2017-2018 Vermilion Ice Conditions and Fishing Reports

[Cliff Wagenbach 1,077]

SM,

Nice meeting you today!

I am sure we will see each other again!

We ended up catching 6 walleyes and 6 tulibees. Kept 3 walleyes from 14" to 19-3/4". We quit at 1:00pm also.

 

[Wicheesehead37 0]

Anyone know of the ice conditions in the oak narrows area?

[JTeeth 14]

Even when the lake trail is marked the oak narrows are sketchey and I avoid it when I can. There can be 24" here and 1/4" there. That being said... There is ice but that's the worst spot on the lake 

[VermilionGold 95]

Just made my maiden voyage across the bay to the VC, fun to be back on the sleds. Drilled a few holes in Daisy Bay today, 11” of ice.

 

[JerkinLips 332]

Had another good weekend of fishing.  Fished Thursday evening to Saturday afternoon and found consistent action all hours of the day.  Caught 5 slotters 22-25", and was able to be picky on eaters, only keeping 15-17" walleyes.  Plenty of small eyes also, plus I caught 4 eelpout.

I did learn a lesson on how to take eelpout off of the hook.  I tried to lift a 20" pout out of the hole by line and the hook pulled out and embedded the bobber in my styrofoam ceiling.  The next time I used the fish pliers to lift the slimy fish out.

Had 10" of ice where I was, and a lot of large wheelhouses were being pulled out there.  Yesterday someone drove a Jeep out to a wheelhouse close by.  I think we will see a lot more vehicles driving out in the next week.  Fortunately the added weight hasn't pushed much water on top of the ice.

[Cliff Wagenbach 1,077]

Nice fish again! You must have been in that bunch North and East of the landing.

Cliff

[leech~~ 849]

5 hours ago, JerkinLips said:

I did learn a lesson on how to take eelpout off of the hook.  I tried to lift a 20" pout out of the hole by line and the hook pulled out and embedded the bobber in my styrofoam ceiling.  The next time I used the fish pliers to lift the slimy fish out.

 

Well you must be called JerkinLips for a reason!   May be you should switch to the foam bobbers so you don't put an eye out!!

Nice fish.

[FishinCT 84]

Just lip grip the pout like a bass and they can't wrap around your arm!

[JTeeth 14]

Best use I can think of for a selfie stick. Great fish. 

[JerkinLips 332]

22 hours ago, FishinCT said:

Just lip grip the pout like a bass and they can't wrap around your arm!

I'll have to try that next time.  I assume they don't have dangerous teeth?

22 hours ago, FishinCT said:

Just lip grip the pout like a bass and they can't wrap around your arm!

I'll have to try that next time.  I assume they don't have dangerous teeth?

[FishinCT 84]

I remember lipping them all the time on Mille lacs when I was younger. Can't remember if I did it with a glove on or not though. I don't think it's much different than a bass just that sandpapery feeling

[OhioVike 35]

Cheesehead, I don't touch the narrows until Jan.  Then, I inspect it without equipment and stay on the tracks and on the trail across the point by Timbuktu.  I believe it was the last weekend of Feb last year when someone went through there.  There was no snow on the lake yet still thin ice there.  That guy is lucky to be be alive.  I know the dude that saved him. He told me the whole story and my heart rate was up to 150bpm listening to what he did.  

[sheephead2 8]

How much snow is on the lake...Can I get around with atv......

Thanks

[Spearing Machine 52]

9 hours ago, sheephead2 said:

How much snow is on the lake...Can I get around with atv......

Thanks

You'll have no issues getting around with an ATV unless we really get dumped on tomorrow night. Based on my snowmobile ride tonight on the lake I'd guess close to a third is bare spots showing and scattered pin drifts all over maybe to a foot high at best but easily avoidable. 

 

Also FYI: the local snowmobile club on the East end has put up the "road map" signs on the lake and it sounds like by weeks end the lake trails should be getting staked. Just be extra cautious with new pressure ridges in varying areas toss year and with the extreme temp swing coming up we will probably see more heaving occurring. 

[Wicheesehead37 0]

Thanks Ohio! I will remember that, I might try next week and cross north of Timbuktu but south of the islands

[Spearing Machine 52]

Local snowmobile club had now pushed back staking the lake until next week after they have found too much ice variability yet and they prefer to give the lake another week to better solidify.

[Raven77 48]

Coming up with some buddies to fish next week.  Will be out with the Ranger and new skid house on the west end.  What kind of depth and bottom characteristics should we be looking for.  Thanks for any help you can provide.  If you see a white Ranger with tracks and a dark blue skid house stop by and say hi.

[Cliff Wagenbach 1,077]

Raven77,

We have been getting walleyes anywhere from 14' to 32' depths on the East end.

Look for drop off areas close to rocks or else out in the mud in deeper water.

Cliff

 

[JV Ham Lake 0]

Anybody fishing near Daisy Island?  We have a cabin on the island and want to try ice fishing this year.  Do we need to worry about thin ice going out from Grubens?

 

[Cliff Wagenbach 1,077]

Ice should be good in that area.

I have seen fishermen out by Daisy and Banana Islands the past couple of weeks. Must be getting fish there!

Cliff

[JerkinLips 332]

Made it up for my 5th week of ice fishing (one more to go before a break to work).  Action was a little slower, but I did manage to catch 20 walleyes in 2½ days of fishing.  A few dinks, plenty of eaters, and 4 slotters.  Thought I had finally topped 30" when I hooked the fat 26" walleye Thursday at noon (1st picture).  Then Friday at 8:45 I caught the 30-5/8" walleye in the 2nd picture.  She came up quick at first, but when she saw the hole she really took off.  The regulations book chart for this length walleye would be 12½ pounds, but considering how fat she was, I think she topped 13 pounds.  Unfortunately the battery was dead in my scale.  She swam away very energetically.

Best action was with a rainbow on a plain hook the first day-and-a half.  My neighbor said they were biting better on suckers, so I tried those Friday and had better action with them.  However, the big fish was caught on a small chub.  Caught a few fish on small jig/minnow.

Had 11-3/4" of ice and many trucks were driving aroudn out from McKinley Park.  WIth the very cold weather coming the next few days, the ice should be quite good by next weekend.  The snow was starting to drift on the lake.

[tinker 17]

 Really enjoy reading your posts. Thanks.

[PSU 78]

Wow, nice fish Jerkin!!!

[Cliff Wagenbach 1,077]

Great fish! Good fishing report too!

Cliff

[Wanderer 1,135]

@JerkinLips

Thats pretty cool to have a break from work like that and fishable ice.  You have made the most of it.  What’s after the work stint?  Walleyes or lakers?