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2017-2018 Vermilion Ice Conditions and Fishing Reports


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It's setting up for a spectacular fishing opener for those who can get to the honey spots, assuming that the ice is still peeling off of the lake!

Edited by SkunkedAgain
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2 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

It's setting up for a spectacular fishing opener for those who can get to the honey spots, assuming that the ice is still peeling off of the lake!

Yup. I hate ice fishing and think the odds of ice out before opener is very slim. I'm already taking days around the following weekend and Memorial Weekend off expecting that will be my opener. Depressing 

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jparrucci,

The second weekend is usually better fishing and better weather and less people then the opener anyway but still a bummer to miss the OPENER!

Cliff

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At least the odds are looking better for shallow water lake trout in Quetico first week in June.  :D

  • Yayyyy 1
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No water that is visible! Must be some running under the ice on the dam though because there is a little area of open water in front of the bridge and by the Hatchery.

Cliff

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We're going canoeing in Quetico first week in June.  Will the Ice be out?   World record for Vermilion is 5/23....   For that matter how about the opener?    Global warming my patoot. 

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DEl,

I think it is a new Ice Age! Should be seeing glaciers any day now!

Cliff

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-2 degrees here this morning! Certainly not loosing any ice yet! I would bet that we will have ice on much of the lake for the walleye opener at this rate!

Cliff

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Cliff/others-

I’m thinking about dodging the storm down here in the cities and heading to the cabin. Wondering about current travel conditions on the lake.  Any report you can provide would be appreciated! 

 

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Brian,

Lots of ice yet!

6" to 8" of hard snow on top of that. I was out on the lake yesterday with my truck and came close to getting stuck in the hard pack a couple of times! Snowmobile or 4 wheelers would have no problems.

Cliff

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  • 2 weeks later...

The ice on the Pike River between the dam and the lake is opening up fast! Should be wide open in a couple of days at the present rate of melt!

The DNR will be trapping walleyes soon!!! :D The walleyes are already starting to move in!

Pike Bay ice is  also starting to deteriorate quickly!

Finally starting to look like we may get some open water for the fishing opener!

Cliff 

Edited by Cliff Wagenbach
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18 minutes ago, Cliff Wagenbach said:

The ice on the Pike River between the dam and the lake is opening up fast! Should be wide open in a couple of days at the present rate of melt!

The DNR will be trapping walleyes soon!!! :D The walleyes are already starting to move in!

Pike Bay ice is  also starting to deteriorate quickly!

Finally starting to look like we may get some open water for the fishing opener!

Cliff 

I always wondered,  are the walleyes coming over the dam?   or are they swimming in from Pike?

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Here are a few photos taken off of my dock which is straight across the Pike River from the Hatchery.

Only a day or two more before it opens up here on the river!

The second picture is looking toward the dam.

4/24/2018.....There is now a 50' plus channel open from the dam to out past the Hatchery!

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Edited by Cliff Wagenbach
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Thanks Cliff for your Pike River deteriorating ice reports and pics . I. Really want to show my wife the hatchery when the action is really happening this year , I would assume you will be right on that when this happens , is there any way that you can give a shout out on here as to just when this scenario is happening up there . With the warmer temps being quite steady now , I would think the run will be rather strong this year when things get going ..  

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I will certainly keep you informed about the progress of the hatchery.

I expect to see the nets and traps go in within the next two to three days.

The run should be very strong as the fish are already moving into Pike Bay strongly.

Cliff

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Have a couple spots that are 10' open, I live on north side of Pike Bay, large rocks along shoreline helps heat water. Hard to see the ice condition on the Bay as there is a lot of slush on top, once that melts and the warm sun hits the ice it will go quick. Our new Chesapeake pup discovered she lives on a lake yesterday.

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We drive by the stripping station on Cutfoot weekly & try to keep people up on that too. I think it may be a bit later here, will check it out tomorrow

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The Pike River is almost wide open today!

It will not be long now before they start the walleye netting!

Cliff

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I saw Timbuktu posted open water in the narrows, someone put in a flat bottom to boast first boat in the narrows this yr!  Stay safe! pray for ice out!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
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