Vermillion River accesses

[MuntzAngling]

Is the Dushanes launch area considered 'border waters' between MN and WI? Also. what about the Etter launch?

Anyone know about the status now, frozen or fishy or neither?

[Shack]

As far as I know, MN regs does not consider them as border waters.

I would call the DNR and see what they say.

Good luck and let us know what they say.

[MuntzAngling]

According to the DNR office, you must be on the Mississippi side of the Railroad tracks. So it just depends where you venture to.

Thanks for the tip, eh!

[JBMasterAngler]

The river is completely ice free and and all the accesses are in good shape for an easy launch. River is a little high and still too chilly to produce much, if anything.

[youngie22]

you really need to know where you are down there to know where you use bored regs and inland regs, you can cast to both from same spot many times.

[MuntzAngling]

Report from weekend action is poor, unfortunately. One large white bass 17.5" and my friend lost 2 pike, one said to be over 30" lost in the weeds.

The water was cloudy with 1 foot visibility and others there had said it was really clear the week prior. High water made the Dushanes launch a long shallow back-in for my 16ft boat. Will have to try again some other time with different conditions.

[castmaster]

From Dushanes landing(Blackbird) if you go straight across(towards Trudale Dike) you are in Border Waters, if you go downstream, once you pass underneath the train tressel you are on inland waters.

Etter landing is inland waters as is the rest of the Vermillion all the way down.

[Shack]

SSM,

Thanks for the update from your trip.

Cast master,

Thanks for the details.

[JBMasterAngler]

Went to dushanes on monday, water was higher than I thought it would be. Was hoping water wouldn't be going over the overflow, but that wasn't the case. Only caught 2 white bass below the dam. Made our way down to the main channel of the vermillion and fished some flooded trees and caught about 20 or so white bass all between 1.75 and 2.5 pounds. The action wasn't fast, but it sure was fun! Everything was caught on a #2 silver mepps spinner. The water temp was probably in the mid 50's, it's possible a slower approach may have produced more fish. Was a great day to be out though, the rain hit just as we were pulling out of the parking lot to go home.

[bitz]

does anyone eat the white bass or are they just more fun to catch/release? I have never even caught one but was just curious if they are any good?

Bitz

[JBMasterAngler]

They taste very good off the grill, just make sure to remove the mudline when you fillet them. Also, if you plan to keep them, put them on ice as soon as you catch them, they don't survive very well on a stringer, and they're meat deteriorates quickly.

[joeyquicksand*]

I spent the greater part of yesterday all over that place and got skunked... what do i have to do to catch a fish in that river/lake when the waters that high. I assume that all the fish are hiding in the trees, caus it was like the bayou down there. Any ideas? I hear there are big ol' pike in there... what do you know?

[Shack]

Joey,

That is problem dude. The fish are everywhere right now. They are not as condensed as they are when water level’s are low. Now, some do like the flood waters, but that is more from the shore fishing dudes. Some love this type of water level.

A general rule of thumb in high water, is to look for current breaks to slack water. Via it be a creek mouth or a back water pool into the flood area. Cast right in the center/middle, where the eddies meet.

It will depend what type of fish you are looking for, but that is where I would start. Give it a half hour and then move. Hold you self to this. Do not wait for the fish to come to you, you find the fish.

Good luck!

[JBMasterAngler]

I fished there a couple weeks ago and nailed quite a few dandy silver bass right along the flooded trees. The water is even higher now, so you'd think the flooded timber would still produce. With the water a bit warmer as well, the fish will be more active.