Vermilion Ice Reports 2021/22

[CigarGuy]

2 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

So in general it sounds like maybe the shorelines of most bays are strong enough for machines to travel but the centers may still be a little weak as they were just forming ice when the big storm hit the other week. 

 

I'm hoping to come up this weekend and go across the west end of the lake. I am happy to stick to shorelines to err on the side of safety.

 

CigarGuy - are there a bunch of snowmobile tracks going through the Partridge River or just the one that you reported?

Went by The Landing yesterday, snowmobile tracks heading out across the lake. There's been a few people on sleds running down the Partridge River. Two sleds ran the shoreline today, same one's went by yesterday, heading towards Black Bay and back. Don't know how far down they went into the narrow part. I went out fishing yesterday in front of the neighbors with the carvings, had a good 6" of ice.

[Wicheesehead37]

Should be making ice after tomorrow with the temps in the forecast.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks CigarGuy. I know that Black Bay, and likely the other small bays, had ice for a couple of weeks before the snow hit. Most of that time was without snow cover. I'm feeling good that our bay is in good shape for this winter. It's helpful to know that folks are already running out of The Landing on sleds. I appreciate all of the reconnaissance.

[CigarGuy]

28 minutes ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Thanks CigarGuy. I know that Black Bay, and likely the other small bays, had ice for a couple of weeks before the snow hit. Most of that time was without snow cover. I'm feeling good that our bay is in good shape for this winter. It's helpful to know that folks are already running out of The Landing on sleds. I appreciate all of the reconnaissance.

I knew you head out from The Landing, so I mentioned it. Be safe!!

[CigarGuy]

It's a sloppy mess out there this evening! Fishing is a slow as it was yesterday.

[Wicheesehead37]

I bet its a different picture now!  lol

[CigarGuy]

Here's Richie Bay earlier today.

[Bbobber]

Here’s Richie Bay early November 

[SkunkedAgain]

I rode my sled through Richie this morning, around Metsas, and into Black Bay. The lake was 70% bare ice. Not good for sleds without scratchers but pretty good for ATVs. It should be making ice without the snow cover. It was 9 inches thick when I drilled for water.

[Wicheesehead37]

Hoping that the lake gets staked soon!

[JerkinLips]

Went out from McKinley Park Friday and Saturday.  The rain knocked down all the snow, and the cold weather locked up the water on top by the time I got up.  Soudan got a couple inches of very light fluffy snow over the 2 days so it is all covered again.  The colder weather really didn't add much ice.  I found 7.5-9" where I checked.  Lots of ATVs, UHVs, and snowmobiles running all around.  My snowmobile clutch was damaged so I walked out.  was very easy walking.  A couple of small wheelhouses were pulled out to the left of the park bay.  Didn't see any cars or trucks on the ice, but a lot of vehicles were driving down to the park this morning.  The parking area was overflowing Saturday afternoon.

 

Fishing was very good over the 2 days, and got crazy from 400-430 Saturday evening.  I couldn't keep 2 lines in the water for more than a minute.  Missed quite a few bites, caught a lot of small eyes and couple of eaters, then finally landed the pictured 28" walleye at 430.  It was getting dark in the house and I didn't want to waste time trying to get a good picture before releasing it.

 

Found more bugs in the fishes mouth.  The attached picture clearly shows one of the bugs next to a ladybug I found in our house.  I think these bugs are causing the great bite.

 

Another interesting thing I saw this trip was that a 16" walleye I pulled in had two fishing lines in its mouth.  I checked my other bobber and saw it wasn't down so I knew it wasn't my other line.  I found a #4 white hook in the fishes gullet with 10" of line hanging out.  Hard to believe that this fish would have broken the line at that point, unless the edge of the hole caught the line.  Maybe somebody cut the line 10" out before releasing it.

 

Good luck if you venture out, and be safe and courteous.

[Wicheesehead37]

Any updates? I will be heading up on Sunday.

 

thanks!

[SkunkedAgain]

Based on what I saw last weekend, I would think that travel is pretty safe in most areas. Anywhere that it is usually iffy, I would still exercise caution. Hopefully someone else has a better report though.

[CigarGuy]

As of the first part of the week, the snowmobile club hasn't staked out the west end because of inconsistent ice conditions. Haven't heard any new updates. With the weather we had all week, you'd think it has to be getting close to being ok.

[SkunkedAgain]

Last Friday night after a good sauna, I walked out onto the lake around midnight. I stood in the middle of the bay wishing that the clouds would clear out so that I could see the stars. Since the ice was mostly bare and the temp in the single digits, I was sure that I would at least be treated to the sweet sounds and feeling of the ice expanding. Nope. It was perfectly silent out there, which is a nice consolation prize. I was surprised that it wasn't making any noise at all. The lake must have taken a nap!

[JerkinLips]

Took a quick trip up Wednesday-Thursday.  Snowmobile was broken and I wasn't sure of the ice conditions so I walked out from McKinley Park Wednesday morning.  Half a mile out I found 9-10" of ice.  While walking back in at noon, I found the snowmobile club staking out the lake trails.  One of the guys offered to  give me a ride to the landing but I turned him down since I needed the exercise.  Knowing the ice conditions (and seeing a full-size pickup truck not far from me), I drove my side-by-side (twice as heavy as my snowmobile) out in the afternoon.  By the time I left at dark there was a good solid 10" of ice so I took my wood house out Wednesday evening.  Thursday morning I had 11" of ice and the wheelhouses started rolling out.  Cars and trucks were driving as far as Birch Island.  I think that the ice is very solid, but as always, be cautious around questionable areas.  ATVs and UHVs can easily travel anywhere with the minimal snow now on the lake.

 

On Wednesday I saw a couple of interesting things.  (1) While walking out I saw a tip-up frozen in the ice (but not tripped) with nobody within a quarter mile of it.  While walking back in I saw that somebody had chiseled it out of the ice.  Did they forget it the day before, were they running set lines, or did somebody else remove it?  (2) Approaching the landing I saw a Subaru Outback driving toward the landing (apparently coming from Birch Island).  They were towing a 50 foot rope behind them with what appeared to be a plastic jug attached.  Must had been to mark the location of the vehicle if they went in, then provide a rope to pull it out.  Smart, or crazy for going out when uncertain?

 

Fishing was fairly slow during the days, but both evenings the walleyes again went crazy from 400-530.  They seemed to bite anything during that time.  I caught fish on 3x reused minnows and even two fish on a minnow that had frozen outside.  Thursday night I had to throw back 17" and 18" walleyes because I already had my limit.  Don't think this evening bite can last forever but it sure was fun.  Only caught 2 slot fish, 26" and 24" pictured.  The sunset Thursday evening was beautiful on the warm lake.

 

I am done fishing until next year (don't want to fight the holiday crowds).  If you venture out, good luck and be cautious and courteous.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Edited December 24, 2021 by JerkinLips
Correct days.

[tinker]

Thank you for your post. Hard to believe their driving trucks out with only 10 or 11 inches of ice. Maybe small pickups or suvs . I might be getting old but I like at least 15. 

Merry Christmas.

Mike

[SkunkedAgain]

I've put a rope and floater on my snowmobile at times when I was fairly certain the ice was safe but just wanted to feel better if the unlikely happened.

[SkunkedAgain]

It's primetime for snowmobiling on the lake right now. There's 1.5ft of fresh powder so it's like riding on a pillow. Fun times. Get out there if you can and have a happy New Year celebration!

[JerkinLips]

3 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

It's primetime for snowmobiling on the lake right now.

Hope I can get the parts for my clutch before next week so I can do some riding.  Chopper City was closed last week due to Covid-19.

[Austin12345]

I have a trip planned for early February on Vermilion. And will be fishing out of Big Bay on the south end of the lake. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as far as how to tackle this lake. I will have a couple sleds with me so I should be able to be pretty mobile in the sense of areas I am able to fish. I have never fished this lake in the winter and hear it can be difficult at times. Just looking at the map there seems to be plenty of good structure. Thanks in advance for any help. 

[Influenza]

She’s cold this weekend, gents!  Checked the weather in Tower yesterday. -28. Not too bad, but the North Pole was reading -11 and Antártica was -9. Something to be said about that. LoL. 
next weekend looks to be another to have the Buddy heater turned up to 11.  We are making serious ice. 

[smurfy]

26 minutes ago, Influenza said:

She’s cold this weekend, gents!  Checked the weather in Tower yesterday. -28. Not too bad, but the North Pole was reading -11 and Antártica was -9. Something to be said about that. LoL. 
next weekend looks to be another to have the Buddy heater turned up to 11.  We are making serious ice. 

i watch the weather up in Alaska religously during the winter months. generally speaking what they have up there, in about 7-10 days we get it here, albiet it might be a tad warmer when it gets here!!!!!!!!!

[jim curlee]

It's a straight up, or is that straight down, 36 below right now. lol

[Influenza]

13 hours ago, Austin12345 said:

I have a trip planned for early February on Vermilion. And will be fishing out of Big Bay on the south end of the lake. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as far as how to tackle this lake. I will have a couple sleds with me so I should be able to be pretty mobile in the sense of areas I am able to fish. I have never fished this lake in the winter and hear it can be difficult at times. Just looking at the map there seems to be plenty of good structure. Thanks in advance for any help. 

The Waldos go bananas for hotdogs on Daredevils!

[Pat McGraw]

On 1/1/2022 at 8:59 PM, Austin12345 said:

I have a trip planned for early February on Vermilion. And will be fishing out of Big Bay on the south end of the lake. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as far as how to tackle this lake. I will have a couple sleds with me so I should be able to be pretty mobile in the sense of areas I am able to fish. I have never fished this lake in the winter and hear it can be difficult at times. Just looking at the map there seems to be plenty of good structure. Thanks in advance for any help. 

Austin12345, Keep in tune with this channel:) Even go back through older content. I target saddles between humps, deep water bumps (27' bump in 32' of water for example), deep water reefs (ex. 16' reef in 32' of water), and inside turns or points on sharp breaks. Run-n-gun. Use buckshot or similar bait to explore. Banging it on bottom and then jigging up 3 to 7' off bottom will get fish to show on finder. If fish show, stick with it using minnows or other artificial (although they will often hit buckshot).  Punch a lot of holes - toe of slope, mid-slope, top of slope, etc. I like to work until I have two holes showing fish. Then set a dead stick with minnow 2' to 3' of bottom and jig buck shot in other. At times I'll add a minnow head to the buckshot. There is good structure between Pike Bay and Ely Island, north side of Ely Island, outside Everett Bay, outside Stuntz Bay and all over Big bay. Please be sure to report back. 

 

Travel cautiously. Can be punching trough 3' of ice most spots but still have open water in surprising locations. 

 

Curious to learn if others are targeting flats. Also wonder if any work shallower than 18' when targeting walleye at this time of year. 

[Joshua Knapp]

Did they plow a road out of McKinley?  Please / thanks

[JerkinLips]

On 1/3/2022 at 5:25 PM, Joshua Knapp said:

Did they plow a road out of McKinley?  Please / thanks

There are 2 main plowed roads out of McKinley Park.  Road 1 goes to the right about 1/2 mile and splits into 3 short separate fingers.  Road 2 goes straight out about 1 mile to Birch Island, then branches out to the right to the very large reef between Ely Island and Pine Island.  There is also a very short road going to the left out of the park.  I know these roads are on public property but please be considerate to the people that invest the time and money to maintain these roads.  Don't park your house or drill holes right on the roads, and keep a fair distance  from existing houses.

 

Was up Monday-Wednesday and found 13 inches of solid ice, adding 2 inches since I was last up 2 weeks ago.  Full size pickups with plows were traveling all over.  I drove my Polaris Ranger side-by-side on all of the plowed roads and found no slush on Monday.  I also drove it off the plowed roads and found traveling very easy.  We did get about 5 inches of snow Tuesday night with high winds, so travel conditions worsened for sure.

 

Fishing was very slow compared to 2 weeks ago.  Didn't find a consistent bite on any of the 3 days.  The best action I had was on Wednesday after the storm.  I didn't have a bite until noon, then 2 plow trucks began clearing the fresh snow not far from me for nearly an hour.  In the 2 hours after they started plowing I caught 6 walleyes (including two 26 inchers), plus missed several other bites.  Think I discovered a new strategy - walleye drives.  Just have to pay some plow drivers to push them to me.  The DNR creel-survey agent was surprised with the success I had compared to other anglers that day after the storm.

 

All my bigger fish were caught on large rainbows.  Most of the small fish bit on small-medium lively chubs.  The bite seemed to be right at the bottom.  At least a couple of times I caught fish when I dropped the line to the bottom to reset depth, then as I raised the line off the bottom the walleyes nailed it.  Should have done that more often I guess.  One time I did mark a fish 4 feet off the bottom and saw it dive down to the bottom and landed a 18 inch walleye.  Never have seen that before.  One fish did spit out a mayfly larvae so I guess they are still feeding on those.

 

If you venture out, be safe on the ice and in to cold weather, and be considerate to others,  Good luck.

[SkunkedAgain]

Great report. I can't wait to get back up there soon.

[Influenza]

Beautiful weekend. It’s good to be home again.  Huge thanks to TJ at VPS for keeping the roads open.