2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[Big Perc]

Whats water temps up there right now? Coming up Wednesday

[kaparzo]

I changed the pace and targeted bass on the west end for 2 hours this morning. Caught 3 smallies (15 - 18”) on an underwater rock point in 7-10’ using tubes. If you’re fishing on the rocks, don’t forget to monitor your line condition for abrasions from rocks/snags. Had flouro and braid wear and break several times. Also caught one on a chatter bait over rocks in 4’. Water temp was 55 degrees. 

[chaffmj]

Had some friends come up a little over a week ago and went out with Cliff and they were real happy about all the crappies they caught and the size of them.

[chucker1101]

On 10/4/2020 at 9:58 AM, Big Perc said:

Whats water temps up there right now? Coming up Wednesday

53-55 degrees in Big Bay

[SkunkedAgain]

My buddies wanted to fish Fectos Point, so on Friday and Saturday we froze our way over there to catch dinks. We caught lots of 10-14" walleye, the biggest perch I've ever seen, and a few deep crappies. We wasted time at a few spots Saturday afternoon before ending up back at the islands between HOL and Wakemup. We boated a handful of 18-22" walleye. All of us jigged, with 3 guys using rainbows and me using crawlers. The minnows were slightly more successful crawlers but not by much.

[JerkinLips]

Fished a few hours each day Monday thru Wednesday this week.  Catching was a little slow but did end up with a good number of 14-16" walleyes in addition to a few dinks and 2 slot fish including the pictured 25".  The bites I did have were very solid and the fish were fighting like they were 25% bigger than they were.  Seems like the fall bite has begun.  Wednesday evening weather was quite interesting with high winds, sporadic showers, a nice double rainbow and beautiful sunset.  Worth the trip out.  Water temps were 50-53°F.  Going back this weekend with the wife so I don't know if any fishing will be involved.

[BWpineisland]

Fished hard all day Friday. Great weather but fishing was actually slow. Caught a couple 12-14” eyes then landed a 26” hog. Nice warm breeze most of the day. Hoping for better fishing tomorrow. 

[leechlake]

On 10/4/2020 at 9:58 AM, Big Perc said:

Whats water temps up there right now? Coming up Wednesday

53.4

[leechlake]

15 hours ago, JerkinLips said:

Fished a few hours each day Monday thru Wednesday this week.  Catching was a little slow but did end up with a good number of 14-16" walleyes in addition to a few dinks and 2 slot fish including the pictured 25".  The bites I did have were very solid and the fish were fighting like they were 25% bigger than they were.  Seems like the fall bite has begun.  Wednesday evening weather was quite interesting with high winds, sporadic showers, a nice double rainbow and beautiful sunset.  Worth the trip out.  Water temps were 50-53°F.  Going back this weekend with the wife so I don't know if any fishing will be involved.

[BWpineisland]

52-53 degrees most places I fished around Pine. 

[FishinCT]

Anyone having any luck with jigging raps yet? Coming up next weekend and with highs in the upper 30s I’m not sure how much I’m going to want to handle minnows

[chucker1101]

20 hours ago, FishinCT said:

Anyone having any luck with jigging raps yet? Coming up next weekend and with highs in the upper 30s I’m not sure how much I’m going to want to handle minnows

Jigging raps are crushing it right now, especially in the 18-25 depth.

 

[FishinCT]

Tough forecast for the weekend but we will be out there. Guessing we will have the lake to ourselves for the most part. Anyone been braving the weather the last few days and have a report?

[chucker1101]

I fished the last two weekends. Who knows how it has/will change by tomorrow? Two thoughts:

 

1. Walleyes have generally been deeper than you might expect for time of year

2. Jigs have outperformed bait/lndy rigs this year. In some situations, bait rigs shut down while jigs still caught fish. First time in last six years i'd say that jigs have outperformed live bait rigs.

 

Good luck, FishinCT. Interested in hearing how it goes.

 

 

 

[PSU]

In our area (Frazer/Smarts) it was challenging to find any size. The numbers were fine, but very many 8-10 inchers in 30-35 feet using Jig/minnow

[PSU]

Closed the cabin yesterday, glad I did. What a good season spending COVID time on our beautiful lake.

 

View from our deck facing ENE at the Sourhern Point in Smarts Bay . I know where the end of the rainbow is locates 

 

[delcecchi]

40 minutes ago, PSU said:

Closed the cabin yesterday, glad I did. What a good season spending COVID time on our beautiful lake.

 

View from our deck facing ENE at the Sourhern Point in Smarts Bay . I know where the end of the rainbow is locates 

 

Ah, reminds me of our daugter... Her birthday is in May...We saw a double rainbow out fishing one evening.in July.   Back in the day.,... 

[pepperstick]

3 hours this morning dragging large sucker minnow on bottom - only 1 bass.  46 degree water temp.  Very windy and miserable.

[pepperstick]

3 more hours this morning trolling crankbaits - one 27" walleye in 20 feet. East end.

[BrianF]

We fished this past week, Oct. 12-17th.  Probably the most brutal weather we’ve ever endured in a boat.  All-day rain, all-day snow, cold, and relentless strong wind every single day.  Being of strong wills and weak minds, we gutted it out through all of it.  Water temp started at 53 on Monday and had dropped to 42 last night on our final spot.  
 

We targeted smallies in the mid-day hours and walleyes early and late.  Most days we caught 15-20 bass up to 4 1/2lbs on deep rocks using MN compliant umbrella rigs, jig/craw, and swimbaits.

 

As for walleyes, the morning bite was tough, but the evening bite was reliable with as many as 22 caught and as few as 8 (last night), but typically around 15 fish.  Most were in the slot, but we seemed to catch a few ‘overs’ every evening with three 28’s being our biggest.  

 

Looking at the forecast and my social calendar, this may be it for my open water season on lake V.  Last year, we were walking out to ice fish in mid-Nov.  Looks like a possible repeat?

Edited October 18, 2020 by BrianF

[FishinCT]

Fished Saturday through Monday on the east end. As Brian said it was brutal weather. Wind wasn’t so bad but the wet snow Saturday and below freezing temps Sunday and Monday made things difficult. Didn’t do well until Monday when we put together a 30+ fish day. Caught more than a limit worth of 14-17” fish. Kept just a couple for a meal. Lots of them in that 10-13 range which bodes well for next year.  

 

Nothing special on the tactics. Caught most of them in one spot. Fish were scattered all over a big mud flat in between islands at 30-35 feet. Jig and lindy caught about the same number of fish. Jig caught a few more of the keeper size fish. 

 

Fish were coughing up what looked like mayfly larvae. Is that common this time of year? Maybe it was something else?

[JerkinLips]

Made it out for 4 hours yesterday and all I caught was this 25" walleye and a 22" northern.  Didn't have a bite in 2 hours last night and didn't see the people fishing by me pull up a fish.  Water temp was 37.4°F and there was a lot of green globs floating in the water.  Maybe that was from the water turning over (heaviest at 39.16°F).  I will blame that for the poor fishing rather than my lack of fishing skill (which I know I have).

 

Hoodoo point landing (2nd photo) had a little shore ice and McKinley Park (3rd photo) was totally clear as was Stuntz Bay.  With low temperatures in the teens the next 3 mornings I would expect ice to start forming along some shores.  Pulled my boat out of the water but could easily put it back in if the lake stays ice-free and I get my buck early.

[BigVTim]

Yikes! Looks like it would be hard to launch and load with the ice on the ramps.

 

[CFD200]

I had planned on doing some fishing as I took out the dock last weekend. Not so.  Ice caused some hindrance. 

[FishinFreak17]

I was wondering if the landing is still frozen in..    I was hoping to get out tomorrow and catch a few eyes before the ice sets up.  any info on what depths the eyes will be in would be appreciated.  Finding them I'm 4-10 FOW here in Duluth.

 

 

[adrenalinejunky]

How did your outing go fishinfreak? 

[StateofHockey]

Fished Thursday and Friday afternoons, found some walleyes deep - 30 fow right along base of drop offs

Lots of 11" and a few keepers.

Frazer and Big bay. Used electronics to find em as many spots had no fish.

[StateofHockey]

Jigs and Lindy w rainbows, both equally effective.

Nice to be out, was surprised at how few boats were out

[adrenalinejunky]

Was out today. Peaceful out there only seen 2 boats. Tough to find any eater fish but overall was a awesome day on the lake. 2 14s rest 10-12 inchers and a pig just shy of 30”. Frazer bay. Lindy sucker minnows. 

[StateofHockey]

Back out on Big bay for a couple hours Saturday, last chance for me  before hard water season. Little slower but this 17" made for a nice finish