Bulwagga Bay presents some of the best fishing in Lake Champlain, yet you would never know it from the internet. Well, at least not if you’re a bass fisherman. “The Fleet” that goes out in search of early season salmon and lake trout know all about it. It’s just the bass tournament fishermen who never pay it much heed. No, they just blast right past it on their way to Ticonderoga, it seems.
All the better. Even though it’s a huge bay in the lake, it’s great to have less company. Bulwagga Bay, in my opinion, is one of the better places to take a kid fishing for BIG fish in Lake Champlain. Why? Well, read on, and you’ll find out.
What Makes the Fishing in Bulwagga Bay So Great?
Basically a lake within a lake, and with nearby access to a great camping site, Bulwagga Bay is a wonderful fishing destination. In terms of common species, it is one of the more ecologically diverse sections of Lake Champlain. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, chain pickerel, freshwater drum, walleye, gar, salmon, lake trout, and a host of panfish all call Bulwagga Bay home at one point or another.
It is one of the few places in southern Lake Champlain where you have a legitimate chance to catch an Atlantic salmon or lake trout without trolling, depending on the time of the year, and also one of the best places to find a northern pike.
Regardless of if you prefer to troll open water, or cast plugs or spinnerbaits to tight cover, Bulwagga Bay has you covered. I’ve personally caught some very large bass in the bay and I’m surprised more tournament anglers don’t give it a shot.
Additionally, it’s a convenient place to fish. There are two boat launches nearby, and it’s right near Norm’s Bait and Tackle. I’ve found myself making it one of my main destinations the past few years, especially as it retains deep, fishable water long into the season.
The Best Fishing Spots in Bulwagga Bay on Lake Champlain
As stated earlier, Bulwagga Bay is a little ecosystem all of its own. Here’s a guide to my favorite places to fish in Bulwagga Bay. Hopefully it helps you have a productive day on the water!
The Sunken Sand and Rock Point (1)
If you aren’t careful entering Bulwagga Bay, your fishing trip could be over before it starts. There is a very large and dangerous sand and rock crib that extends west from the Fort at Crown Point. While it is marked, these markers are very hard to see during certain conditions. Make sure you enter the bay well to the west to avoid them.
With that said, if you are careful, this crib can offer tremendous fishing. Smallmouth bass in particular enjoy the area and can be caught with crankbaits and tubes. Just make sure you’re very careful about the approach lest the wind blow you into the hazard while you’re retying your line. A trolling motor with an anchor function like the Minn Kota Terrova really comes in handy when fishing here!
The Railroad Tracks (2)
Most of my time fishing Bulwagga Bay has been spent plugging along the western shore, throwing crankbaits at the rip rap from the railroad track fill. I usually go here later in the year when the fishing around Crown Point and Ticonderoga starts to get tough because of a decreasing water level. The great thing about Bulwagga Bay near these tracks is that it stays deep year round and holds fish. I’ve had tremendous luck throwing red lipless cranks the past few years and it is quickly becoming a staple.
This is also an area where you’ll notice many guys troll for salmon and lake trout early in the year. They don’t tend to go right up to shore, instead concentrating on the nearby drop-off, but it’s certainly a popular spot. It can get a little tricky maneuvering in the area so make sure you’re careful.
I tend to fish right close to the rip rap though the weeds extend out considerably even in deeper water. The water is so clear here that the vegetation can grow even when well submerged. This makes it a great place to run a troll searching for pike or pickerel. Just be careful because while most areas are deep, there are some shallow spots near points that can come up on you quick!
The Mid-Bay Point (3)
South of the railroad tracks there is a soft point that extends out into Bulwagga Bay. This is a dangerous place to boat because there are several submerged boulders off this point. These boulders often hold largemouth bass throughout the year. Try bumping a crankbait off of them to encourage some strikes, but be careful with your trolling motor.
The Southern Bay (4)
The very southern section of Bulwagga Bay can hold a number of fish early in the year, but it gets extremely weed-clogged as the year goes on. This is your typical spawning bay and also frequently has clean water available. Try tossing a Senko or jig around until you connect with some early season bruisers.
The Stable Weedline (5)
The area just south of the southern most part of Bulwagga Bay is one of my favorite places to fish in Lake Champlain. Specifically, this area sets up extremely well to troll for chain pickerel, though you’ll also catch your share of bass, and even the odd walleye!
This area has deep enough water that a troll of 2.5 – 3 mph will usually keep your spinnerbaits from fouling too much. I like to cast them out and then let line out slowly while keeping them high in the water. Going back and forth in this area can be extremely productive around Labor Day.
The Eastern Shore (6)
The eastern shore of Bulwagga Bay can be a hit and miss place to fish. The southeast section is shallow and you’ll see a ton of gar swimming around. I haven’t had much luck there. As you move north, the shoreline becomes rocky and you can catch fish. The rocks are natural and flat sloping though and I haven’t had as much luck as the jagged rocks on the western shore along the railroad tracks. All the same, this area does hold fish and it’s worth giving it a shot, especially if the other side is taken.
What Fishing Lures Work Well in Bulwagga Bay?
Given the water clarity, I prefer to use more natural colored lures in Bulwagga Bay. Whereas chartreuse works very well south of the bridge, I feel like fish can get a closer look at your offering in Bulwagga Bay and accordingly, you ought to give them something white or even fish colored. The one exception is my tried and true red Rat-L-Traps which I love so much, and which are dynamite in this section.
The main lures I use to catch fish in Bulwagga are those red Rat-L-Traps, a perch-colored jerkbait, and a white spinnerbait with willow blades for trolling. All have their place. As mentioned earlier, there are many places where you can set up a shallow water troll in this area, so make sure you have a few tied on and ready to roll.
Special Considerations When Fishing Bulwagga Bay
Bulwagga Bay is a great place to fish for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and northern pike, but you will likely run into another type of fisherman you don’t encounter often: trollers. There is usually a fleet of boats here early in the year trolling for salmon and lake trout before they go deep. While this isn’t a problem, per say, it is something to be aware of. Use common sense when fishing around these folks so you don’t entangle their lines or ruin their trolling run.
Another thing to consider is that depending how you get there, you could be in for trouble on the way home. Lake Champlain really opens up north of Bulwagga Bay and sometimes you don’t realize what’s going on in the main lake while you’re fishing. This lead to one of the more dicey times I’ve had fishing Lake Champlain, so be careful heading out, especially if you need to get past the bridge to get home.
Finally, do bear in mind that while there are two boat launches very close to Bulwagga Bay (one in Port Henry, and the other underneath the Bridge on the VT side), each has some quirks. The boat launch at Port Henry has folks who will check your boat for invasive species, so show up clean and dry. Across the lake and underneath the bridge, there’s a small boat launch. Get there very early or you won’t have a spot.
Helpful Links for Fishing Bulwagga Bay
New to fishing Bulwagga Bay or Lake Champlain in general? Check out my Definitive List of Lake Champlain resources to learn about different ramps, fishing guides, and other websites where you can find information to help you have a great fishing trip.
I have several fishing reports for Bulwagga Bay on this website. Here are few you can check out:
- A Report from Early in the Year
- An October fishing report for Bulwagga Bay
- A report of fishing Bulwagga Bay in November
- A year long adventure with many fishing trips at Bulwagga Bay
I hope this helps you have a great fishing trip to Bulwagga Bay! Feel free to send me an email and let me know how your trip went!
Thanks,
John Paxton
