Lake Vermilion - Fishing Opener

[SkunkedAgain]

Who's getting excited? I know that it can be anti-climactic for some or just an annoying tourist cluster for others, but it's still our first opportunity to catch walleye, bass, and big pike. Our group of guys gets excited every year. I'm heading up late tonight with the rest of the crew arriving tomorrow..

Who else is excited?

[PropsterII]

I don't know if it is the restructuring of the forums or what, but this is the least chatter and the seemingly least excitement I've seen on here prior to the opener. I'm excited just to be on open water again. Even if the fishing isn't any good, it sure beats a lot of the alternatives. If the rod bends a few times well that's just gravy. Decent weather looks like, and anticipation is a big part of it for me. Good luck everyone.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Always a lot of excitement and anticipation on the opener for me!

Great to be back on the water!

Cliff

[PSU]

I am really pumped for the Opener-heading up this afternoon!

[neptune]

I'm excited but its also my sons 5th birthday party on Sunday and the fam and in-laws are coming over to the cabin. Hopefully I can take him fishing Saturday.

Of course we haven't been up since February which was not the plan so all of my gear is not ready to go. Looks like it will be a late night Friday so maybe I will hit the water at 12:01.

[CigarGuy]

Just waiting for my son to get off work to head north! Can't wait to put the rain gear on! My neighbor and I have had the truck packed since noon. We could have been there by now-got my nap in and ready to head north and watch the wild win, once we get there. Hopefully, all the democrats will stay on the east end of the lake

[vermilionfox]

Hope everyone has a great opener! Looking forward to seeing some pics! I'm 5 weeks out and counting!

[neptune]

Ugh. Can this day go by any slower.

[MarkB]

If the opener were today, you would earn every fillet you fry . 41 degrees and a steady WNW wind at 15mph would definitely weed out the faint of heart. Things do look better for tomorrow though with 62 for a high and winds 3-4mph out of the ENE.

My wife and I had to vacate for a spell this AM so we drove to Cook and I stopped by and saw Joe. He says he's only going to work a couple hours a day this year. He's shaking pretty bad. I always buy some bait when I stop in and I was amazed at what I got. I bought 3 dz leeches( I like having them in the boat) Each carton I bought contained 20 plus and cost $3.50/dz(carton)Unreal count for a dozen LARGE leeches! I also bought 2 dz rainbows only because of the better size. They are mixed sizes but, with the count he gives you, there are enough BIG ones in there to give you plenty of good bait if rainbows are your preference. The cost is $5.25/dz and I got 4-5 dozen for my 2 dz purchase!

I've got to quit stopping by bait shops to shoot the breeze. I now have 3 minnow buckets hanging off my dock!

Good luck on this season.

Good Fishing,

Mark B

[NilesBayHusker]

I've had the same good experience with Joe in Cook. Always very generous with his bait count, plus his crappie minnows seemed to keep better than the ones I bought at the Y store this spring. Too bad he will only be working a few hours per day. He told me he was hiring someone to run the bait shop in his absence. Don't know if that is going to happen or not.

[PSU]

Crappie newbie here!

Shallow warmer water, correct? 8 feet or less?

Joe's was absolutely packed this morning!

Andy

[MN BassFisher]

Heading up to the Big V right now! Pulling onto Birch Point in about 40 minutes. I can't wait for tomorrow as this will be my first Opener on Vermilion. We'll try and figure out the Walters on the East Side and if they prove to be too much trouble then I will start hitting shorelines for Smallies. I've never caught a Crappie in Vermilion but I'm hoping to find a few this weekend.

[NilesBayHusker]

yes, find the warmest water you can - needs to be in the mid 50s or so. Often right up against the shore by some structure.

[delcecchi]

Heading up to the Big V right now! Pulling onto Birch Point in about 40 minutes. I can't wait for tomorrow as this will be my first Opener on Vermilion. We'll try and figure out the Walters on the East Side and if they prove to be too much trouble then I will start hitting shorelines for Smallies. I've never caught a Crappie in Vermilion but I'm hoping to find a few this weekend.

If you want to go west, Black Bay is community spot for Crappies in the spring.

[CigarGuy]

Slow going in Black Bay, caught several northerns and a few small perch-no crappies. Fair amount of boats and didn't see a crappie caught. Water temp was 57ish. Going to warm up a bit and head out for the evening.

[PSU]

Do you Lindy rig for crappies or small jig?

Thanks for the tips

[delcecchi]

Black bay has pretty soft bottom. I'm not sure that a rig would work. Many use a bobber and minnow or jig.

Might take a little more warm weather to get going up there.

[CigarGuy]

Only managed 2 crappies and it was the last hour of daylight.

[james_walleye]

Been a long time since I've posted! Can't wait for some reports to roll in. I'm in the metro this weekend for my son's baseball. Good luck everyone!

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Not a bad day as far as the weather was concerned on Sat.

Tons of small walleyes were caught by most of the fishermen on the Governor's Opener on Vermilion! We boated 42 walleyes on Sat. but only kept 8 fish! Our largest, (and only),big walleye was a 19-1/2 inch fish.

All were caught on Lindy rigs with chubs or rainbows as bait.

Sunday was very windy and tougher fishing. Very tentative bites and small fish again. Caught 16 and kept 8 eaters.

Cliff

[PSU]

We did so so on Opener Weekend in the Frazer Bay / Smarts Bay area. 5 keepers (14-15 inches) filled out our Sunday evening meal, but the weather conditions really affected our fair weather family. The Narrows produced some very nice-sized walleyes with plenty of 23 plus sized fish being caught fairly regularly by the massive number of boats. Thrill of the weekend was watching my 12 year old daughter bring in a 24 incher by herself in The Narrows with Mom watching on Mother's Day. Really thought the rod was going to break!

Nice start to the season!

 

 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Nice fish!

Your daughter looks very happy!

Cliff

[Casey Sunsdahl]

That's what its all about! Big Smiles

[SkunkedAgain]

Congrats to your daughter. Mine is still scared of the big fish, but she's got nine years to go to catch up to your 12 year old.

The walleye were scattered as expected. Our group hauled some in but definitely pulled in quite a few perch too. We found crappies in Black Bay to be in unusual spots, such as away from structure in the middle of the bay or near the southern/shaded shore. 

The fishing gods didn't reward us well for braving the weather on Sunday or Monday, but it was still great to be out on the water.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have caught crap[pies and sunfish in Greenwood by fishing right in the rush beds on the North side of the bay.

Cliff

[PSU]

Yes, Walter, but there were tons of boats. Saw lot's of big walleyes being caught in the 14 foot area on Lindy's and rainbows....Also caught some deep in Frazer Bay at the public spots as well.

Caught a nice 20 incher off my dock (adjacent to Retreats docks-sort of 2:00) with a leech as well.

 

 

 

[fishingdad]

I have fished Greenwood a lot the last 5 years or so & in my opinion it has steadily gotten worse for crappies way back in the bay. (very well could be me) It is very  hard to fish much later than late June on a normal - high water year & this year the weed growth is already fairly thick in some of the old go to spots. I wish you the best of luck in finding crappies in there but this year may be tougher than most.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

We did our best with slip bobbers , small jig,and minnows.

Cliff

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Thanks Matt and welcome to FM!

Cliff

[PSU]

I heard someone on this thread talking about taking some MN Vikings out on Opener Weekend, was that publicized at all and does anyone know who the players were?