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Heading up to the area with several high school buddies this weekend. They're golfing in Tower on Friday, and I loathe golfing, so I'm bringing my boat up. I'm considering two options. (I've never fished either lake)

1.) Chase lakers on Burntside while they're golfing. Any tips to offer a metro-guy who doesn't normally get to fish them? I was thinking of trolling deep diving cranks and just covering a lot of water like I do in Canada.

2.) Chase walleyes on Vermilion. Would like to stay on the east side near Tower. Anything happening in Pike's Bay or would I need to travel a bit further to find them? Bottom bouncers and 1/2 crawler or have they switched to minnows yet?

Which option would you take? Any help is appreciated. (Would love to have some fish to rub in their faces when I pick them up from the 19th hole laugh )

*Also, is the Embarrass mine pit worth the time while they're playing Giant's Ridge?

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I started trolling raps in Pike Bay last weekend and nothing was biting, just an occasional smallmouth bass. Would have been better off golfing!

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Better off golfing? Anathema! I'll take a few bonus smallies over 4 hours of shanks, slices and divots any day, and I don't have to hide my beers from the ranger smile

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Check out some of the recent reports on this forum from Mark B. and Cliff W. and others. There is some great information in those reports to get you pointed in the right direction.

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The walleyes on Vermilion are starting to scatter and move into their fall locations.

They can be caught using most presentations. Just have to use the right one on the right spots.

Lindys, spinners, jigs, and trolling cranks are all getting a few walleyes now.

Minnows (pike suckers or fatheads), leeches,(if you can get them), and crawlers are all working.

The fish have been hard to spot on my electronics this week, but if you can see them they will usually bite.

Cliff

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Lakers on burntside! Don't bother with the cranks. Use spoons. I like dark colors, purple, gold, green, etc.

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Lakers on burntside! Don't bother with the cranks. Use spoons. I like dark colors, purple, gold, green, etc.

Any specific depths to target? How fast are you trolling them?

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Salmon Slayer,

If you haven't fished Burntside before and really want a few fishies to show your buddies, stick to Vermilion. Burntside rewards some luck and a lot of patience. A half day on V, fishing for whatever bites gives you the best chance to put something in the livewell.

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Just look for the schools of smelt on your electronics and troll a couple feet below them. Typically they'll be 30 to 50 ft down.

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Check out some of the recent reports on this forum from Mark B. and Cliff W. and others. There is some great information in those reports to get you pointed in the right direction.

These guys have helped me learn Vermilion. Go with what they are saying.

If you fish the pit you will need a downrigger or lots of weight of some kind. If you are after walleye I would make the short drive to Whitewater in Hoyt Lakes or Ely Lake outside of Gilbert. Ely can be hard as the fish have lots of forage but they are nice fish. Whitewater has plenty of 8lb eyes and 20lb pike.

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Thanks for all the tips fellas. Fished Vermilion, picked up a couple eyes. The mine pit was INCREDIBLE! I didn't catch anything, but my word is that water clear. I almost got vertigo standing on my casting deck looking down. Felt like if I slipped I was in for a 70 foot fall to the bottom. If you've never been out there, I highly recommend at least taking a boat ride on a calm, sunny day.

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