fishing reports Summer 2016 Vermilion fishing reports, Etc.

[Hockeyboys]

Looking for a little advice.  We were up there the first week in August - walleyes were hungry in Niles and Norwegian on a couple of those days inhaling Lindy's/crawlers.  I tried some trolling with a spinning rod --- 1 1/2 oz lead weights, 5-6 foot leader and Shad Raps.  Caught nothing on several different attempts.  Without spending the $$$ on a new rod/reel and lead core how can I make the spinning rod troll work?

[james_walleye]

Wakemup I've been keeping it right at 2 mph. This was the first morning this week I've struggled trolling. Each area had some fish but not loaded.  We caught 5, 2 were nice sized but we put them back.  We had a lot of fish hit and miss or pop free after a couple seconds.  

Hockey before i had lead i would put small floating raps behind bottom bouncers. At times we had good success.  One late summer though it didn't work as well and other people were pounding them on lead. That finally got me to switch over. 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Floating Raps or Flicker Shads behind a 3-way, 1-1/2oz to 2oz. drop shot rig works well also.

16" dropper and a 3' leader.

1.5 mph to 2 mph.

Cliff

[JerkinLips]

Another good weekend fishing.  Caught 14 walleyes before having to quit early after catching my limit on two days.  They were on the small side (13-15"), but did catch one 22" shown in the picture.  Also caught a 7½" walleye.  I think that is my smallest ever.  Not as many crayfish or perch this weekend.  All fish were caught on half a crawler on a plain hook.  Tried a leech once with no luck.  Then after catching my limit on Sunday, I tried a leech again and couldn't even get a bite.  14-16 FOW, trolling slow (.5 mph).  Best hours fishing were 7-10am.

[james_walleye]

Decided to shoot up to the cabin for the weekend.  I took my daughter out to see how the trolling bite is.  Wow.  We just smoked them.  21-23'. 2 mph. Everything was 15-17". Saw a few more people out trolling then when i was up a couple weeks ago.  

[midex717]

James......

What part of the lake are you trolling?  I'm currently on Norwegian, and have caught a few walleyes on cranks.  Same speed as you, firetiger seems to be working. Are you using shad shaped, or minnow shaped cranks.  I've been using the 20' and 30' deep taildancers.  Haven't seen a fish in 2 days now....

 

Thanks!

 

[james_walleye]

I'm on big bay. I'm using both shad raps and flickershads on leadcore....usually on the small side as far as size goes. 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have gotten most of my walleyes this week in shallow water.

8 ft. to 18 ft. deep on the tops and sides of sand bars and sandy shorelines.

Lindys, 5 ft. leader, a orange and a green glow bead, #4 hook any color and 1/2 crawler.

Cliff

[RoosterMan]

Good to be back.  The bite is going strong.  12-20' fow.  The fish are aggressive.  Cover water and have fun. 

[PSU]

Awesome pictures!

[Wheres_Walter]

Walleye on the menu!   What presentation were you using?  Crawlers still the ticket?

I'm up this weekend, and get to fish friday night and saturday morning.   Then, sadly, we button up the fishing boat until May.....

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I am still using Lindy rigs. Crawlers and pike suckers are working best for me.

Cliff

[RoosterMan]

Took the boys camping last evening and we had no problem getting our dinner!!!  Trolling raps. 

[VermilionGold]

Trolling bite was the best it's been all year for my boat this past weekend.  Got bit steadily everywhere we dropped the raps, 16-20'.

[JerkinLips]

Another great weekend of fishing.  Most of my fish were 12-16", but did catch four slotters 21-24".  The wife joined me one morning and of course caught more fish and the biggest at 25".  All fish were caught on pike suckers on a plane hook.  Tried crawlers a couple of times when the bite was hot, and didn't get a bite.  Can't wait for late fall fishing now.

[whateverisbiting]

I don't fish Vermilion, but just curious, what type of raps do you troll in 16-20' and what presentation?  Are you targeting fish on the bottom, or suspended?  Will they come off the bottom for the plug and how far?  I am on a lake in Alex and I totally lose the walleyes this time of year looking for new techniques to try.

[james_walleye]

I've been trolling in 21' out to 30'. I'm using #4 flickershads and #5 shads on lead core.  I'm putting the cranks right on bottom. 

[VermilionGold]

I'm primarily running #6/7 shad raps on lead core line, trying to keep them just off the bottom.  In 20' of water I would typical start with ~100' of line out, if you see your bait hitting bottom just reel up 5' at a time until it is running clean.  Using line counter reels once you find the right distance on a given rod you can just rinse and repeat.

Edited September 7, 2016 by VermilionGold

[midex717]

Just returned from an awesome 2 week stay on Norwegian Bay, and wanted to post a quick report.  Last year I fished the same area the last week of August and did fairly well using Deep Taildancers, the 30', and 20' models in firetiger, and purpledescent.  Lost at least 1 per day with rock snags, so this year I came prepared with a vast number in case of the dreaded snags... The first Saturday evening I ventured out to the humps located near Twin Island, and within the first few passes connected with a 19" walleye.  Over the 2 week period, the west-most hump produced 5 walleyes, the largest being 23 inches. In that area the walleyes only hit the 20' firetiger Taildancer.

Lots of time was also spent casting for muskies, and pike in the weeds, along weedlines, and in rocky areas.  Didn't see a single musky for the entire trip, although fishing solo, I didn't try really hard.  Only one 28" pike caught casting...

I spent some time trolling through the Tullibee schools located on the north, and west side of Schmidt's Island.  Nothing caught, however the schools were so dense that my sonar received depth readings off the schools.  Trolled the flats on the east side of Taylors Island looking for walleyes, and did manage to catch a 31" pike trolling a 20" purpledescent dancer through the Tullibee clouds, so that theory worked.

Spent time trolling around Merry-go Round reef with no walleyes, or pike caught, however did manage to nab a 18" smallmouth there.

The other area that produced walleyes was in 20" of water along a sand break on the eastern end of Norwegian Bay. a few 21", and 2 23" walleyes caught there. There the fish would only hit a #7 Flickershad in the bronze/purple tiger pattern, go figure.  Speeds at all locations was 2.1 mph, nothing faster or slower than 2.1 mph.

All in all had a great time on such a beautiful lake!

Edited September 7, 2016 by midex717

[Fish Head]

Great pictures everyone!  The fishing has been great lately.  Looking forward to pulling more lead core this weekend!

Question-  I always do well trolling lead core late August to the end of September.  Than come October, that seems to shut down so I switch to vertical jigging.  Any thoughts on how to extend that lead core trolling season?  Meaning... should I be trolling different areas, different baits, different speeds, etc? 

 

 

 

[redlabguy]

Lindy rigs on structure hasn't worked for me lately and I don't do lead core, but an alternative is trolling spinners with a 1/2 crawler, long leader, bottom bouncer at about .7 to 1 mph on flats near shores/rocks. It lets you still feel the bite. 

RLG

 

[PSU]

Agree with redlabguy as I switched to spinners from the advice of a local friend, and put walleye on the dinner menu

[Cliff Wagenbach]

We fished lindys with 1/2 crawler in the sand and boated 18 walleyes this morning. 9' to 18' depths.

Sounds like many different presentations are working if used in the right spots!

Cliff

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Frank,

Had a fun day fishing with you this morning!

Here is a picture of your biggest one.

Cliff

[RoosterMan]

Great weekend at the lake with dad!  Fishing continues to be excellent.  16' to 20' fow.  Wish I could be there this weekend. 

[Dr. Bombay]

Well, due to a very busy summer, I'm finally heading to the Big V this week!!  We are on the West End, on Taylor's Island, and I'd appreciate any updates from anyone fishing in the area.  I'm not picky, I plan to fish for whatever's bitin'.

thanks in advance.

Dr. Bombay

[VermilionGold]

Cliff,

You still fishing crawlers, or are minnows starting to go?  Need a plan B for the weekend in case my trolling bite has slowed.

Thanks,

VG

[Cliff Wagenbach]

VG,

Still fishing crawlers on Lindys!

Only getting one or two each trip on minnows.

Cliff

[redlabguy]

Cliff,

Where (not location, but structure) are you finding fish? My Frazer Bay spots are empty! 

Dick

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Dick,

All of my fish are coming off of sand! 6' to 18' depths.

Cliff