Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Fished Sat/Sun, about 8 hours each day, with four people total.  Lindy rigged with pike suckers exclusively. Two people were brand new to lindy rigging, and were learning the technique on the fly. 

 

Group caught 28 fish total, kept 12 fish - 10 walleyes and 2 jumbo perch. We got two slot walleyes at 24" and 25", and two good-size northerns as well. Only got two walleye keepers in 15-18" range, the other eight keepers were 12-14".  As others have said, the channels between islands and mainland, or islands and islands, were producing best for us. We caught almost all fish in one of those locations. Depth varied from 17-25', but never really too deep.

 

 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been out every day since Thursday. It's been really tough. Decent amount of small fish but keepers have been few and far between. Haven't found good numbers in any of my usual fall spots. Tried everything I can think of and nothing has worked. Haven't been to big bay much because of wind. Fished frazer and daisy bay mostly. 

 

I'm interested if anyone else is doing any better as well. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kudos to anyone that's been out. We've had 7 straight days of rain and or snow including waking up to 3-4 inches today. Lots of wind with ask three fronts pushing through. Based on my water temps a week ago before the 2 snow events and temps all sub 40. I'd go and say water temps are around 40 now maybe even upper 30s in shallow protected bays. I had 46 on the one day last week we had a couple hours of sun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had water temp at 47 today. I agree that you would think with the temps we've had it'd be lower. Gave jigging raps a good try today so I didn't have to mess with the minnow bucket. Got a 22" and a fingerling. Seemed like a decent amount of guys out today. 

 

I'm officially out of good ideas. If anyone has some suggestions I'll go try them out!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Try running shad raps at ~2mph along first ~10' deep area outside of shallow, weedy bays (Larson for example), especially at or just after dark. Revisit safety considerations. After months of warm water fishing its easy to forget that the consequences of incidents can quickly become life threatening now that we're back to opener water temps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

James you are going to be fine. Weather is going to stabilize this week and I would bet they'll be snapping again by next weekend. The past week the weather has been changing every day and that's what has made it tough I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Funny how things can change so quickly. We were up for the last time of the year (closed Sunday) and had incredible walleye fishing in Frazer / Smarts from Thursday-Sunday. Literally couldn't keep the walleyes off my minnow and jig for three days fishing 30-35 feet. Mostly smaller walleyes (10-12 inches), but keepers were had too.

 

Good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

South end of pike bay was froze over this morning with skim ice. Hope to get back out in the boat this week with average temps "hopefully" on the way by later in the week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SM - thanks for the info.  Might be an early ice fishing start.  Still hope for some more soft water fishing this season, but either way I will be fishing.  Glad I lifted my boat/motor out of the water in Stuntz Bay.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/12/2018 at 8:15 AM, Pat McGraw said:

Try running shad raps at ~2mph along first ~10' deep area outside of shallow, weedy bays (Larson for example), especially at or just after dark. Revisit safety considerations. After months of warm water fishing its easy to forget that the consequences of incidents can quickly become life threatening now that we're back to opener water temps.

I was wondering if raps at 2 mph would work now. Will the fish still chase them down when the water temps are in the low 40s?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fishing Friday and Saturday was a dramatic shift. Seems the west wind got them going. Found a reef on Friday that was loaded up with fish and they were hungry. Fished it for a few hours before losing the battle to the cold. 3 pig smallies up top in 18-20 feet, 3 keeper walleyes between 16-18" and one 25" on the sides of the reef to the transition in 24-30 feet, and 2 jumbos off the transition in the mud at 32 feet. Also lost a BIG fish--the kind that your heart sinks when it comes off the line. 

 

Saturday was more of the same. Biting a little lighter but we managed 6 walleyes from 15-19" in between the rain and getting blown off the lake. Could've easily limited if not for some "miscues"

 

Did try a little bit of trolling close to dark but only picked up a small muskie. Lots of guys out trolling all weekend but I'm not sure if they were going for walleyes or muskies. Interested to know if anyone on here was one of those guys and will give a report. 

 

Wish I was starting my trip now instead of sitting at home. I think this is going to be a phenomenal week of fishing now that the weather is going to stabilize and warm up. Best of luck to everyone the rest of the year and stay safe. Saw some of the biggest waves I've seen on vermilion with the wind last week. Can get hairy pretty quickly out there

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the info!  I just started lead core trolling this past summer but it really quit about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was water temperature but it sounds like I need to switch locations. I had been trolling 24 to 34 feet on Big Bay at 2 mph with #5 raps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, outdoor1 said:

Thanks for the info!  I just started lead core trolling this past summer but it really quit about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was water temperature but it sounds like I need to switch locations. I had been trolling 24 to 34 feet on Big Bay at 2 mph with #5 raps

 

I do a lot of lead core trolloing too.  My expierence has been that when it really cools down like it did a couple weeks ago, you are better of changing tactics to sucker minnows. Maybe others will have a different opinion. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw a lot of guys running planner boards. We braved the cold ride Friday and Saturday, going from the far west end over near Shamrock. We spot locked in the wind and had pretty good success with the 11-13" walleyes but nothing of size except a few beautiful jumbo perch. We just used jigs in 30-35ft of water with rainbow minnows, the smaller the better. Big minnows were useless.

 

We didn't stay at any of the west end locations too long, but mostly because we weren't marking fish and weren't getting any bites. I would have liked to work longer for the bigger fish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Fished mid-east end Saturday evening. 9-10' of water outside weedy bay. Pulling bronze shad-rap at 1.8 to 2mph from half hour before to forty-five minutes after dark. Four eyes ranging from 17 to 20".

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad to see some fishing is still happening and Congratulations on that PB! I’m not surprised. You started the year big so why not a big finish! 

Dick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thx Dick!  The fishing slowed with the big east winds that blew Sunday but we still managed 52 walleye (and a bonus musky) for the weekend with six overs - all casting and all released. The fish were beefy and very aggressive.  Had plans to fish muskies next weekend, but Mother Nature is saying otherwise based on the frigid forecast.  So, that looks like a wrap for the open water season — and it was the best ever. Now looking forward to ice. C’mon cold! 

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

BrianF, if you don't mind me asking, What type of structure were you guys targeting. I've had pretty good luck using casting artificials in the spring, never tried it in the fall though!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reid, we’ve been targeting them on 10-14’ flats that break into deep water. Find them with side imaging, cast, catch, repeat. 

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any current water temp or ice reports? With single digits at night and 20's in the day, first ice can't be too far away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brianf

When you are using artificials, are you casting cranks or more soft plastics on jigs?

Thanks!

Paul

Edited by outdoor1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both actually.  No magic to the presentation.  We usually have some kind of plastic going and some kind of crankbait going to see if there is any preference that day.  Honestly, it doesn’t seem to matter.  What matters most is finding the fish and casting to them.  We’ve caught them on everything from swimbaits to lipless crankbait to untipped hair jigs.  Throw what you have confidence in to a big school of fish and they’ll probably slurp it down.  Next spring... lol

Edited by BrianF
  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Much of pike bay was froze yesterday. This morning it's firmed up much more. Got about 4 inches of snow up here right now so you see a lot of wet spots on the ice right now with it flooding and slushy.  Few more cool days and then warmer on the extended. Not great for ice making.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to 2020-21 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports
  • The title was changed to 2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports
  • The topic was pinned

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • 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.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.