Lake Vermilion Smallies

[supermono]

Hi.

New to this forum.

I'm heading up the 3rd week in May to do some Smallmouth fishing. First time to the lake. I just bought a topo map of the lake(s)

Was hoping some you could share some good spots to try.

Thanks in advance !

JW

[DaveSorensen]

JW,

I see you're located in Missoula. I grew up North of Missoula in Kalispell. Stop in the store when you come up, I'm sure people will give you lots of information on this forum, you may want to check through some of the previous threads.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Hey supermono,

Welcome to the FM/HSO forums.. great to have you.. I am not a self proclaimed expert on the bass but have put my time in over the years.. I tend to look for boulder shorlines that time of year (early season).. find some smooth round rocky areas with rocks the size of grapefruit.. should be a good starting point.. my personal favorite is the largemouth bite in Dago bay in May.. I'm sure others will chime in and help you out a little bit but anyways Welcome to the site...

Casey

[thedeadsea]

JW,

Where are you staying?

I like the rocky shores on the east end of Niles bay, south from where the channel goes into wolf bay along the east shoreline all the way over to the north channel of Oak narrows. I've had better luck hitting uninhabited rocky shores than I have near docks and man made structure. I can only assume this is because of the great number of fishermen who cast around docks/cribs/boathouses, etc.

Good luck,

Steve

[Casey Sunsdahl]

JW,

I've had better luck hitting uninhabited rocky shores than I have near docks and man made structure. I can only assume this is because of the great number of fishermen who cast around docks/cribs/boathouses, etc.

This is very true.. I have found that the man made stuff turns on after the spawn.. Mid-Late June or so and beyond.. I don't know the reason either but I would bet against the fishing pressure.. what do you think Ace? I guess I never put much thought into this..

[thedeadsea]

I never paid attention either until I started sitting on the dock watching the kids on the beach. Boat after boat would come by hitting the dock and boat lift areas with lures. I didn't see a single fish caught all day.

Steve

[supermono]

I’ll be staying at the Vermilion Dam Lodge.

I plan on fishing saddles between rock islands and rock humps . A lot depends on water temps and if they are post spawn yet. . I rarely fish for smallmouth around docks.

Looking at the Topo Map, It looks like submerged rock humps and Islands everywhere. I’ll try the area you mentioned between Niles Bay and the narrows. Steve. ……and I’ll e sure to stop by your shop, Dave.

Thanks for the feedback.

JW

[thedeadsea]

Perfect, be sure to try Casey's spot also.

Steve

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I do not chase bass very often but Ace certainly would be able to put you on them!

Cliff

[guideman]

I doubt there will be any fish post spawn in May. Water temps will be in the high 40's, low 50's at best, even late in May. The spawn up here is in the middle part of June unless we have a reall warm spring.

You may be able to find a few beds, however they will have a lot of small males on them. The first break, the end of long mainlake points, with rocks and boulders on them are good areas to start. Inshore humps and rockpiles, close to spawning areas. Points and islands, ajacent to the mouths of some of the small back bays

with reeds and gravel are also good locations for pre-spawn Smallies.

I rarely use plastics in the spring time, unless I have to.

Horizontal presenations should produce for you. Spinnerbaits and jerkbaits are my faves, but you can also get them on topwaters and crankbaits and in some cases, rattlebaits will produce as well. Unless they are all up on the beds, you're going to contact more fish just covering water than trying to fish slow with a soft bait.

I would definately expect them to be Pre-spawn in May. Unless we get some 80 degree weather in the next few weeks, and I don't think that's going to happen.

You will also find much better Smallmouth fishing by going east of the Dam. Fraiser Bay and Black duck bay, have some of the best Smallmouth fishing on the entire lake, east or west. The north side of Pine island is also very good. It's not that far of a run from the dam.

"Ace"

Beautiful Lake Vermilion.

[supermono]

Great info.

Thanks, Ace.

[Bigguyone]

I look forward to fishing with you Ace so you can teach me a thing or two about your smallies!

[guideman]

Bigguyone,

You need to e-mail me!

"Ace"

.

Beautiful Lake Vermilion.

[Please read the forum policy before posting again]

[pauljpollock]

Supermono,

If you want a couple spots to try on the west end, try the area about 3/4 of a mile to the southwest when coming out of the west channnel of Oak Narrows. Several small islands/humps and it's outstanding for smallies, plus some bonus largemouth.

Another good spot is the area from Norwegian Point out to Merry Go Round and Turtle Island. The saddle and shoreline area around Taylor Island and to the southwest is also good.

On the east end, the big reef area to the south of Arrowhead Point/Grubens Bridge, and any of the islands, points, and saddle areas in Big Bay. You could fish nothing but Big Bay for a long time, and still never cover all the smallie opportunities out there!

Look at your map and put a big circle around the area from Comet, east to Indian Point, southeast to Birch and Dog, across the north side of Ely, and northwest past Potato back to Comet. If you want saddles, islands, points, and humps...

Paul.

Paul.

[trolloni]

Hey guys am i missin something here or what? I thought there was a season on bass, smallies and largemouth,thought it opens in june sometime right ? That goes for muskie to doesnt it? please opine on this.

[delcecchi]

bass north of 53 same as walleye.

[supermono]

Hey guys am i missin something here or what? I thought there was a season on bass, smallies and largemouth,thought it opens in june sometime right ? That goes for muskie to doesnt it? please opine on this.

Here you go,,

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/seasons.html

[guideman]

If you do find a school of bass on those deep structures it's tough to beat a dropshot rig, or a small jig tipped with a grub, or some other small soft plastic concoction.

I think you should be able to find all the fish you can stand, fairly shallow in late May. It's always good to be prepared for any possibility at any time however.

"Ace"

[SkunkedAgain]

Bass season opens May 23rd, regardless of location in the state, unless I'm reading the regs incorrectly.

[Leever]

Go to page 22(seasons and limits)

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing2009.pdf

[DaveSorensen]

Skunked,

The season is May 23rd unless you are North and East of Hwy 53 from Duluth to the Falls, then it is the same as the walleye opener (May 9th this year). Also it is only catch and release for Smallmouth after September 14th.

So you can fish on Vermilion for smallmouth on the 9th.

[SkunkedAgain]

I stand corrected!

[JBMasterAngler]

What is the point of that rule about the opener? Wouldn't it be more important for the bass in NE minnesota to be protected by a later start to the season?

[guideman]

Back in the day when this was first put into law there just wasn't a lot of lakes up here with Largemouth bass in them.

Smallmouth bass this far north don't spawn in large numbers until mid June. Therefor the early season opener doesn't really effect them very much.

Most are in early pre-spawn at the time the seson opens, and not to many local anglers are targeting them in May anyway.

Even if it were changed to the Memorial day weekend opener we have to the south. It wouldn't help or protect spawning bass this far north. Most Smallies are just begining to get up on the beds the first week of June and some years when it's cold, the spawn doen't start until late June, in many areas of the northland.

"Ace"