2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[SkunkedAgain]

Nice fish. The lake should be open at least another week or two. Don't put those fishing poles away just yet!

[side_laker]

Anyone know if there are any landings ice free right now. 

[SkunkedAgain]

The ones on the west end were iced over on Friday. I busted through the Wakemup landing Friday night, and then opened up the one at The Landing on Sunday. However, I assume that they have iced over once again. I don't know about the rest of the lake.

[SpoonGoon27]

Always heard stories of the Monster ice crappie bite on the West end, but have never had much luck with it. With the ice conditions improving, I am eager to get out and try again this year

Edited December 2, 2020 by SpoonGoon27

[Bbobber]

Does anybody know what the ice conditions are on the west end of the lake. I am hoping to get out this weekend hoping to find some of those monster crappies.

[CigarGuy]

58 minutes ago, Bbobber said:

Does anybody know what the ice conditions are on the west end of the lake. I am hoping to get out this weekend hoping to find some of those monster crappies.

Hi Bob, did you see my picture taken out in front of my place? The son of the guy that lives on Partridge Rd was out fishing out there-in the middle of the channel. Went out from Ron's access. Also, snowmobile tracks out along our shoreline. Ron didn't know how they did fishing. Did you get a deer? I might be up this weekend, if my layoff starts Friday. 

Edited December 3, 2020 by CigarGuy

[CigarGuy]

7 hours ago, SpoonGoon27 said:

Always heard stories of the Monster ice crappie bite on the West end, but have never had much luck with it. With the ice conditions improving, I am eager to get out and try again this year

Been looking for 7+ years, get a few here and there, no consistency! Spring/fall is a different story

[JerkinLips]

Finally got out fishing at McKinley Park today. Missed the morning bite but still got plenty of bites up until 3pm when they shut off. Catching was another story. They were biting nice and solid but missed about 70% of the bites. Did end up getting a small meal. Chubs were twice as good as pike suckers. Fuel and Food didn't have rainbows or shiners so I may go to the Y tomorrow to see if they have any. Good to be out again.

[SkunkedAgain]

I appreciate that you put a cylindrical object in the photo for scale.

[Wicheesehead37]

Nice work Jerkin!  As always stay safe!  Is there a Ice depth report?  I am not an ice fisherman,  do have a remote place on the lake tho and itching to get up after Xmas.

[Bbobber]

I was out this weekend. We had 5-6" of ice Sunday

morning. I caught 5 northerns on sucker minnows

3 in the slot biggest one was 36". One crappie and some

bluegills. Very nice weekend.

[CigarGuy]

1 hour ago, Bbobber said:

I was out this weekend. We had 5-6" of ice Sunday

morning. I caught 5 northerns on sucker minnows

3 in the slot biggest one was 36". One crappie and some

bluegills. Very nice weekend.

Hey Bob, nice going. Did you get them in your normal spot?

[Pat McGraw]

JerkinLips and Bbobber, Would you mind sharing depth and bottom type? Thx.

[JerkinLips]

Left the lake at 1pm today.  Added 1/2" of ice (now have 6.5") from Tuesday to Thursday; pretty good considering how warm it was.  My fishing holes from yesterday evening had 1/4" of ice on them this morning even though it didn't get below freezing last night.  Pictures are from McKinley Park when I was leaving.  If we don't get much snow before it gets cold next week the ice will be great for vehicle travel.

 

Fishing was another story.  Went to the Y-store Wednesday morning and the only minnows they had were light northerns and crappie minnows.  I took a dozen light northerns for emergency use.  What a mistake.  These minnows were bigger (6-8") than I even like to use for lake trout.  Never did try using them.  Kept recycling my leftover pike suckers and chubs.  I think I caught 3 walleyes on the same used chub.  Kind of felt sorry for the poor minnow subjecting him to repeated trauma.  Wish I had rainbows or even more chubs.  Walleyes were small (10-16") except for the 28", 6#-13oz that I caught today on a 4½" pike sucker on a plain hook.  She bit fairly light and didn't even peel out any drag.  Watching her come up to the hole through the dark ice was quite a show.  Like a big screen TV, I think the ice made her look much bigger.  Had trouble getting her head into the 7" hole, but she was heathily released after taking the poor-quality photo.  Fished in 26 FOW over a muddy bottom.  Lively chubs or small (3½-4") pike suckers on a plain hook were the best although I did catch a couple on a 3-segmented jig.  I am sure rainbows would have been even better.  Good luck if you venture out this weekend and be careful on the ice.

[SkunkedAgain]

Nice one. Big walleye through the hole are a hoot!

[JerkinLips]

2 minutes ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Nice one. Big walleye through the hole are a hoot!

It's the best in my portable when I have a 3x6 foot observation screen to watch the action.  She hovered just under the ice for probably 10-15 seconds before her head went toward the hole.

[Dialed123]

Got out on the ice today. Tried Frazer around the boat landing area. Had a hard time getting them to open their mouths. One good bite on a dead stick that got off other than that just a few nibbles. 

[Raven77]

You are the man JL!  Nothing like the thrill of coaxing a big walleye through a hole in the ice.  I've never gotten the shakes catching a big fish in open water but I sure have pulling in a big one through the ice.  Can't wait to get out on the LV ice.

[Influenza]

So happy to see all the ice.  Is it safe to walk out to the islands on the east side?  Ely? Birch? Taylor?  Heading up after Christmas!  I can’t wait any longer.

[JerkinLips]

5 hours ago, Influenza said:

So happy to see all the ice.  Is it safe to walk out to the islands on the east side?  Ely? Birch? Taylor?  Heading up after Christmas!  I can’t wait any longer.

Entire east end of the lake should be safe for walking if you are cautious around narrows.  My friend walked out to Rasberry island and found 6.5 inches of ice.  My Stuntz Bay boathouse neighbor was going to drive his Polaris Ranger out to his cabin on Ely Island this weekend.  Many people were driving ATVs out from McKinley Park and a couple of snowmobiles went from Stuntz Bay to Big Bay.  I will be up again December 16-18 and have a new ice report then.

[CigarGuy]

My son and buddy tried fishing Vermilion yesterday and didn't do well. I got up here today and we decided to try a different lake for some panfish. We checked out some lakes on Navionics we've never fished before and went north a bit in search of some fish. We found about 7" of ice, caught approximately 30 crappies up to 12", a couple of small walleyes 31" pike and some smaller sunfish. Kinda sad, we have a place on a 40,000 acre and had to go to a different lake to get some safe ice and fish. We kept some crappies for a nice dinner. A fun day on the ice!

[BigVTim]

Curious how the west side is in the wintertime. You'd think some of the deep holes in Wakemup Bay hold fish. I'm new-ish to the lake in winter and wondering if there are any sketchy spots to definitely avoid throughout the winter as the ice gets thick enough for an ATV. I think Wakemup narrows by Ludlows is safe as the snowmobile trail goes through there. I know Oak Narrows gets soft with the current. Anyone been fishing out of Pederson launch or wakemup bay at all?

[SpoonGoon27]

@BigVTim Fishing on the west end of the lake in the wintertime can be very very good. I've had a lot of luck over the years fishing in Wakemup and Head O'

Lakes bay. Access is limited however which keeps the pressure away for the most part. Have caught a many of fish in the 27-29in class fishing said structure. Keep those bright fluorescent colors honest around rock/sand transitions in mid twenties range and you will find sucess.

 

Tight lines

-SpoonGoon

[delcecchi]

There are a couple spots I am aware of on the west end that are best avoided.    Mostly near shore or in narrow spots, like around Schmidt's Island and between it and Taylor's island.    Years ago a guy went through the ice in mid winter in that area on a sled, didn't make it out.   It is believed he made  a wrong turn in the dark.    Lived in the area.   

[SkunkedAgain]

That's good to know Del. I know about all of the hazard bouys there during open water, but was not aware of the ice being thin around there in the winter.

 

Maybe 15yrs ago, I left a friend's place on the south shore of Head O Lakes near Pehrson's. It was one of those -35 degree evenings and the wind was really blowing the snow around. I headed out into the middle of the bay -- west of Schmidts Island -- when I suddenly realized that I had lost my sense of direction. I couldn't see more than 5-10 feet due to all of the blowing snow and being after dark. I angled right and went slowly until I hit a shoreline and then cruised for a while. I thought that I was along Schmidts Island but ended up realizing that I had gone all the way into Richie Bay. It's not hard to run afoul even when you know the lake like the back of your hand. I should have recognized the conditions sooner and followed shorelines the entire way. I'm glad that I didn't get lost and venture between Schmidts and Taylors Islands.

Edited December 15, 2020 by SkunkedAgain

[Bbobber]

On 12/12/2020 at 11:27 PM, CigarGuy said:

My son and buddy tried fishing Vermilion yesterday and didn't do well. I got up here today and we decided to try a different lake for some panfish. We checked out some lakes on Navionics we've never fished before and went north a bit in search of some fish. We found about 7" of ice, caught approximately 30 crappies up to 12", a couple of small walleyes 31" pike and some smaller sunfish. Kinda sad, we have a place on a 40,000 acre and had to go to a different lake to get some safe ice and fish. We kept some crappies for a nice dinner. A fun day on the ice!

I’m glad to see you guys caught some fish. I caught mine in front of the cabin. We should have some good ice now so I’ll go adventuring on the snowmobile. Are you going to be up over the holidays I’m hoping to get up this weekend

[CigarGuy]

1 hour ago, Bbobber said:

I’m glad to see you guys caught some fish. I caught mine in front of the cabin. We should have some good ice now so I’ll go adventuring on the snowmobile. Are you going to be up over the holidays I’m hoping to get up this weekend

I'm up now till Christmas, going home for a couple days and back up for New Year's with the family. Friday was my last day at work for the winter, so I'll be up most of the winter . Maybe hook up with you this weekend and do some fishing.

[Wicheesehead37]

Any ice Depth reports?  I hear 4 wheeler going back and forth to Hinsdale by the narrows. Thanks!

[SpoonGoon27]

Fishing has been steady as of recently. There is a bite window at first light, and I have seen a nice bite window mid-day between 12-2, mostly hitting dead sticks (plain hook). Things really ramp up for the last 45 minutes or so of daylight. If you can hang out after dark we have found some success on set lines, we have stuck a couple in the slot after hours which has been rewarding. Getting 12-14 inchers for the pan each day in the 20-26 FOW.

 

-Tight Lines LV fisherman!

[JerkinLips]

9.5 inches of ice outside of McKinley Park bay so it added 3 inches since I was up last Thursday.   Caught a handful of eyes 11-16" in 5 hours of fishing. One on a rainbow and the test on chubs. All on plain hooks. 28 fow.  Pictures shown out from McKinley Park. Found a bit of garbage just out from the park that I picked up while walking back in. Love watching the fish come up through the clear ice. Good luck and be safe.