2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[Brody]

5 hours ago, FishinFreak17 said:

My son and I are heading  up to Vermilion Thursday morning and plan on sleeping out in the insulated tent.  First time up this winter, should I bring the snowmobile or the Side by side? I did see a plowed road, but did not see how far out it went, could just trailer all the gear out in the Highlander.  Snow load issues? Night bite?.  Going out of McKinley, any advice welcomed. Thanks

I went out of McKinley today, road is just fine for regular traffic, if you have a truck you can make your own way for the most part.

[james_walleye]

Every hole we checked this weekend on vermilion we had about 14" of great ice.  East side

[Tlund]

Is anything else experiencing a terrible bite the last week or week and a half? Have tried moving the ice castle several times. Tried rock. Tried sand. Tired mud. Different depths. My buddy did decent last weekend 60 yards away from me in his castle on deeper rock. Moved to his spot after he headed back home. Fished it two days and nothing. Over last weekend we did notice a lot of bugs down there when we dropped the camera down. Thinking there is some kind of hatch that is taking place. Couple of our houses in our group did get some slots and nicer fish but they were at night. Seems like this slow fishing is taking place all over the lake. Know quite a few people out there being a local and the report is the same for all. 

[Bbobber]

I have been catching quite a few northerns this week. They were In 9 feet of water, on sucker minnows and big rainbows.  Most of them were in the slot the biggest one was 46 inches. I also caught a 21” walleye last night

[Tlund]

2 hours ago, Bbobber said:

I have been catching quite a few northerns this week. They were In 9 feet of water, on sucker minnows and big rainbows.  Most of them were in the slot the biggest one was 46 inches. I also caught a 21” walleye last night

Awesome, glad to see someone is having success. 

[CigarGuy]

Nice job Bob! Did you catch the walleye in front of your place or out where we were fishing Monday? After watching you drill holes with your new Strikemaster, I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on one. Just trying to figure out how I can hide the purchase from my wife

[Bbobber]

 I had another good day fishing 

We got several northern and crappies, and saved a few for a mealWe got several northern and crappies, and saved a few for a meal. Caught them all right out in front of the cabin. 

9 fow on the edge of weeds

[CigarGuy]

Cool, you staying up for the wknd? I think I'll give it a try tomorrow. Start at my place and see what happens. What time did you get the crappies?

[Bbobber]

I caught them between 4 and 5

Going home on Saturday. We are you going out early tomorrow morning to your spot

[redneckdan]

On 1/5/2021 at 2:50 PM, BrianF said:

Jim Curlee, I’m considering trading-in my Yamaha Venture for a Skandic.  How does it perform in the deep snow and slush?  Anything you’d do differently?  I wanna make this my last snow machine purchase. 

We have a couple of them that are used for search and rescue. They are studded. They work very well in slush and deep snow. We were across Crane and over into little vermillion a couple weeks ago. Several spots had pretty bad slush. The skandics had no problems, the other sleds with us struggled in several spots. We like the skandics a lot better than the venture we had.

Edited January 8, 2021 by redneckdan

[JerkinLips]

Had 5 terrible days of fishing out of McKinley Park since December 28, including last Thursday, January 7 when I did not have a bite from sunrise to sunset.  Finally bit the bullet and took the portable out several miles to get away from the crowds.  Although fishing wasn't awesome, it was much better.  Ended up catching 6 walleyes, including 17" and 18" eaters.  Possible reasons for the tough bite out of the Park: (1) extremely heavy vehicle traffic, (2) very heavy fishing pressure, (3) bug hatch possible, (4) bad weather patter - but 2 weeks? (5) I am a lousy angler.

 

Although the fishing was not good, it was great to be out on the ice.  Sunrise/sunset on Thursday was awesome and the frost was beautiful on Friday.  Won't be up again for 2 weeks, but will move my permanent away from the crowds if the bite hasn't improved.

 

Had 14" of ice in the new location and I didn't hit any slush traveling across Big Bay.  I did see several spots where people had hit slush, but it had frozen over.  With the low snow cover I would assume most slush has frozen.  Water didn't come onto the ice in either location I fished.  Took the side-by-side out for a run in untouched areas and didn't get stuck.  Good luck, and be careful.

[FishinFreak17]

Thursday to Friday morning- Well, we caught four walleye, only two keepers (15, 16”).  They wanted a dead stick and plain hook, lots of lookers while jigging, just wouldn’t bite.  Started in 29 fow and moved up to a 14’ flat structure for overnight camp. All fish caught in 25-31 fow. No marks in 14’.  The big surprise was waking up to -3 degrees vs the forecasted 14 above for the low. Frosted the insulated hub a little bit.  Nice time, just need to find the active fish!

[jim curlee]

Drove by McKinley Park yesterday, looks like a small city out there. 

I've never seen that many ice houses in one area, NO it wasn't awesome.

While we sat there it was a constant parade of vehicles driving out on the ice, and lots of vehicles just "cruising" around.

Good luck catching more than a buzz out there. LOL

[Tlund]

Fishing was terrible again this weekend. It is getting ridiculous out there with people. I have never seen this many people out on the lake before. I have people driving snowmobiles, side by sides, and wheelers right next to my ice castle when they could easily go always away from it.  People setting up 20-30 yards away from my house and other houses we have in our group. These people are on snowmobiles or four wheelers. If you know anything about fishing you would take advantage of being able to go anywhere you wanted on your sleds or wheelers and get away from the crowds. Had one guy on a four wheeler drive 15 feet away from my house right at dark. He was not going slow either. 

[Dialed123]

Fished this past weekend. I was able to use the sled to stay away from any crowds. However the fishing remained slow for me as well.  Maybe I'm just a bad ice fisher as one evening I went 0 for on icing my few quality fish bites! Oh well the frost was beautiful and weather was mild- hopefully next time they'll stay on.

 

[SkunkedAgain]

I always drive to drive away from shelters/fishermen when I see them. I am firmly in the "do one to others as you have them do unto you" category. However, I have noticed that when someone motors by me in a boat, it often triggers a bite. I am not advocating for it, but sometimes I try to keep it in perspective that sometime those inconsiderate people actually help me out. I still don't like it though!

[CigarGuy]

It blows my mind how clueless boaters can be on this lake-guess you could say this about most lakes. When I'm out fishing, they'll cut between me and the shoreline when I'm only a hand full of yards from shore. A lot of them are fellow fisherman who should know better. I also have to mention the pleasure boaters who just wave at ya when they buzz you. 40,000 acres...have some courtesy! Before we bought our cabin, I used to fish the St. Louis river a lot and that was worse.

[Mike89]

that's when I cast the largest dare devil I have... helps out..  

[Influenza]

Spent the weekend up finishing the boathouse on the east side of LV.  I installed ~1,350 sq. ft. of knotty pine t&g while the kids fished on Saturday. Small waldos, burbot, a few nice jumbo perch, and of course tullibee.  Good times!

[CigarGuy]

3 hours ago, Mike89 said:

that's when I cast the largest dare devil I have... helps out..  

A couple years ago, I was fishing a narrow gap between two islands and a jet ski comes flying between me and a shoreline- about 20' between my boat and the shoreline. I'll bet he wasn't 8' from shore and me, going wide open. He then goes on to buzz a houseboat. A little while later a warden checked us and I told him about it, he said "that's what big jigs are for"-scouts honor! It happened so fast, I didn't have time to think about it. I did tell a few choice words

[TomWehler]

Interesting posts about crowds or people.

more people use lake nowadays n buying cabins n giant homes so they look for free info. Over the years this board has been a HINT type board for spots or how to fishy info.

let people figure out on their own type stuff. 
then bout five years ago became a chest pounding or look at me type of forum. Tell all n show all. Silly but was predictable to see that more an more people would find you n fish by you in winter summer or fall.

Easy n Free is the new way of fishn.

No Whining about crowds now as will do ya no good.

over zealous finger info runs wild n there ya go.

kind of funny to me.

fer sure.

The  Donkey side of things people do can’t be helped. Some are just normally rude others have weak gray matter n others just look for a confrontation. Up to you what ya do. Best to just smile an dream if the meds it will be when they do hit a reef or island or shoreline full blast ....KABLAM!

Lung Killer has brought more people to fishen n there are boat loads of really crap fishers around with new electronics that make them get on fish but ya still foots get them to bite. He’ll even few guides I read don’t even fish n spot unless they see fish on their $6k fish finders n that’s just funny.  Anyway.  
lots of really good people used to finger tap on this forum but you see them less now or Never. 
Mersin for that an if you can’t see it you need to laugh more in life n see things for what they are.  

One sorta cool thing is no read anything about politics.  

Cant have things both ways or just yer way. Share info but n pics but don’t expect to be alone if you do it by to the letter on locals or exactly what ya do to reach success.

used to call the winter ice crowd the Deadsea Rangers

30 years later its mini fair on ice or opener.  
progress ain’t always progress or a good thing. 
plus most people these days only look out for them self’s and are ver angry n spoiled.

very spoiled n angry.  Sad

Remember when if you asked for info on crappies at any time you would get ZERO INFO in return.  Think about it!

good to help others n post fun pics but then please do yerself a huge favor an don’t whine about the outcome you receive late in reality.

Just having bit o fun here as use to do as last thing in the world to me to be fun is to talk about a fishy.

Huge Yer wife kiss yer dog have big smiles while call yer mom n Keep on Rocken!

Fat Bottom Girls keep the Rocken world go round!

Be safe. Enjoy all you do n have success in 2021!

T

 

[JerkinLips]

1 hour ago, TomWehler said:

good to help others n post fun pics but then please do yerself a huge favor an don’t whine about the outcome you receive late in reality.

Well stated Tom.  I have had people track me down both winter and summer.  I know because they told me they saw me on the fishing forum.  Not like I am a good angler, or that I am on the hottest spot for fishing on the lake.  I just spend a lot of time wetting a line and sometimes have luck.  Best option is to move if ya don't like being followed; I have not yet had somebody follow me from one spot to another.

 

Love your Goldens.  We have a golden/great peyrennes mix who looks like a golden except she has black fur (part black lab also).

 

Stay healthy and enjoy life.

[TomWehler]

Cool everyone OK with my post an you GET IT!

: )

Humor n honesty...it works.

We all do it for what ever we do it for so I post only to share an have fun watchiing others smille.

Enjoy thee posts n pic's just like a lil edge to the posts formy tatse so people learn rather than just seek n get n move on. Nothing gained nothing learned no memorys just a greasy plate.

: )

Nice to see names I do not know .

Not the norm on most old school fishn Grin n Grab info sites an this sight n crew is by far one of the very best for years now.

Yeah, I dont get paid as I should for saying that nither?

: )

ANyway...post away, share, give me crap if ya will...its all good...just do yerself a favor n the free info commandos hunting up the easy gusto and leave a bit to the imangination if possible......its just as helpful n corney plus fun.

Love to see a rich guy sweat eh!!

: )

If ya see me say HI but autographs still $5 each.

Have a great weekend,  make Big Smiles n Keep on Rocken!

T

 

[SkunkedAgain]

I like your new additions to the family there Tommy. That last one is clearly asking you why the hounds get to be inside, but she has to stay outside!

 

Due to inflation, I think that you should charge $10 for autographs. Smiles are free.

[delcecchi]

Nice pictures, and good to hear from you again.   What's with the hospital picture, that some new thing?    

 

I don't worry about people following me on the lake.....   And I still have one of your riddle posts from long ago.  Haven't figured it out yet....

[TomWehler]

Hi D.    ER vista. Dec. 27 n again on 29th.

buzz around like I do not knowing what Moderation is -  one day n one year after that hart ablation deal heart say up 125. No back down. Few hours make a call they saw come on in. I go down ER Wyoming an they hook me up say “TOMMY. Yer ok but we watch a bit then if no back off give ya a jump n you can head home..OK?”

. “Coolimoolio. Let’s do it”

ZAP n all good. Rest a bit head home!

Arrive at 3 out at 6.  

 

so then on 29th. Same deal. Creepy. So call n bla bla bla. In at 4 —- ZAP out at 7

full check on 8th. No idea why. All good. But as ya know that can just happen with Afib. No pain just freaky!

Houndz worrie more than I ever do.  BONNIE never show feels much as it’s just another thing.

new drug to gobble so help not happen again. Time will tell. 
Ran snowmachine a bunch since n fish’n so No Fear. 
Hut lake again midweek with Marauders n BONNIE just for fun n Sunnies n dead bait some larger pike in this warm weather.

All good.

Had to have a few photos wear’n my custom Venom mask...Ain’t everyday ya get Million volts an go in n come out smile’s n ever so handsome!

Big Smiles!

Keep on Rock’n!

T
 

[delcecchi]

Good to hear you ok.    Us heart guys gotta keep track.   

[SkunkedAgain]

I remember my father wearing the shock vest for his afib just in case things went haywire. After a year of it he got to stop but still had to swallow the rat poison daily. I suppose that I'll be there at some point. Maybe I need to keep running from the sauna to the snowpile to keep my ticker in shape.

 

Stay strong.

[Influenza]

One of my favorite times - Sunday evening looking West across Big Bay all the way to Cook in the distance.  No sounds of generators.  No karaoke speakers blaring across the lake.  No party howlers.  Just the wind and the stars.  

[BrianF]

^^^+1

 

My weekend report...slow.  Had a lot of lookers at prime time but couldn’t get them to commit.  Caught a handful of little tikes, some perch, and one nice pike.  Been fishing Rippin Raps mostly but also caught one walleye on a swimbait.  Might have to resort to tipping with a minnow head, but I’d like to move away from livebait altogether if possible.  Gonna keep experimenting before throwing-in the towel.  The cabin sure was warm and cozy after the day was done.