Camping/Fishing

[JBMasterAngler]

So I have a vacation in may and august...which is the better time to catch fish on vermilion? I'm after multi species, so looking for an overall assessment. Thanks in advance.

[2thepointsetters]

Both are great. Walleye are generally easier in May. If your just learning to fish Vermion then May would be a better choice because the walleye are a lot easier to find and predict when the water is still cold.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

July and august have always been my favorite times for walleyes, and i think the muskie community would reccomend those months also!

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I also prefer early August. Nicer weather,and more species of fish are in a biting mood.

Cliff

[guideman]

Another reason for coming in August is the weather. May can be very wet/cold and windy in some years and if you're camping, it can really bring you down. Besides that, the Muskie season isn't open until the first Saturday in June.

If you like to catch them toothy critters, early August is prime time for numbers and you'll always have a shot at a monster. The Smallmouth action is pretty good and you can catch Walleyes with a number of different presentations.

I would definately pick August if it were my vacation. Steady weather patterns, warmer water temps, most of the bug hatches are over, some great topwater action and all the chicks are in bikinies.

"Ace"

Ace guide service.

[JBMasterAngler]

I don't believe the MRS would appreciate me checking out the chicks in bikini's

Yeah, I'm having trouble finding a place to go in may...I asked this question in the leech lake forum (my original choice for august) and they say august is best there also. Where the heck am I supposed to go?

[Casey Sunsdahl]

vermilion, may And august (Y)

[JBMasterAngler]

It's my understanding that bass season in this area opens with the walleye opener? Is the water too cold yet for them to be very active?

I also have fishing A.D.D. so if I go to vermilion in may I'll find it hard to justify going there again the same year, no matter how the fishing is

[2thepointsetters]

Vermilion is great in May, the walleye bite is very good the first couple weeks. Dont let the weather scare you away. (bring your winter clothing with though) If you dont know the lake you will have a tough time with walleye in August, even knowing the lake it is still hit or miss.

I cant help with the bass question, but cant see why you would want to fish for bass when the walleye are biting anyway.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Yes the bass opener is the same as Walleyes in our area. You can get em early and some nice ones too! Fish the West end one trip and the East end the other trip!

[guideman]

First off,

Nobody has/will ever regret coming back to Vermilion twice in the same year. We are talking about one of the finest

multi species lakes anywhere in the country. "World Class"

Smallmouth and Muskie fishing an excellent Walleye fishery and one of the best trophy Pike lakes in Minnesota.

May is a great time to come if you're on a fishing Vacation. I think it's a great time for Walleyes. It isn't however the best time to come for bass or Pike or Muskies. You can catch them all in May, however in my opinion August would be better for the type of trip that you said you were looking for.

Another thing, I absolutely will disagree that the Walleye fishing in August is hit and miss. On the contrary, it's one of the best Walleye bites of the summer, just ask any of the guides on this board. You see a lot of steady weather and the Walleyes get into some very predictable patterns and locations.

If you want Smallmouth bass I would fish the east end. If you want largemouth, fish the west end. You really can't go wrong anytime of the season in my opinion. When I get calls from clients asking me "When

is the best time to come to Vermilion" I always give the same answer. "The best time to come to Vermilion, is anytime you can get here".

I came here once for a fishing trip 42 years ago, and I never left....

"Ace"

Ace guide service.

[2thepointsetters]

Another thing, I absolutely will disagree that the Walleye fishing in August is hit and miss. On the contrary, it's one of the best Walleye bites of the summer, just ask any of the guides on this board. You see a lot of steady weather and the Walleyes get into some very predictable patterns and locations.

I will agree that walleye fishing is great in August but you need to know a lot more about the lake to catch them. For a guy that doesn't know the lake it could be a fustrating experience if they looking for walleye exclusively. On the other hand you can send just about anybody out there in May and they will boat some fish. Reading the Vermilion board during August there are alot of slow reports form visitors.

I would really hope that all of the guides on here would be able to find fish on here all season long. But what a guide knows compared to somebody fishing the lake for the first time is a lot different. The only problem I had last August on Vermilion was catching a walleye small enough to keep.

[upnorth]

Personally late august through early november is my fav time on Vermilion.

[JBMasterAngler]

Hmmm...I'd probably pick may before august, but good point about fishing the west side one month and the east side the other I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for a warmer spring this year than last.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

i think everybodys fingers are crossed! no one wants to break ice again on the opener

[Steve Foss]

You could definitely think of them as two separate lakes so your ADD doesn't kick in. They're almost that different anyway.