2021 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[PSU]

I too have been really challenged finding walleye. Any suggestions would be welcomed. I’ve been using minnows and leeches at all depths in Frazer/Smarts Bay area

[SkunkedAgain]

My general sense is to fish deeper, as fish are looking for cooler temps but as my moniker suggests, I am not the expert.

 

That said, my personal best walleye on Vermilion was on sunny, cloudless day in the upper 80s. I was "done" fishing but my buddy yelled at me to get something in the water. I tossed in a rattle rap that had never caught a fish. It pulled up a beauty. You never know!

[BigVTim]

I agree when it is hot and the sun is high in the sky, go deep. Pulling cranks/drifting rigs in basins or just off structure. Think about sun angle too. They like the shadows. One thing I'm learning about Vermilion, they are almost always hanging out in deeper than 20 feet but getting them to bite is another thing. Smaller fish typically and not good to pull too many up quick due to baro trauma, but if you need to fill a fry pan, it is a high percentage option. Another tip is to play the Wilderness and order a walleye sandwich for lunch...

[tarpon6]

On 5/29/2021 at 7:37 AM, jkrash said:

Big Fish eat little fish and sometimes other things, I caught a 28" walleye a few years ago on a 10" surface lure while fishing for muskie, I thought for sure it was a big bass until I hoisted into the boat.

Here's a picture of a 18.5" walleye I caught ice fishing, it puked out an 11" muskie. I thought that was pretty cool to.

 

 

 

Well that's it, killing every walleye I catch, eatin' all the darn Muskies!

[Muskyhunter73]

Thursday night was really good for me. Caught 6 walleyes in 1.5 hours. 22, 16, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, and 12. All on slip bobbler with a leech fishing on the rocks in 11 feet. Friday morning couldn’t find a biting fish. Last night same spot as previous night. We caught 4 (15, 14, 12, 12). Mornings have been very tough. We have tried dang near every depth and type of structure. Muskie fished a bit today and saw 4 in the weeds. One was a really nice mid 40’s fish.

[Rivergroup]

We'll be up to LV next Saturday, staying on the west end.  Any tips for west end walleyes would be appreciated.  I will continue to monitor, but if anyone is feeling generous...LOL!  Seriously though, REALLY  looking forward to our yearly trip.  Thanks for posting experiences and insight, always trying to learn.

 

[Muskyhunter73]

Saw the craziest thing this morning. Didn’t get a picture because I didn’t want to stress them out but I saw two deer swimming about 300 yards south of Moose Island. They were swimming south into the waves away from Birch Point. Have no idea what their plan was!

[Raven77]

I agree with Muskyhunter.  Fishing deep holes mid-day in this hot clear weather has yielded a number of dinks but no big fish.  Early morning, late evening in 12-20' has produced some better fish.  Had fun with a 36" pike yesterday on to of a rock hump at 18'.  Caught it on a hair jig with no bait.  Made 6 really good runs before I caught and released it.

[Mike89]

many years ago we had a deer swim right past out boat..  maybe 40 feet away...  well before cell phones!! 

[adrenalinejunky]

I also saw 2 deer yesterday crossing the channel heading south out to black duck island. Maybe the heats getting to them and needed to cool off. Ha

[StillFishin']

I was up a week ago and never saw a deer- first time ever for not seeing one.  But we did see a Pine  Martin- a first for seeing that critter!  

Wolf Bay- no roads.

[mbeyer]

yesterday's wind helped us. Really didn't want to get in boat and get pounded. but, the wind blown side of our island held walleye most of the day. No live bait needed, throw any plastic....they'd hit it.  Wind is your friend.....go fish the windy side of the structure near you.  

[Shulsebus]

Early in the morning or late evening bobber bite has been good. Leeches. Just find a point off an island with deep water near by.

[redlabguy]

I’m going to second bobbers on shallow rocks. Stick baits over shallow rocks, too. It’s not my favorite kind of fishing. I’d rather be slow trolling Lindy rigs on reefs, but that isn’t working. I know I’m not adding much but it’s all I’ve got. Tough times... we all need help. 

[JerkinLips]

Fished Friday-Sunday for 7-8 hours each day and all I caught was a 8" perch and 3 walleyes (22", 13", and 10").  Tried leeches, crawlers, pike suckers, chubs, and even dragged a shad rap for a while.  Tried several different spots and various depths.  Saw a lot of mayflies on the surface and numerous clouds in the water column.  I will blame the mayflies for my lack of success rather than my mediocre equipment and lack of fishing skill.  Hope others have better skill/luck than I did.

 

Water temp was 73 on Friday and cooled down to 69 by Sunday.

[EyeWannabee]

Just retuned from annual week trip to pike bay lodge June 5-12.  To say it was a hot trip would be understatement. Pike bay daytime water temps hit 80 almost everyday and lowest we found in big bay was 68.  Walleye were tough to find good eaters.  Lindy rigging various live bait in deeper water yielded only small fish as did slip bobber shallow rocks.  Seemed 8-12’ u would find a few 15-17” walleye but not consistent pattern.  Bass fishing didn’t disappoint but many had spawned out or moved deeper.  Overall great scenery as always with eagles and loons.  Truly a special place and envy the ones who call it home.  Can’t wait till next year

[SkunkedAgain]

Wow - that bass in the top pick is almost as big as you

 

[EyeWannabee]

Short arms make em look like 4# instead of 2 and 3#

[Wanderer]

It’s a pretty good bass. 

[StateofHockey]

Things got so tough for me on Frazier bay Sunday I resorted to dragging the anchor which hooked into an old bike in 28 fow. Just as I was landing the bike it fell apart so all I got was the front tire. It's still out there swimming for some lucky angler

[Shulsebus]

Those swimming bikes! Never caught one but I have heard rumors about them! Congrats on your catch haha

[SkunkedAgain]

That's awesome. I've caught fishing poles in Vermilion, and even the thick electrical cable that runs under Head-O-Lakes bay....but a bicycle is an awesome trophy. 

 

I'm glad that you released it so that it can get bigger for the next angler!

[SkunkedAgain]

Any mayfly reports?

[schmitty3]

Anyone having any luck?  From almost all reports i've read it's been pretty SLOW all year.  Headed up with a group tomorrow for a week, and will be sure to report back what we find. 

[james_walleye]

That's a cool catch! I caught an old ugly stick last year by trout portage. I found an old boat with side scan by comet as well. 

[CigarGuy]

2 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Any mayfly reports?

I have them on the cabin. Last night out fishing in Wakemup saw lots of clouds on the graph. Marking some fish, but no takers. Saw a guy catch a couple walleye's out there.

[BigVTim]

Headed up this afternoon for a solo weekend. Throwing for Musky but might pull some cranks or spinners and see what happens.

[Rivergroup]

Got back yesterday.  Found some really nice bass and a lot of them, both large and small mouth in the 15"-17" range.  Found a couple of walleye, 14" and 15".  Had a great time as usual and the weather was calm for much of the time we were there.  Had most success with slip bobber and leeches/crawlers.  

[Pzswenj]

Back from a week.  Tough fishing for us.  Scratched together enough for a fish meal, but it was hard work.  Tried just about everything between Taylors Island and Fraser Bay.  Huge mayfly hatch in Niles Bay early during the week.  Hit a few northern and some smallmouth.. .  Covered a lot of miles, fished hard, and it just never turned on for us...  Oh well...  Till next time...

[BigVTim]

When you found them, the walleye were active this weekend. Most successful approach was pulling crawlers on bottom bouncers and spinners. A few nice 18” west side walleyes were good to see instead of the 13” small ones. Morning was way better than afternoon. Fishing flats and shelves in 20 FOW