Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports by Casey's Guide Service (Everything else too)

[MarkB]

Casey

Did you find out anything regarding my trolling motor? Do I need to order a new remote myself? I have the receipt dated Aug 30/2011.

Good Fishing

MarkB

[airnuts]

Heading out today for some walleye fishing, haven't seen an recent posts on fishing lately. I usually hit the bars with slip bobbers with leaches and crawlers. What depths have been working?

Thanks!

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Sorry ladies and gents I have had absolutely no free time in a very long time. What a summer! Fishing is still fun and the catching most days is decent to very decent but I'm just about ready to go chase ducks around the Lower 48. 33 days until Ontario duck hunting season................ Thanks to all those that have shared the boat with me this summer, brought in trolling motors, bought worms, said kind words, and shared fishing stories and advice! I really enjoy being a part of all of it. Lake Vermilion is a special place and it's great to share it with all our summer friends!

Capt.

[Fish Head]

I've been wondering where your fishing reports were. You must have had a good year guiding!

Has anyone been on a bite trolling cranks yet?

[10,000 Casts]

I tried lead core in 26-30ft in big bay with shad raps and it was slow. We got 6 yesterday with bottom bouncers/lindy/leeches on a mid lake hump 20-26ft. They didn't seem to want crawlers.

[Birch PT Mike]

Cranks on lead is working some, but like everything else this year,there is no consistency day to day. l

indys with CC's still works best for me most days,but more lead core this month

[Casey Sunsdahl]

The fishing goes from full throttle hammer the heck out of them to you might as well be picking berries from hour to hour day to day... all fun, never know what to expect! Today was a little slow but the 2 days prior, LOOK OUT!! TONS of nice 18-20 inch fish and plenty of action.. Today, action!! BUT lots of misses and small fish... Is it duck season yet? QUACK QUACK

[chucker1101]

I need to replace my batteries for my Minnkota Trolling motor. I've got the 80#, 24-volt unit. What replacement batteries do you recommend?

Also, what sort of life expectancy do you see in these? 100 deep discharge/re-charge cycles? Or should you expect more?

thanks...

[Northlander]

Get some interstate 27's or even 29's if you have room. I usually get about 4 years out of a set.

[chucker1101]

Get some interstate 27's or even 29's if you have room. I usually get about 4 years out of a set.

Thanks. I've got Interstate 27s now, they lasted a little over two years (batteries are dated April 2011). Tough to tell how many discharges i had with them - I'd guess in the 80-100 range. But it seems like they should have lasted longer. Maybe i didn't get a full charge on them before i winterized last year.

Didn't know if there is a better option recommended by people that use them every day. Seems the consensus online is for Interstate batteries.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have had much better luck with the Energizer batteries from Sam's Club!

Size #29

Cliff

[delcecchi]

My batteries from Fleet Farm seem to be doing OK.

[StillFishin']

The key to trolling battery longevity is to charge them immediately after coming in for the day. And hopefully they are not close to total discharge as that doesn't help for long life of TM batteries. Keeping the TM batteries fully charges at all times is the key

There are several "on the fly" charging systems that when you move from place to place with your big momo, the alternator, after making sure the starting battery is charged , will then start charging your TM batteries. I have the Stealth system but there are others.

If you only got two years off of your I'd put not keeping them fully charges all the time at the top of list for the reason.

[Cherokee Ref]

I agree that charging immediately is the key to long life. I am on only my second set of Delco Voyagers and the boat is in it's 18th summer! Wouldn't buy anything else!

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Thanks for all the replies! I really am not very helpful because I haven't kept a boat longer then three years since Ive owned boats! Most of them are gone in a couple years. I buy interstate for all my vehicles and boats because that's what my local marina and garage stock.. I've never changed one in a vehicle after I've done it once and they seem to do fine in the boat. I do tend to hear better things about ever start batteries from people that use the heck out of them.. That being said I think the best bet is a cabelas AGM if your willing to spend the money!

[live-2-fish]

AGM +1

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Hey All, sounds like fishing has been great. If any one is interested in buying a boat mine is for sale! Duck hunting is starting to pick up and its great being out on the lake with a shotgun instead of a fishing pole.

2013 Lund Impact 2025 Pro-Staff boat

2013 Mercury 200 Verado w/Stainless Prop

2013 Mercury 9.9 pro-kicker

Almost EVERY option,

pro seats

helm slider

air ride pedestals

butt seat

wash down

galv tandem trailer with load guides,spare, disk brakes, and lifetime licence

bimini top

walkthrough curtain

power steering w/kicker pre-rig (kicker runs power steering also)

smart craft

Three pedestal bases in bow

Wash down

Bait well

Trailer cover with rubber tie downs

Aft plug

Special Ed. Graphics

AM/FM CD with Aux Input

12 Volt Power port

WAVE WHACKERS

Full Carpet

4 additional cabela's rod holders in front of windshield for a total of 27 rod holders on board!!!

ALL NEW ELECTRONICS

5 Interstate Batteries

101 Minn Kota Terrova US2 with custom 72 inch factory shaft and I-PILOT LINK

UHF Marine Radio with 8ft antenna

HUMMINBIRD 1198SI on console

HUMMINBIRD 1158 on bow both on 2 inch RAMs

HUMMINBIRD 5 Port Network hub and cables

PRO-TROLL 2 for 9.9 kicker

MINN KOTA 3 BANK 15 AMP PC Charger

OXIGINATOR in front livewell

Cannon link system all wired and ready for two electric down-riggers (riggers not included)

This is an absolutely amazing boat and you wont be disappointed, its a fisherman's dream.. please call or Email if you are serious and need more information.. it comes with 4 ram mounts, dock lines, bumpers etc.

ready to hit the water when you get it.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

This is way more fun in October then catching 10 inch walleyes ..

[Silver Scale]

Good thing you brought that expert duck plucker from Cook along😊

[SkunkedAgain]

Getting them and eating them are the best. Then there is everything in between!

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Long time since a post I see.. been busy relaxing at home and working in between duck hunting trips. Never wet a line this winter and the way it looks I might not! Looks like it's been a tough winter for everyone on the lake dealing with slush, snow, and extreme cold. Can't wait to get back on soft water, won't be long.

Here's a picture of my new duck hunting rig and my boy Drake in SE Missouri around Thanksgiving.

And another pic of D watching ducks on our trip to Arkansas the last week of the season.

In other news, I've changed my user name from FishingVermilion as you can see, and I am no longer going to be the Minn Kota ASC for our area. The closest repair center will be Hibbing at this time, I don't know if there are any plans to add another service center in our area.

I had a good 6 year run with Minn Kota but it's time for me to get out. Thanks for all the support over the years!

[chucker1101]

and I am no longer going to be the Minn Kota ASC for our area. The closest repair center will be Hibbing at this time, I don't know if there are any plans to add another service center in our area.

That is a bummer, Casey. It was nice to have a qualified repair option when, say for example, i loan my boat to a friend and he pins the trolling motor video cable in the closing assembly in such a way that i can't pry the deploy assembly loose

I appreciate the fixes over the years.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

I should be easy to find this year unless there are wetlands in the background...

Stole pic off another thread, but this is it for 2014. Just add a 11 inch graph

[Northlander]

Casey why did you go smaller? Did you sell your Impact?

[Casey Sunsdahl]

It's a 20 footer just going to be a lot different. Want to try it out see what they are all about and also use it into duck hunting season on lotw.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

So, I posted on one thread and read a few others.... gloom and doom.

Please take my advice, if you have plans on coming up for opener, DO NOT even CONSIDER cancelling.

Opening week is going to be the absolute best fishing opener we have possibly ever had.

The numbers of fish are very strong, Pike Bay will be open to fishing, and a phenomenal time will be had by all, mark my word.

Just so you know, it is of no financial interest to me as I DO NOT book opening week. (and I'd rather have the lake to myself )

I just feel its important to anyone who is questioning opener to feel at ease that you don't have to change your plans. ( If opener were tomorrow you may have to trailer your boat 15 miles? )

The lake community appreciates our summer guests for many, many reasons. Most of us live here just for the open water season. We enjoy having you, (most of the time!) and cant wait to see you this year.

Capt. Casey

[Klinger]

I agree captain. Good to see ya on Thursday. Cya on the water...or maybe I won't with all that camo.....

[alski]

Casey, What is going to be your opening day strategy with this late ice out?

[iceranger792]

Pike bay by hoodoo pt is still ice. Pictures were taken around noon today.. more than likely it wont be gone before opener.. docks wont be in for sure cause any ice left floating around could destroy em if the wind pushes the ice around. So anyone coming up call days in advance and make sure you didnt waste your time.. my personal alternative, FISH WHERE THE FISH ARE, THE RIVER..

[Casey Sunsdahl]

I'll be almost exclusively jig fishing. Ice ranger, go away.