2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[BWpineisland]

We finally found some fish and had a pretty good day mid-lake. Leeches and crawlers on a Lindy rig. The ladies also caught some nice eyes on a jig and leech. Bite was stronger in the morning.  

[StillFishin']

What do you mean by mid lake?

[BWpineisland]

2 hours ago, StillFishin' said:

What do you mean by mid lake?

Fectos Point area

[BWpineisland]

Fectos Point area

[Wheres_Walter]

We also caught a limit of eaters (13"-15") in the mornings at 18 FOW on a flat near a rockpile using a chartruese jig and half a crawler.   I'd normally expect that leeches would be the ticket at this time of year.  but we tried crawlers with the warmer water temps and had moderate success.  maybe not impressive numbers or size, but at least we ate well.  

[muskie-mike]

Fishing stinks....no reports.??...

[Muskyhunter73]

18 hours ago, muskie-mike said:

Fishing stinks....no reports.??...

Been having no trouble finding the walleyes but getting them to bite is the problem. With the mayfly hatch on big bay they are full! As for muskies been moving a few. I think over last two days we have seen 8-9. Couple really active ones but no takers yet!

[JerkinLips]

Fished 4 hours each am and pm Thursday-Saturday.  Fishing was tough but I did manage to catch a few eyes, most of which were 10-13".  Had to move around to find biting fish.  Biggest was the pictured 22" slotter.  Next biggest was only 15", and this fish fought like a slotter last night (maybe a sign they are getting more active).  Lots of mayflies on the water surface Thursday, and also saw a lot of clouds in the water column.  Soudan friend said he heard locals were not catching anything, and the CO that checked me Saturday evening said that anglers were not having much luck.  Lively leeches were better Thursday-Friday.  Didn't get a bite Friday evening, then Saturday evening I caught 6 eyes from 830-930 on half a crawler on a plain red hook.  Guess I got lucky and found a school that was hungry.  Best part of the trip was that the lake was VERY quiet and the sunsets were great each night.  Good luck fishing and enjoy the lake.

[schmitty3]

On 6/27/2021 at 12:11 AM, Muskyhunter73 said:

Been having no trouble finding the walleyes but getting them to bite is the problem. With the mayfly hatch on big bay they are full! As for muskies been moving a few. I think over last two days we have seen 8-9. Couple really active ones but no takers yet!

 

We had the same experience last week.  Found the walleyes schooled up pretty good, but getting them to go was a different story.  The fish we did catch were spitting up mayflys. 

 

I did find a school of active fish Thursday mid day, and put together a limit of 16-19" fish pretty quick.  These fish were in 16-20 feet of water over big boulders.  Jig and a leech got them to go. 

[Smallmouth66]

I have never been on the lake before and will be staying on the west side July 10-17. I would like to catch walleye and smallies. I am mostly a jig and slip bobbers fisherman. I have never used a Lindy rig but might have to learn. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will post when I get back.

 Thanks 

[delcecchi]

32 minutes ago, Smallmouth66 said:

I have never been on the lake before and will be staying on the west side July 10-17. I would like to catch walleye and smallies. I am mostly a jig and slip bobbers fisherman. I have never used a Lindy rig but might have to learn. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will post when I get back.

 Thanks 

Senkos on shallow rocks might do it for smallies.

[BigVTim]

Almost banged my head on my steering wheel this weekend it was so frustrating. Skunked except a few tiny perch. Tried absolutely everything and fished both walleye and musky. I saw the mayflies too. Just feels like the lake is chock-full of food right now and nothing is going. Fished Norwegian Bay, Wake-m-up, Niles, Wolf, Smarts and Frasier. Tried jigging, rigging, trolling, floats, plastics, leaches, worms, cranks, lead in 6-40 FOW. I need a beer.

[TrueNorth]

2 hours ago, BigVTim said:

Almost banged my head on my steering wheel this weekend it was so frustrating. Skunked except a few tiny perch. Tried absolutely everything and fished both walleye and musky. I saw the mayflies too. Just feels like the lake is chock-full of food right now and nothing is going. Fished Norwegian Bay, Wake-m-up, Niles, Wolf, Smarts and Frasier. Tried jigging, rigging, trolling, floats, plastics, leaches, worms, cranks, lead in 6-40 FOW. I need a beer.

We were up the 2nd week of June.  Fishing was definitely tough and would also echo the baitfish/food supply is insane.  Found a little pattern late in the week.  Go opposite of the the hatch (perch) and drag the loudest colors you can find to separate yourself a little.  (2) 24" walleye were the largest for the week.  

Edited June 28, 2021 by TrueNorth

[SkunkedAgain]

Well, if everyone is eating their fill that hopefully means they are growing bigger for the future!

[StateofHockey]

We had a good weekend with the walleyes, using Lindy's and slip bombers, leeches slightly better then crawlers. Fishing 26-27 fow between multiple humps. Sunsets were awesome too.

[Brianf.]

Still finding crappies in 2’ of water.  76-78 degree surface temps.  Found em while searching for gills.  Figured they’d all be long gone and in deeper water by now.  Fish never cease to surprise. 

 

[Mwdbuckeye]

Heading up to the east end last week of July.  Thinking of a day trip on Trout Lake - is it worth the effort?   Kids want to catch a lake trout, but I hear it is not what it once was.  Maybe bigger walleyes?  Thanks, and tight lines!

 

[Muskyhunter73]

We made a run up to the west end Friday in the drizzle. I had heard about the ciscoes in Head of the Lakes Bay but had never seen them. My god were they stacked in there and the muskies were right with them! We trolled a bit between the 10 or so boats casting. Pretty cool to see!

[BigVwalters]

Up over the last weekend and enjoyed a long and hot weekend.  I had water temps on the west end around at 77-80 degrees depending on where you were at.  The walleyes were starting to bite again after the mayfly hatch happened.  Lindys and crawlers mostly between 10-20' fow.  Fished only the low light periods of the day so I'm not sure if anyone was getting any during the day. ( Too hot for me!)  Caught 10 fish in 3 outing between saturday and sunday.  Most fish were between 11"-16"  but did manage 2 slot fish 23", 24".  The wind was pretty steady Saturday so I made it a point to fish the wind blown shorelines right before dark and it seemed to pay off a little bit.  Any body else have any luck?

[CFD200]

I went out only on Friday night without much luck.  Saw a few on the Panoptix but none caught.  The rest of the weekend was occupied by what most cabin owners experience, cabin maintenance.  Looks like a good weekend to paint this weekend?  After that I will concentrate more on fishing.

[SkunkedAgain]

The panfish were hot as usual, but we didn't try anything else.

[james_walleye]

Skunked are you finding any crappies? I'll be up in 10 days. I think i might venture west and snoop around for some panfish

[Wellesy]

Anybody finding any smallmouth?  I've been out a couple times the last few weekends with no success.

 

[SkunkedAgain]

I only get crappies off my dock in the spring, or just the occasional lucky one. I think that most of the crappies have moved deeper.

[muskie-mike]

1 hour ago, Wellesy said:

Anybody finding any smallmouth?  I've been out a couple times the last few weekends with no success.

 

Same here,only a few small ones in the reeds...

[PSU]

Any walleye updates in the Frazer/Smarts Bay area? Depth and bait ?

[Dash 1]

Been fishing big bay area last 2 days. Just picking up a couple 12-15 inch walleye and 2 nice perch in 16-20 ft. Going to try to find some sunfish today for a small fish fry tonight.  Hopefully the haze clears out to see better sunsets and stars at night. Good luck everyone. 

[EyeWannabee]

1 hour ago, PSU said:

Any walleye updates in the Frazer/Smarts Bay area? Depth and bait ?

Niles and wolf bay getting some slot walleyes on leeches 8-12’ morning and evenings

[redlabguy]

It’s been tough. In Frazer I’m finding one here one there on rocky humps. Four or five snags per fish. Tried slip bobber this AM but caught only bass. But if you’re after bass, give it a try. 

[fishingMN4eyes]

Question for Vermillion regulars/locals: Potentially looking to stay at a place down in the elbow near the Pike River Dam. Looks like skinny water back there but it looks like there are plenty of docks too. Is it safe to assume you can safely navigate out to Pike Bay (and then the main lake from there)?