2018-2019 Lake Vermilion Ice Fishing Reports

[Deet]

12 hours ago, JerkinLips said:

I have caught only 2 perch this winter so I may not be much help.  However, several years ago I was catching tons of perch on the 20 FOW reef to the west of Spider Island.  Had a hard time catching walleyes on that spot so I quit going there.

Thanks for the note! 

[JerkinLips]

Finally made it to the fish house at 9am after changing cars due to a breakdown then getting the Ranger stuck on a drifted plowed road 200 yards short of making it. Didn’t find any slush on the way out but the water cane up on the ice about 2” when I opened up my old holes. Very tough traveling on the lake even if driving on a plowed road unless it was plowed less than two days ago. Fishing has been fairly slow so far catching just two 11” walleyes. Now I have to try to get the Ranger all the way to the house. 

[Salo Island Family]

Happy Sunday Everyone.  Thinking of checking the cabin today and curious if anyone knows the condition of the roads coming out of Stuntz Bay?

[JerkinLips]

SIF I took the snowmobile from Stuntz Bay all the way to Mud Creek last night to clear snow of the roof of my sisters cabin. The plowed road was fine until just after leaving Stuntz Bay. Then it had tons of water on it. Made the mistake of driving through one and it was at least 6” deep. Covered the windshield, hood, and helmet with ice. The plowed road ended close to Ely island. The rest of my ride was okay other than heavy snow and one slush spot by shore. On the way back I took the snowmobile trail on the lake and that was fine except where it crossed the plowed road and was covered with water. Very tough traveling out there except be sled. 

[JerkinLips]

Fishing has been decent for late season. Caught just 3 walleyes under 12” on Friday after a late 10am start due to getting the Ranger stuck 1/4 mile from the house.  Yesterday I caught 9 walleyes including the 25” pictured; all the rest were under 12” except for one 16”. Have caught 5 today and all were under 12” except for one 15”.  Two fish caught on suckers and all the rest on chubs. Fuel and Food didn’t have rainbows or shiners. Have to pull my house off today. Good luck. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by JerkinLips
Add pic.

[jkrash]

Last weekend 

 

[Salo Island Family]

On 2/17/2019 at 11:35 AM, JerkinLips said:

SIF I took the snowmobile from Stuntz Bay all the way to Mud Creek last night to clear snow of the roof of my sisters cabin. The plowed road was fine until just after leaving Stuntz Bay. Then it had tons of water on it. Made the mistake of driving through one and it was at least 6” deep. Covered the windshield, hood, and helmet with ice. The plowed road ended close to Ely island. The rest of my ride was okay other than heavy snow and one slush spot by shore. On the way back I took the snowmobile trail on the lake and that was fine except where it crossed the plowed road and was covered with water. Very tough traveling out there except be sled. 

 

[Salo Island Family]

2 hours ago, Salo Island Family said:

.      

Road out of Stuntz has some slush at shoreline but got through just fine   Couple areas of slush along road to south end of Ely Island from Stuntz but was solid and nice.  Someone came by tonight on a ATV rig and plowed.  Thanks!  Was able to scope some fish in 24’ of water but couldn’t get any bites (story of my life).   Y store only has Chubs and Crappie minnows    Seems to be the case many places I checked.   Was a beautiful calm day today on the lake.  Looks like tomorrow (Sunday) May be quite a bit different with system rolling in. 

[Salo Island Family]

Anyone know a plow person that could help us dig out?

[Pat McGraw]

How's the ice thickness and travel conditions on the lake?

[VermilionGold]

Not sure about ice thickness.  Snowmobiled around Daisy bay yesterday, snow is hard packed and the majority of the slushy areas have firmed up.  No travel issues in my area of the lake with a snowmobile, ATVs travel would have been ok also.

[Raven77]

Pat, I pulled my skid house off Richie Bay on Friday.  Ice thickness is not an issue but with the rain we had Wednesday/Thursday the snow has become very heavy and there is water between the ice and snow creating slush and poor traction.  No way you can travel far on an ATV without tracks.  Snowmobile travel is possible but sloppy.  I was able to pull my skid house off with my tracked Ranger but it was touch and go.  

[Pat McGraw]

Raven 77 and Vermilion Gold,

 

Thank you for the updates. With 51 forecast for Saturday I think I'll leave the fishing gear at home and get going on projects.

 

Thanks again.

[JerkinLips]

I know it was not Vermilion but I was on Burntside Sunday-Wednesday and found the travel conditions great with the snowmobile.  Had 30" of ice, but the top 10-12" was white and there was a 1" water layer under 2" of top white ice.  The top was softening up when we left Wednesday afternoon.  The bottom 2' of ice was nice and clear, so it will be solid for a while.  If they get cold weather up there for a few days, the lakes could be very good traveling for most vehicles since the deep snow has flattened and most of the water on top has drained or evaporated.  If it gets cold, I may be back up on Burntside for the end of March.

[Pat McGraw]

Some deep slush and water where snow is drifted against shore but otherwise no problems. Anyone else get to enjoy the ice cracking symphony Saturday evening? Must have been 40 to 60 cracks or pops per minute at times.

[BIGFISH.JZ]

2 hours ago, Pat McGraw said:

Some deep slush and water where snow is drifted against shore but otherwise no problems. Anyone else get to enjoy the ice cracking symphony Saturday evening? Must have been 40 to 60 cracks or pops per minute at times.

Every lake I've been on for nearly a week has been making tons of noise after dark. My GF thought it was gunshots at first. I live by a few different lakes and you could hear the popping from multiple lakes... Hasn't affected the fishing much, if any. That's the important thing to me.