.  Champlain would be my choice.

The season starts 6/15.  https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/124969.html  One thing to note also that you are not supposed to target bass, even catch and release, prior to this date.  This was posted on a sign at the ramp in Clayton, NY.  

[JHTR20]

I got back home from my first trip to the St Lawrence this past weekend.  It was all I expected and more.  I hope to go back again.  I never broke the 5lb smallmouth mark but caught a bunch of 4lb smallies one day, like the one pictured here, plus the biggest walleye I've ever caught at 10.25.

[RichF]

On 6/22/2022 at 6:24 AM, JHTR20 said:

The season starts 6/15.  https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/124969.html  One thing to note also that you are not supposed to target bass, even catch and release, prior to this date.  This was posted on a sign at the ramp in Clayton, NY.  

Yep. That date was changed this year. You're also right about the second part when it comes to the river.  Champlain doesn't have that rule though.

[J Francho]

10 hours ago, RichF said:

That date was changed this year.

This actually caught me off guard.  I had read that the date changed, but forgot.  For my entire lifetime, it's usually been the day before Fathers' Day.  The restriction on targeting is limited to Franklin County.  It's no matter, there's plenty of good fishing in the rest of the state.