Every tournament angler who launches their boat from Plattsburgh, NY on Lake Champlain has to make a decision. Do they chase smallmouth up north, or make the 90 minute boat drive down to try and catch a limit of fish near Ticonderoga? When you think about it, this travel time means committing to fishing Ticonderoga essentially means spotting other anglers an extra day over the course of a four day tournament. Yet every year, many tournament anglers do just this, because the fishing around Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain can be amazing.
What Makes Ticonderoga Such a Great Fishery?
While Lake Champlain in general is a tremendous fishery, there are a number of factors that make fishing the Ticonderoga area exceptional. Ticonderoga comes from the Indian word for “junction between two waterways” (source) and this means you have two great river mouths right next to each other. There is the La Chutte river in New York, and East Creek in Vermont. Both of these tend to stack bass up just like any other creek mouth would at certain times of the year.
Additionally, there is a deep channel that runs close by expansive spawning flats that are near both of these creek mouths. This provides fish refuge during the summer, and also allows species that appreciate the presence of nearby deeper water (like northern pike) to have a place to call home.
Further, there is a variety of habitat and cover for fish to hide and hunt in. As mentioned, there are tons of weed beds, spawning flats, and creek mouths, but there are also rocky shorelines and points for pre-spawn fish to stage on, and sunken timbers and other reefs that hold fish year round.
Regardless of what type of fish you’re trying to catch, or how you like to catch them, Ticonderoga has some sort of fishing for you.
The Best Fishing Spots on Lake Champlain Near Ticonderoga, NY
I’ve taken the liberty to use Google Maps to show you several good fishing spots on Lake Champlain near Ticonderoga, NY. These are all spots I’ve personally fished and can attest to, but don’t take my word for it. Just try and go there on a busy Saturday and actually be the only boat near any one of these – it’s not happening!
Let’s break down the fishing near Ticonderoga, NY one by one as it relates to this map.
The Breakwater Near the Ticonderoga Boat Launch (1)
Just south of the Ticonderoga boat launch and ferry is a large breakwater. This can be a god send on a windy day as one side or the other is usually sheltered. It’s a popular place to fish, so you’ll want to get there early if you want the best spots.
Both sides of this breakwater drop off into the channel of about 20′ of water. There is a pronounced weed line before you get there on each side. This makes it a very good location to catch northern pike. Additionally, the point of the breakwater can act as a great ambush point that can stack bass and other species waiting for some unwary prey to move across it. Try poking around with a jig or jerkbait in this area.
The Shoreline Along Ft. Ticonderoga’s Eastern Shore (2)
This is a dangerous area as it has some hazards that are marked on most maps. Unfortunately, the hazards (underwater cribs) are just the perfect distance between an outboard motor and trolling motor (ask me how I know). If you aren’t careful, you can badly damage your boat. I would highly recommend that you get a good navigational chart and take it easy in this location. With that said, these same motor killers can hold some of the larger fish in Ticonderoga. I had a huge northern break me off near one years ago.
Spawning Flat Near East Creek (3)
Just north of East Creek is a large flat that covers up densely with weeds each summer. It makes for a decent spawning bay before this happens. Afterwards, it is a tremendous place to throw frogs all year round for largemouth bass. It is impossible to fish near Ticonderoga without seeing a few bass boats poking around in this region. The ample cover near deep water and a creek mouth combine for some amazing fishing.
East Creek (4)
East Creek itself makes for a great fishing trip. Just make sure that you have a VT license, as you’ll need it to fish this area near Ticonderoga. It can be a little challenging to navigate into the creek as beaver tend to like to make some large structures at the first bend. Once you get in, you have more room to maneuver. My ex-wife and I spent an enjoyable day fishing this area and caught a number of fish in the habitat. Just be careful as some people have a bad habit of driving too fast around the corners when there isn’t a lot of room for error.
Largemouth bass can be found in this creek year round, and folks claim huge northerns prowl it early in the year, though I’ve yet to catch one there at that time.
Catfish Bay (5)
Catfish Bay is the bay directly west from Mt. Independence, Vermont. Despite it’s name, I’ve yet to catch a catfish there. What it does have, and in large numbers, are northern pike. Toss spinnerbaits along the weed edges in this bay and hold on. I’ve also found this bay produces bowfin.
Do note that this bay gets quite shallow close to land. I’ve had better luck fishing the outside weed edge which is near the drop off. Northerns really appreciate a good deep water weed line to cruise, which can add to your success.
The Railroad Tracks (6)
You can’t drive up 22N past Ticonderoga without seeing someone out fishing near the railroad tracks that follow the water. These tracks have the same rip rap cover that are so productive throughout the lake, and there are cribs and fallen woods to add to the allure. Throw in some weed beds and you have prime habitat for largemouth bass and chain pickerel. You’ll be able to pick out the cover easy enough – it’s obvious – but don’t be afraid to throw around into areas that aren’t so obvious as well.
Mouth of the La Chute River (7)
The Mouth of the La Chute River holds fish like any other creek mouth. The water is crisp and clear which is a good transition from the stained water in most of the area. During periods of high water, such as early spring, it is possible to go far up in the mouth and even explore the large bay/marsh on the western/northern side. You’ll find many people stack up trying to catch panfish in this region year round.
Note that as you go into the La Chute River, you’ll eventually come to a railroad bridge. Wherever you can find such structure on the lake, you’ll find fish. My Dad always used to get excited to fish the railroad bridge in Putnam Creek right after a train passed as he said that this knocked bugs into the water and put fish into feeding mode. I don’t know how much truth there is to this, but it is worth a shot.
Just be aware that you will need a NY license to fish the La Chute River. VT won’t cut it.
Spawning Bay South of Ft. Ticonderoga (8)
This is another one of those spots where you’re sure to have company. It is definitely a popular place to fish near Ticonderoga, as there are plenty of bass and chain pickerel mulling around. I like to toss spinnerbaits and other semi-weedless lures in this area seeking a reaction bite. It can also be beneficial to toss out a Senko near little pockets of weeds as you would any other spawning bay.
The closer you get to the La Chute River, the better your chances of finding some clear water. However, this will also mean the water is quite cold early in the year and you may need to slow things down.
What Lures Work Well to Fish the Ticonderoga Area?
Pretty much anything that works well in Lake Champlain is going to work well in Ticonderoga. Just be mindful that as part of the southern end of the lake, it is considerably more stained than in the north. White has always been a great color, but I really prefer something with chartreuse in it for southern Lake Champlain. Lately, I’ve been on a real kick using War Eagle Spinnerbaits as they run true and have good durability.
Black is also great in this area given how well it contrasts. This helps fish find it easier, especially on days with overcast clouds.
You’ll find plenty of people using spinnerbaits, jigs, and the usual Senkos in Ticonderoga. It all depends what you’re after. I’ve found that this section of lake has more numerous pike than others south of the Crown Point Bridge. Keep this in mind when you’re tossing lures as you might need to replace a few.
Special Considerations When Fishing the Ticonderoga Area of Lake Champlain
If you’re planning your first fishing trip to the Ticonderoga area, there are a few things to be aware of. In no particular order:
- This is a very popular and busy ramp. You may want to get there early to secure parking.
- Additionally, this is a VERY popular and busy tournament ramp. You may want to check local clubs for their schedules.
- The ramp has employees throughout much of the year who will check your boat for aquatic invasives, so show up dry and clean.
- There are some submerged hazards as discussed above. In addition to the cribs I’ve mentioned, there’s also a ferry cable you need to be aware of when fishing near it.
- This is an extremely pressured part of the lake. While you can absolutely kill it when you locate fish, they are going to be more spooky than some less pressured fish.
Other Helpful Links for Fishing Ticonderoga
New to the area? Not sure how to start or to get your bearings on massive Lake Champlain? Try visiting my page on The Definitive List of Lake Champlain Fishing Resources. In it you’ll find guides on a litany of resources to help you get started, be it different forums, vlogs, or charter captains. Check it out!
If you find that Ticonderoga has too much action for you to handle, why not try heading north a bit and fishing near Crown Point instead? It too has excellent fishing, and this past report I wrote may be of service to you!
Finally, you may want to check out this great book by Dale D. Brown, Bass Fishing 101: Lake Champlain. It has plenty of information on Ticonderoga as well as the rest of the lake and I highly recommend picking up a copy.
I hope this article was helpful! Drop me an email and let me know how your latest fishing trip to Ticonderoga went!
Thanks,
