Sunfish on Vermilion?? Want to get the kid some action

[Cobber]

Good morning!

Heading up to Vermilion for the weekend and usually chase Walleye, but my son wants to get some fishing action.

We usually chase panfish together for the excitement and numbers (always fun to watch the bobber go down )-

Is there anywhere that a guy can look to find sunnies on Vermilion?? I've never heard of it so I'm worried that may not be an option..

 

We are on the south side of Big Bay near Pike Bay / Everett Bay road, but can boat to where we would need to!

 

Thanks!!

-Cobber

[Roseypike19]

On 6/12/2020 at 9:21 AM, Cobber said:

Good morning!

Heading up to Vermilion for the weekend and usually chase Walleye, but my son wants to get some fishing action.

We usually chase panfish together for the excitement and numbers (always fun to watch the bobber go down )-

Is there anywhere that a guy can look to find sunnies on Vermilion?? I've never heard of it so I'm worried that may not be an option..

 

We are on the south side of Big Bay near Pike Bay / Everett Bay road, but can boat to where we would need to!

 

Thanks!!

-Cobber

 

Everetts Bay, Pike Bay, and Stuntz Bay all have sunnies and are a short distance from you.  Find some thicker clumps of weeds or a big band of reeds and have at it.  A small leech under a float might produce bigger fish and don't be surprised if you catch some walleyes as well.  If you don't get hit in minutes then move.  

 

Greenwood Bay is more north and west from you, but it's my favorite mid-lake sunfish spot. 

 

Good luck.  

[SkunkedAgain]

Yup, drop a hook&bobber tipped with part of a crawler or leach anywhere next to something that provides shade. Anchor near an unoccupied dock, a patch of weeds, etc.

[cherokeeref]

I see you recommending finding weeds and fishing near them for the gills. I believe that is spot on, but my question is if the weeds are coming back on the east end? Seemed pretty decimated by the rusty craws for the last 20 years or so. Also, I usually fish the west end and have had very good luck with bigger and cleaner (fewe parasites and grubs) gills on some isolated deep humps or rock piles. Just my .02!

[Roseypike19]

2 hours ago, cherokeeref said:

I see you recommending finding weeds and fishing near them for the gills. I believe that is spot on, but my question is if the weeds are coming back on the east end? Seemed pretty decimated by the rusty craws for the last 20 years or so. Also, I usually fish the west end and have had very good luck with bigger and cleaner (fewe parasites and grubs) gills on some isolated deep humps or rock piles. Just my .02!

 

Good question cherokeeref.  No doubt the vast majority of east end mainlake cabbage beds are gone, but large bays such as Everetts, Greenwood, and Stuntz (and others) still have a good variety of cabbage and milfoil patches as well as other "weeds."   

 

There are still some "mainlake" cabbage beds out there, and personally I feel as though there are more than say 10 years ago, but this is purely anecdotal evidence based on my experience.  

[delcecchi]

For the last several years...  on the west end the  walleye disappeared off rockpiles but there sure are some nice gills there in mid summer.   

[SkunkedAgain]

cherokeeref - the post by Roseypike19 says it all. I'm on the west end where we have lots of vegetation for pan fish. It's a beautiful lake so it's always worth the boat ride. I would still assume that docks would hold panfish too.

[cherokeeref]

Del, have you also noticed the meat of the gills being more free of parasites than those caught from the weedbeds?

[delcecchi]

1 hour ago, cherokeeref said:

Del, have you also noticed the meat of the gills being more free of parasites than those caught from the weedbeds?

I rarely keep a gill, so no haven't noticed that.  I'm too lazy to fillet a bunch of gills but maybe I should see how wife and fam react to scaling them and frying whole.  Or steaming asian style.   Take the wok and bamboo steamers up north since I never use them here anymore.