2022 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[Mark1973]

Have the Mayflies started.  We are coming up end of July and trying to see what the time line for them are this year.  Not sure how the late ice out would effect the hatch.  Thanks in advanced.

[Jetsky]

The mayflies are just starting in Frazier Bay.  We could see a few in the boat the last couple of days.  Then started seeing big trails on water yesterday and today.  I just got done cleaning 3 walleyes and they were full of them.

[TrueNorth]

I saw more mayflies this morning at 6am.  That was in the oak narrows.  A few are emerging on the west side.  Weather has been pretty erratic this week. Big northerns have been active this week. 

[Dash 1]

Been on lake this week as well. Tough going on this side.  Staying at Pike Bay Lodge.  Between rain and wind haven't been out as much as I'd like, but still enjoying the time. Seen a lot of may fly larvae this morning.  Didn't have a lot of gas in boat so stayed close to pike bay entrance of big bay this morning.  Worked out well as I got a PB of 28.5.  Awesome fish. I'm not a good selfie taker. Happy 4th weekend everyone. 

[StillFishin']

You got a slobo!

[delcecchi]

two different kitchens?     What's with that?   Not quite following the events so any update would be appreciated.    

[Hookmaster]

That's a chunk of a fish, Dash 1. To get any better of a photo, you'd need a selfie stick. Congrats on the PB.

Edited July 2, 2022 by Hookmaster

[JerkinLips]

Only made it out for a couple of hours Friday morning.  Couple of 6" perch, 12" eye, and a 15" smallmouth.  Missed a lot of light bites that were likely more small perch.  I did hook my PB stick at 12 feet long (photo attached).  I will blame my bad fishing on the mayflies as shown in the second photo.  Enjoy the holiday week and good luck fishing.

[TrueNorth]

On 7/1/2022 at 4:28 PM, Dash 1 said:

Been on lake this week as well. Tough going on this side.  Staying at Pike Bay Lodge.  Between rain and wind haven't been out as much as I'd like, but still enjoying the time. Seen a lot of may fly larvae this morning.  Didn't have a lot of gas in boat so stayed close to pike bay entrance of big bay this morning.  Worked out well as I got a PB of 28.5.  Awesome fish. I'm not a good selfie taker. Happy 4th weekend everyone. 

Great Fish and Congrats on PB!

[TrueNorth]

We were on the far west side last Saturday through today.  Weather was less than desirable with erratic morning temps along with rain/storms several times per day.  Up to 3/4" hail early/middle part of the week. Winds were all over the map and really couldn't fish effectively where we wanted to fish.  Water temps were pretty much 66 to 68 all week.  Mayflies started to show up 4 days ago but we didn't see the main hatch. Most locals claim it's almost always the 3rd week of June.  Walleye's were tough for us...only a few.  I didn't join the 10+ boats congregated tightly in Niles bay. Smallies and bigger northern kept us busy.  Ran into the DNR at the landing late in the week and they were stocking Musky fingerlings.  Plenty of Musky boats in Head-O-Lakes in the evening and after dark. A few from the trip.....I love this lake.  Cheers.  

 

[delcecchi]

Don’t need no walleyes

35 inches

[SkunkedAgain]

Did he jump into your boat like that or was he actually caught by line and tackle? 

[delcecchi]

White and silver spinner bait. Hit near the boat so I got to see the strike

[Wakemupwalleye]

Headed up for the week with my son.  How is the walleye bite right now? Have mayflies shut things down?  Pike? Appreciate the heads up on the current activity! 

[TrueNorth]

Our big pike came off of any sharp drop off point in 12-20' of water. 2.5 mph (large deep divers/bandits).  2 weeks ago.  

 

[KarenSRoss]

On 5/17/2022 at 6:09 AM, Tominator692 said:

Had a great opening weekend. Son and I boated 51 walleye between Saturday and Sunday. Plenty of small stuff but no problem getting some nice keepers. This is a pic of the best weekend fish for us. 

You did a great work.. Keep going.

[StateofHockey]

Any recent walleye reports for Big bay reefs, and islands? Historically these turn on for me in July running Lindy's with crawlers and leeches. Unfortunately this summer I've been tied up in a twin cities home renovation project which has really limited my Vermilion fishing time. Will be up this weekend so will post my update, likely Sunday.

[Climbingwalleye]

Fished Vermilion with a buddy last Saturday.  Left the Twin Cities at 4am, were fishing by 8:15 and had to get home to put the kids to bed by 9:30...  Lots of driving for some time on V! 

 

Split our time between trying for walleye and musky.  Adult mayflies emerging and a few rafts of flies.  The islands were buzzing with them so we stuck to more open-water structure.  Walleye were responding to half-crawlers on bottom bouncers w/ lindy's moving REAL slow (0.5 mph) in Big Bay reef structures in 23-27 FOW.  Only caught a few (and it was a short period when the wind picked up a bit) - blaming the mayflies... no bites trolling basins with cranks, high or low.

 

My buddy managed to catch a nice 41" musky near the entrance to Daisy.  I just about knocked it off with a terrible netting job, but we got it in the boat.  Snapped some photos, drew a tape, and she swam off.  

[StateofHockey]

Been working big bay reefs getting some smaller walleye 11-13" off reef edges 20-25' FOW. Didn't seem to matter between crawlers, leeches or pike suckers. Continuing the search for a true "hot spot"

[Daddy Mac]

Thanks StateofHockey! My group of friends are coming in this weekend for the week. Anxious to hear how you’re doing! 

[delcecchi]

No wallys for me on west, but bass and nords going good.  

[JerkinLips]

Fished Thursday-Saturday.  Was a tough bite for me but I did manage to bring home a meal.  Not many anglers fishing within site of me, but I didn't see anybody catch anything.  One group I talked to said that a couple of guides were having tough fishing.  I'm sure some skilled anglers will have success.  On the positive side, I did catch my Personal Best rock (pictured).  Was so heavy I had to pull it in hand-over-hand.  Will have to weigh it next time up to put a number on this record.

 

Caught fish on both large leeches and half crawlers, but not enough to make any recommendations on the best.  Had some washed-up mayflies on my boathouse deck but I didn't see any on the water, or clouds in the water column.  Sunset on Friday night made up for the poor fishing.

 

Good luck fishing, enjoy the lake, and be courteous.  I had one boat troll a complete circle around me while I was trolling at 0.3mph, and another boat drove by me at 3/4 throttle just 40 feet away in a narrow channel while there was a much easier path to their fishing spot.

[delcecchi]

It's the equine inequality principle....   In this world there are many more horse's a**** than there are horses.

 

I still think musky fishermen are the worst.

Edited July 17, 2022 by delcecchi

[Daddy Mac]

It’s been tough on the Big V, but we managed to get six eater walleye yesterday Lindy Rigging with leaches and crawlers. We see the walleye in some cases, just getting them to bite is the challenge. Mainly on rock bars and piles…smallies have been good on leaches.

[StateofHockey]

Similar results for us. Started slow Friday with 5 ok eaters. Switched to Frazier instead of big bay Saturday and got nothing. Worked lindys with crawlers and leeches on main lake humps from 15 to 30 FOW. Visible on graph but not active. Sunday just cruised the pontoon up to Wolf bay to enjoy the 2 piece band on the deck. Trolled a little off Gold island and Fectos sand but no results.

[StateofHockey]

Maybe last night's 1:30am storm will awaken willy walleye!

[Raven77]

Anyone try lead core yet this year?

[muskie-mike]

Tried lead core,no luck...

 

[TrueNorth]

Reports haven't been great for a while (maybe years) but yet the DNR assessments show the lake healthier than ever. What gives?  We caught WAY more big Northern this year.  Musky boys all over the west end every day. Walleye's have been super tough for us...meaning 1 or 2 for a session. 

[tinker]

On 7/17/2022 at 10:41 AM, JerkinLips said:

Fished Thursday-Saturday.  Was a tough bite for me but I did manage to bring home a meal.  Not many anglers fishing within site of me, but I didn't see anybody catch anything.  One group I talked to said that a couple of guides were having tough fishing.  I'm sure some skilled anglers will have success.  On the positive side, I did catch my Personal Best rock (pictured).  Was so heavy I had to pull it in hand-over-hand.  Will have to weigh it next time up to put a number on this record.

 

Caught fish on both large leeches and half crawlers, but not enough to make any recommendations on the best.  Had some washed-up mayflies on my boathouse deck but I didn't see any on the water, or clouds in the water column.  Sunset on Friday night made up for the poor fishing.

 

Good luck fishing, enjoy the lake, and be courteous.  I had one boat troll a complete circle around me while I was trolling at 0.3mph, and another boat drove by me at 3/4 throttle just 40 feet away in a narrow channel while there was a much easier path to their fishing spot.