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2018-2019 Lake Vermilion Ice Fishing Reports


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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! 

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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. 

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

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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. 

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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. 

 

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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. 

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  • 4 weeks later...

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.

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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  • The title was changed to 2018-2019 Lake Vermilion Ice Fishing Reports

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
    • smurfy
      got mine done........for the cabin.....ready for summer festivities!!!!!!   there was still frost in the ground...........but good gawd are the lakes low!!!!!
    • CigarGuy
      Just 1, 50" muskie🫣
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