Vermillion River

[fishkaholic]

Was wondering if the river is thawed out enough to go out there? Wanna give a try next week.

[youngie22]

next week should be, not positive, where you wanna go, and I haven't seen the whole thing lately. Its open at the confluence of the mississipi in redwing, not sure how far from there. Above the falls no go for most of it.

[sam12345]

remember the vermillion is off limits above the bridge for walleyes and saugers until opener

[Stratosman]

Which bridge? The thing to remember is if you are between the tracks (mn-wi), you are on border water, which is open...So if the bridge you are talking about is the train tressel at Dushanes, then above that bridge is open, and below it is off limits.

[youngie22]

etter is open, dushanes is not, not sure about N lake, I would assume not. Its opening up fast below the falls, pretty slow a top. Won't be long and there will be no ice any where.

[youngie22]

Most everything should be good to go other than dushanes. No visual confirmation from me. I would assume your good to go, but no gaurantee on that one. Above falls and below falls should be clear of ice except as stated above.

[superchill]

i've been down there a few times and only gone south at the boat launch towards the RR bridge...Is it generally pretty shallow the whole length of the river or did i just not go down far enough? What does a guy use down there to target eyes and craps??

[youngie22]

most of the river is pretty shallow, some deeper holes. jigs/ minnows/ hooks/ and worms rapalas

[JBMasterAngler]

It's not the depth you have to worry about so much, it's the logs and deadheads, have busted up many a prop on that river over the years. My favorite lure for silver bass, crappie, and 'eyes is a silver #4 blue fox vibrax spinner. The ol' reliable minnow under a bobber is productive as well. The RR bridge doesn't hold the fish like it used to...those new metal bridge pillars are junk!

[247outdoors]

anyone fishing the vermillion yet? What's the river level like now?

[fisherman-andy]

Thinking of chasing some early silvers on the Vermillion tommorrow. Last year they were schooled in the flooded timbers. Pitching jigs and fatheads with slip bobbers into the timbers were deadly.

[UdeLakeTom]

Ok...where on the Vermillion?? By the access on the way to TI??

We have been down there a couple of times without any luck.

[JBMasterAngler]

I'm gonna wait for the water to warm a few more degrees...would prefer for the levels to go down as well, but that isn't as important as the temps. Bought some tackle at cabela's today with the specific intent to catch some vermillion silvers

[Bass Whacker]

they are starting to run I got one off the landing yesterday on a clankin rap( just had to get out and try the new lure) but the water is up

[sandbagger]

Good reports guys. I've only fished the Vermillion in the Farmington area during the spring and summer. I haven't fished it for a couple years and would like to find some river Crappies this spring. How far west will the Crappies travel in the spring? Does a guy need to head to Hastings or will they work their way far upstream?

[JBMasterAngler]

They can't get any farther upstream than the falls just below hwy 61. The dushane's access is your best bet...catfish slough down by red wing is probably flooded out right now...they close the road off when that happens.

[threerivers]

You'll find crappies just south of the Etter Bridge all along the river, on into Clear lake and Upper Clear Lake.

[sandbagger]

Thanks guys. This is really helpful. I'm looking forward to getting out there. When I do, I'll post a report.

[JBMasterAngler]

How high is the water? Is the dushane's parking lot completely flooded?

[castmaster]

The lot at Dushanes/Blackbird is flooded up to the access road.

[jigginjim]

I have not fish in that area before. How far are you from the Mississippi river?

[Bass Whacker]

yeah waters real high and watch out for debris floating right now I barely missed a log on sunday morning

[JBMasterAngler]

I don't plan on taking the boat out there for another 3 weeks or so. I'd like to believe the water will have come down considerably by then. Last april I believe the water level was just a little below where the first parking space is. That made for about 2 ft of water flowing over the overflow dam. I'd like to hit it at a time where water is just barely going over or not going over at all, will make for much better fishing. Anyway, silver bass in the flooded trees, doesn't get much better than that.

Think there would be any fish swimming around in the parking lot? I would imagine that'd be the warmest water and would attract baitfish...maybe I should bring my waders down there

[Bass Whacker]

Ive seen the carp up in the paking lots many years ago when i was out bowfishing

[youngie22]

Jim- very close to the mississippi (@ dushanes landing). The landing is actually border water down stream to RR bridge. And upstream depending on river level you can access the mighty mississippi. As the crow flies the mississippi is just under 1 mile from the dushanes landing. You could also try the Etter bridge landing, North lake landing, and there is one more Vermillion river access Down stream from Casino.

[budboy]

Do many people shore fish it for crappies or isnt it worth it? I was thinking about trying it next week any help would be great.

[Bass Whacker]

could be tough with the high water but this time of the year when they are in the trees yould prolly be your best bet

[budboy]

Thanks ill give it a try

[JBMasterAngler]

Shorefishing is gonna be very tough. There basically isn't any shoreline when the water is high like this. Even during normal levels it's tough because the shoreline is pure mud and clay. Definitely don't want to wear nice shoes when you fish the vermillion.

[Dale Rueber]

Stopped by Dushanes Monday after work and saw this. Picture was taken from the far end of the parking lot. Not sure if they unloaded right there or not.

[url=]