2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[BigVwalters]

I would watch the reports as it gets closer to 6/13.  I'm heading up this weekend and fishing the west end.  I'll post back after the weekend.

[norwaybay]

Fished the past weekend Norwegian bay.  Friday was great with minnows on a Lindy with three nice 18 inch walleyes in 45 minutes around 9pm.  Tried same spot Saturday with no marks on sonar.  Water temperature 63 degrees and fished in 13-16 feet.  Friday night sonar was full of marks.  Speed drifting ( 0.5 mph) and a red bead were the ticket Friday but not a bite Saturday.  Only difference was a nice breeze blowing in Friday. 

[Rivergroup]

Thanks guys, I'll keep watching.  Can't wait to get there again!

[delcecchi]

Speaking of nice breeze, I wish the howling wind would let up.

[CigarGuy]

Me too. Just got up here and want to go out fishing!

[BigVwalters]

Well I think the fishing would have been great all weekend but the wind would not let up.  Went out early on Saturday morning and tried a spot in wakemup narrows.  Did get one decent eater and no others.  So then moved to a different spot in shallower water (11'-18')on a nice break and caught 4 more keepers and a couple smaller ones.  Tried Saturday night and Sunday morning with pretty much nothing to speak of so we casted for northerns and bass and caught a couple.  That east wind was not helping our cause.  Pretty windy most of the weekend.

[BigVTim]

Tried the south side of Wake Em Up bay for a few hours last Saturday AM with leaches along that shoreline. A few very light bites but that's it. Saw a few getting caught but didn't have minnows. Felt like the bites were the small perch just harassing it. Was fishing between 18-30 FOW. Sounds like they are up shallower? Anyone pulling crawler harnesses on the west side?

 

Did end up musky fishing the rest of the trip and hooked into this 45", so that made up for the slow walleye.

 

[SkunkedAgain]

A nice musky can easily make up for a slow day searching for walters. Nice catch and pic

[Koski]

On 6/1/2020 at 6:38 PM, Rivergroup said:

I'm in a group of 5 that heads to Vermilion once a year.  We'll be on the West end starting 6/13.  We're open to traveling but will be looking for walleye primarily.  I'll keep an eye on the message board, but any input for success would be appreciated.  In the past, we've had luck with crawlers and leeches, but not much with minnows.  We've had the most luck with lindy rigs and slip bobbers.  We'd like to get ahold of some crappies too if anyone has any pointers.  We're used to Mississippi River fishing so we're kind of at a disadvantage when it comes to Vermilion.  Thank you in advance!

 

 

[CLOTAGAMES]

Were up over Memorial Day and the wife and i had the time of our life fishing walleyes on west end one night. Dropped in a leech on a Lindy rig about 8 and went about 25 feet and wife hooked a nice 25 Incher.  Got situated again and over the next hour I caught 6. A 23, 24, 24.5, 25, a 27 and on the last pass of thee night a 30 to tie my personal best. Next night, same time and spot and not a bite.

[mulefarm]

Some nice fish!

[Cobber]

Does anybody have any advice to find Sunnies on the lake??

Heading up to Vermilion for the weekend and usually chase Walleye, but my son wants to get some fishing action.

We usually chase panfish together for the excitement and numbers (always fun to watch the bobber go down )-

Is there anywhere that a guy can look to find sunnies on Vermilion?? I've never heard of it so I'm worried that may not be an option..

 

We are on the south side of Big Bay near Pike Bay / Everett Bay road, but can boat to where we would need to!

 

Thanks!!

-Cobber

[CigarGuy]

3 hours ago, Cobber said:

Does anybody have any advice to find Sunnies on the lake??

Heading up to Vermilion for the weekend and usually chase Walleye, but my son wants to get some fishing action.

We usually chase panfish together for the excitement and numbers (always fun to watch the bobber go down )-

Is there anywhere that a guy can look to find sunnies on Vermilion?? I've never heard of it so I'm worried that may not be an option..

 

We are on the south side of Big Bay near Pike Bay / Everett Bay road, but can boat to where we would need to!

 

Thanks!!

-Cobber

Lots of spots on the west end, just find weeds. Wakemup Bay and Partridge River. Can't help you on the east end. Probably, just find some weeds.

[Dash 1]

Any bay should with weeds. Was there two years ago and found them in 7-12 ft water with weeds. Bonus bass and northern as well. Good eating size and bigger. Get a Fishing Hot Spots map and it will show you some areas to try. We stayed near Frazier Bay and went towards St Mary’s Island. Lots of bay areas there. Good luck. I envy you. Hope to get there this year or next. Definitely a fun lake. 

[Rivergroup]

We’re here on vermilion now. Caught some beautiful small mouths. Any current walleye report for the west end?

[delcecchi]

2 hours ago, Rivergroup said:

We’re here on vermilion now. Caught some beautiful small mouths. Any current walleye report for the west end?

Up 3 posts, if you consider thursday current....

[Golly G]

19 hours ago, delcecchi said:

Up 3 posts, if you consider thursday current....

Last Thursday was much cooler than this up coming week. We are heading out tonight to give west side a try for some walleye just how CLOTAGAMES said he did. Does anyone know how the walleye will respond to the heat increase this week? The fish here act differently than what we are used to so we would love some insight. Thanks in advance! 

[james_walleye]

My guess is the heat increase right now will bring on some big hatches and keying in on that will be your answer. 

[BirchPtMike]

Bite is OK right now if you can stand the wind Saw first minnows at my dock so reefs should get better soon Crawlers by far best bait for me, but leeches work also.Cant say if minnows are good .Quit messing with them. Agree with James,should see bugs soon. Not many yet

[Muskyhunter73]

My parents have a place in Everett bay. Dad and I did really well for walleyes on our most recent trip. We fished thursday, friday, and saturday. Our best catches were the last couple hours prior to sunset in about 12 feet of water on a sand/rock transition on a slip bobber setup with a leech.  Here was our numbers for the days:

 

Thursday: 18 caught between 10-18 inches

Friday: 21 caught all between 12-15 inches

Saturday: 24 caught between 8-15 inches

 

The perch was 13.5 inches long for comparison in the photo. We did try some musky fishing and moved one 50+ incher in the weeds. We caught a few northern's while fishing for musky's as well. 

 

 

[chucker1101]

Made a decision to fish minnows this weekend, and didn't do well - two or three small walleyes and a couple of nice perch. Reports i'm hearing are saying crawlers are working best. Wind was a PITA all weekend.

 

Saw my first mayfly hatch on Saturday night, off our dock on South Pine Island.

[EyeWannabee]

Fished June 6-12.  Focused on walleye primarily but my group caught just about every species the lake had to offer.  We have been coming to vermilion for over a decade now and can say this was our best year for quantity and quality for walleye.  Group landed a 29”, 26” and 25.5” as well as numerous 17-19.5” eater eyes.  The bass were there but I think the main spawn was a week earlier as we caught many that were flat bellied.  Managed a 20” and plenty of 15-19” small mouths.  Walleye technique primarily lindy rigs with leeches from 18-30’ depending on the area but slip bobbers did take some fish as well.  Crawlers and minnows worked too.   Fished big bay, Canfield and pike bay for the eyes.  As for bass, mepps and topwater baits took most of the fish along the banks.   The lake never seems to disappoint even with the frequent weather changes last week.  Can’t wait till next year .  Here are some of our better fish.  

[Hockeyboys]

Any advice on getting the right rod, reel and line for trolling later this summer?  I haven't done it before and plan to take a shot at it.  I have no gear right now so if anyone can offer suggestions I would appreciate it.  I'm planning for trolling shad raps and other baits like it.  What rod action would you recommend?  Do you use a reel with a line counter?

[Sorgy]

Hockeyboys,

I take it you are talking trolling leadcore. I do not do that but I know that linecounter reels are a big part of the game. It's all about repeatability and the ability to get down 25 ft.

 

Good Luck I will be waiting to see what is recommended.

 

Steve

[muskie-mike]

I use a 7 to 9 ft Shimano rod,Okuma line counter reel,Suffix 832 12 lb test leadcore with a 30 ft mono leader...

[BirchPtMike]

My setup is similar to Muskie Mike use 17 lb Advanced Suffix Lead with a 15' Flurocarbon leader Rod and reel pretty much the same

[Raven77]

I use Shimano Talora 8' trolling rods and Shimano Tecota line counter reels spooled with 18# Suffix Advanced lead core.  You will need a 15' leader as well.  Most people use flourocarbon but I prefer braid.  You can skimp a bit on the rods but buy high quality line counter reels.  Also, it makes it easier if everyone in your boat is using similar reel and line setups .  Do an internet search and you will find all kinds of good info.  Can be a very productive way to fish, especially late summer when fish are scattered on the flats.  Good luck!

[arctic_scrap1]

I'm heading to Vermilion some time the middle of next week to try for my first muskie. My plan is to stay at Wakemup campground for 2 nights and fish the west side. I'm gonna try to stick to structure/weeds in under 10ft of water and tossing some small to midsize baits. Does that sound like a decent plan? Do I have a chance for smallmouth in the same area muskie are hanging out?

Edited June 18, 2020 by arctic_scrap1

[CLOTAGAMES]

45 minutes ago, arctic_scrap1 said:

I'm heading to Vermilion some time the middle of next week to try for my first muskie. My plan is to stay at Wakemup campground for 2 nights and fish the west side. I'm gonna try to stick to structure/weeds in under 10ft of water and tossing some small to midsize baits. Does that sound like a decent plan? Do I have a chance for smallmouth in the same area muskie are hanging out?

Sounds like a good plan. 

[delcecchi]

12 hours ago, arctic_scrap1 said:

I'm heading to Vermilion some time the middle of next week to try for my first muskie. My plan is to stay at Wakemup campground for 2 nights and fish the west side. I'm gonna try to stick to structure/weeds in under 10ft of water and tossing some small to midsize baits. Does that sound like a decent plan? Do I have a chance for smallmouth in the same area muskie are hanging out?

I get smallies in more rocky areas which can have muskies too.  Weedy areas seem to sometimes have Muskys but I don't get smallies in weeds.  Largemouth sometimes though.     

I also see guys fishing Musky out over deep water especially in head-o-lakes along west side of schmidt island.  Not sure about what time of year or lures involved.   Both casting and trolling.     Nothing like coming in near dark and almost running over some guys side planer. Those things can be sort of hard to see at low light.