2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[CigarGuy]

There was a road going out of Spring Bay Resort last winter to a couple of houses. I don't know if it's a private road or open to the public. Sure would be nice if someone did have plowed access on the west end. I want to build a small skid house that I can move around with a snowmobile.  I'd rather build it bigger so I could spend the day out there and be able to take a nap if needed. If the plowed road is there this year, I'll stop and talk to them.

[JerkinLips]

12 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

I want to build a small skid house that I can move around with a snowmobile.  I'd rather build it bigger so I could spend the day out there and be able to take a nap if needed

I built one 5 years ago but it ended up being a little too heavy and difficult to pull through deep snow with a snowmobile so I don't move it much.  It is nice and cozy but I may fish out of a portable more this year to move around.

[StateofHockey]

Got here near sunset, drilled 4-5 holes going straight out from shoreline around NW side of Moccasin point found 5" to 4 1/4" solid clear ice. Thicker ice near shore, thinner as I went out about 75 yards.  Didn't venture farther as it was getting dark and lacked proper safety equipment. Ice seemed ok but clear so looked very black.

 

[CigarGuy]

On 11/25/2021 at 9:43 PM, JerkinLips said:

I built one 5 years ago but it ended up being a little too heavy and difficult to pull through deep snow with a snowmobile so I don't move it much.  It is nice and cozy but I may fish out of a portable more this year to move around.

What size is your house? What materials did you use? I'm afraid that I'll have trouble pulling it off the ice late season if I go too big.

[StateofHockey]

Ice conditions at Moccasin point. Just a reminder to be very careful in and around channels. While I measured 4 1/2" around the corner from Moccasin point, if a guy went straight off the boat landing into the channel area he would very likely break though the thin ice due to currents.

[JerkinLips]

10 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

What size is your house? What materials did you use? I'm afraid that I'll have trouble pulling it off the ice late season if I go too big.

4'w x 8'L x 6.5'h.  1/2" plywood floor and roof with 2x3 framing.  2x4 for skids (bottom smooth with 1/8" plywood).  1/8" plywood walls with 2x2 frame and 1.5" styrofoam insulation.  It weighs about 120-130 pounds.

 

First year I pulled it out about 4 miles and had to pack a trail back to easily pull it off the lake with my snowmobile (studded track) in the morning when the snow was hard at the end of the season.  If I got chains for the Polaris Ranger I am sure that would pull a lot better.

[CigarGuy]

33 minutes ago, JerkinLips said:

4'w x 8'L x 6.5'h.  1/2" plywood floor and roof with 2x3 framing.  2x4 for skids (bottom smooth with 1/8" plywood).  1/8" plywood walls with 2x2 frame and 1.5" styrofoam insulation.  It weighs about 120-130 pounds.

 

First year I pulled it out about 4 miles and had to pack a trail back to easily pull it off the lake with my snowmobile (studded track) in the morning when the snow was hard at the end of the season.  If I got chains for the Polaris Ranger I am sure that would pull a lot better.

Thanks. Wonder if 4x6 would work better. I was thinking of 2x6 for skids. I got a side by side a couple years ago and got it stuck in some hard pack snow, I'm afraid to go on the lake now with too much snow and packed down snowmobile tracks. I have winches on the front and back, but too much work digging them out when you get stuck, especially after having the heart attack in Sept.

[Mike89]

tracks

[CigarGuy]

6 minutes ago, Mike89 said:

tracks

Would be nice, but $$$. Probably stick to my portable

[Wanderer]

3 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

Would be nice, but $$$. Probably stick to my portable

Chains are a game changer too and cheaper.  Not as effective as tracks but still huge.

[CigarGuy]

24 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Chains are a game changer too and cheaper.  Not as effective as tracks but still huge.

Might have to invest in some. Thanks

[Influenza]

47 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Chains are a game changer too and cheaper.  Not as effective as tracks but still huge.

Agreed. Chains help a lot but still struggle in the deep snow. Tracks some day for the UTV, but they are crazy spendy. 

[JerkinLips]

7 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

Wonder if 4x6 would work better. I was thinking of 2x6 for skids.

4'x6' would save a little bit of weight, but would reduce the surface area for floating on snow.  I have been thinking of making a 6'x8' to better accommodate the occasional guest.  I would put this close to a plowed road for easy access and removal at the end of the season.  Then use the 4'x8' for further out on the lake.

 

2x6 skids would give a little more clearance for the bottom over snow and water on top of the ice, and wouldn't add much weight.  I put electrical conduit on the bottom of my skids for wear strips and tracking.  This is the floor before insulation, sheathing underneath, and conduit.

[CigarGuy]

47 minutes ago, JerkinLips said:

4'x6' would save a little bit of weight, but would reduce the surface area for floating on snow.  I have been thinking of making a 6'x8' to better accommodate the occasional guest.  I would put this close to a plowed road for easy access and removal at the end of the season.  Then use the 4'x8' for further out on the lake.

 

2x6 skids would give a little more clearance for the bottom over snow and water on top of the ice, and wouldn't add much weight.  I put electrical conduit on the bottom of my skids for wear strips and tracking.  This is the floor before insulation, sheathing underneath, and conduit.

Problem with the west end is no plowed roads. Safest setup is my sled and portable. We've had so darn much slush the last few years, even that setup can be challenging at times.

[JerkinLips]

22 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

Problem with the west end is no plowed roads. Safest setup is my sled and portable. We've had so darn much slush the last few years, even that setup can be challenging at times.

First year I put it out I went 3 miles out from the closest plowed road.  Used the lake snowmobile trail for a few miles, then packed my own trail before dragging it out.  Slush could be a problem but you could do the same thing (pack a trail with your sled the night before and let it freeze overnight).  Portables are much easier to move, but not as comfortable as a wood house.

 

Vermilion Ice Conditions - heard there was still open water on Big Bay Thursday and Friday.  Not sure if I will go out 7 days from now.

[SkunkedAgain]

Last year was the first time that I remember seeing any plowed roads out of the west end. I agree about chains making a huge difference on ATVs, but not if the snow is deep. Sleds ride on the snow. ATVs need to get down to the ice or packed snow.

 

It has been a while since I have heard of any guides setting out sleepers. If one did, they would need to do some good advertising to make it worth it.

[Influenza]

How is the ice for walking conditions on the East side?  From McKinley Park or Stuntz Bay to Ely Island?  Must be close to walkable. 

[Raven77]

Haven't gotten this one stuck yet.  Does a great job of pulling my 8x12 Aluma Lite skid house.  Will be doing a lot more exploring with it this winter as long as conditions are decent.

 

The "ice road" out of Spring Bay last year was really just a packed trail made by a couple friends of mine pulling their skid houses with 4 wheelers and snowmobiles.  To my knowledge no one is plowing roads onto the ice on the west end.

 

IMO, not having miles and miles of ice roads on LV is a blessing for walleye populations.  LOTW had over 2.8 million hours of ice fishing time.

 

 

[Wanderer]

16 hours ago, Raven77 said:

 

IMO, not having miles and miles of ice roads on LV is a blessing for walleye populations.  LOTW had over 2.8 million hours of ice fishing time.

Covet that remoteness as much as possible.  Once it changes, it becomes “Just another lake”.

[Wicheesehead37]

Still open water out there in big bay?

[SkunkedAgain]

Raven - you bought a tank!  That is a serious machine there. I know who I am calling the next time that I get stuck on the lake.

 

BTW, nice framing of the sun in that picture.

[Raven77]

Thanks Andy.  You know where to find me if you need a tug. 

[CigarGuy]

On 11/27/2021 at 2:14 PM, CigarGuy said:

Might have to invest in some. Thanks

I was looking at chains online, didn't realize there's so many different kinds and price points. What should a person look for?  When I had just a 4 wheeler, when I got it stuck, I could always get out. With the side by side, it's a different story.

[CigarGuy]

5 hours ago, Raven77 said:

Thanks Andy.  You know where to find me if you need a tug. 

Me too?. If I build a house, I'm setting it up in the same bay you're in, so I can sweet talk you if needed.  Nice rig Chad!!

[JerkinLips]

2 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

I was looking at chains online, didn't realize there's so many different kinds and price points. What should a person look for?

People I got recommendations from have told me to get a 2-link (cross chain every 2 links) v-bar chains.  Quite pricey which is why I haven't bought them yet.  Will just continue to use my snowmobile when needed to avoid getting stuck like this:

[leech~~]

On 11/29/2021 at 1:40 PM, Raven77 said:

 

Want-It! 

[SkunkedAgain]

I've never sat in a UTV. What makes it so different than an ATV? I figured that it was just bigger with seating for two with a box in the back. Do they get stuck more often?

[Raven77]

Full cab with heat is awful nice in the winter!

 

I've never gotten it stuck with tracks but as JerkinLips has shown us above, they are pretty easy to get stuck in deep snow with just regular tires.  Plus, like trucks, the bigger the rig the more stuck you can get them 

[leech~~]

41 minutes ago, Raven77 said:

Full cab with heat is awful nice in the winter!

 

I've never gotten it stuck with tracks but as JerkinLips has shown us above, they are pretty easy to get stuck in deep snow with just regular tires.  Plus, like trucks, the bigger the rig the more stuck you can get them 

 

I love tracks!  I spent a weekend with a guy on LOW in his Snowbear and we went where ever we pleased up to Oak Island and back fishing!   

[Wanderer]

5 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

I've never sat in a UTV. What makes it so different than an ATV? I figured that it was just bigger with seating for two with a box in the back. Do they get stuck more often?

It’s like a golf cart on steroids.