2022 Lake Vermilion Fishing Reports

[tinker]

Is that rock in the slot limit?

[JerkinLips]

16 minutes ago, tinker said:

Is that rock in the slot limit?

If it doesn't break my 8 pound test line it is legal to keep.

[SkunkedAgain]

Can we assume that you practiced CPR, releasing it to swim off and spawn more like it?

Edited July 20, 2022 by SkunkedAgain

[JerkinLips]

On 7/20/2022 at 12:35 PM, SkunkedAgain said:

Can we assume that you practiced CPR, releasing it to swim off and spawn more like it?

This hog is going on the wall.  I don't want it to make any more hook-stealing beasts.

[Daddy Mac]

Finished our trip last week on the east side of the lake. We caught most of our walleyes on Lindy crawlers and spinner rigs near rocks and weed edges. Seemed to turn on better and better as the week went on. Weed edges were shallow 6' to 7', but we also caught fish in big rocks in 10' to 12'. The 10' to 12' FOW we could see them on our sonar. Trolling worked best for us the whole week. Good luck!

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks Daddy Mac. This is probably the perfect fishing report for people to post. It says generally what worked and the types of areas with no specific locations. Anyone reading it can go out and try these techniques in so many different parts of the lake. 

[StillFishin']

Yea, I agree that Daddy Mac’s post was a good report— except( geese I hate to criticize) but,  with LV being so big, it would be nice to at least get some idea of where.  Not  asking anyone to give away a hot spot.  But something general like east end, west end,etc.  Or one step up would be something like -near Head ‘O Lakes, Daisy Bay , Wolf Bay, Big Bay.

 

Just a thought.
 

 

[Wanderer]

He did say East. 

[StillFishin']

Whoops, I missed the “east”.  Sorry about that.

[delcecchi]

2 hours ago, StillFishin' said:

Whoops, I missed the “east”.  Sorry about that.

Yeah that was a plus

[TrueNorth]

Anyone fished with any guides lately? Their reporting has been scarce around here at least. 

[CigarGuy]

1 hour ago, TrueNorth said:

Anyone fished with any guides lately? Their reporting has been scarce around here at least. 

Saw a report on the Lake Vermilion FB page today thanking Cliff for a guide trip they went on yesterday. Report said they were one fish short of what looks to be a 3 person limit(per picture)  They went on to say they caught a lot of walleye's, must have been smaller

.

I went out for 3 hours tonight on the west end and just caught small bass, sunfish, perch and rock bass. I was marking fish all night. I can't buy a walleye the last 3 weeks. Tried bottom bouncers with crawlers, gulp leeches and some other fake stuff, also tried lead core. I can't buy a walleye the last 3 weeks! I hate fishing with crawlers, can't keep the pests off line.

Edited July 26, 2022 by CigarGuy

[ozzie]

Sounds like you should give Cliff a call!

[CigarGuy]

21 minutes ago, ozzie said:

Sounds like you should give Cliff a call!

Nah, anybody can catch walleyes on the east end, it takes a master angler to catch them regularly on the west end. . I'm trying to take the step to just being an angler Plus, Cliff divorced us here on FM. Sure miss his posts!

[StillFishin']

Why is it that the westenders have so much triple catching ‘eyes?  Me included.  If I want to have a good chance of catching ‘eye’s I head east.  

[Wakemupwalleye]

On 7/26/2022 at 9:45 AM, StillFishin' said:

Why is it that the westenders have so much triple catching ‘eyes?  Me included.  If I want to have a good chance of catching ‘eye’s I head east.  

Too much food (baitfish) in the west end causing competition with your line. On a positive this is why there are bigger fish there. 3 inches larger on average for the same year fish!

[SkunkedAgain]

Walleye on the west end aren't as easy as those on the east end. They play hard to get. 

Edited July 28, 2022 by SkunkedAgain

[Leroyboyisthatu]

Have been hitting the reefs on the west end for awhile with not much luck. Yesterday they showed up in the wind, caught 3 over 20" in the middle of the day. It's been an early morning or late evening bite until then. tried the middle of the lake on Monday, caught everything but walleye until dusk. going to go to Big Bay tomorrow  to check out the reefs there, haven't done that yet. Everything seems to bite crawlers immediately, leeches seems to withstand more attach's. Both have worked for hungry walleyes. Using jigs mostly, though. They have been biting very light, just seem to feel something a little extra on the line.

[Wanderer]

@Leroyboyisthatu love the handle! 

[delcecchi]

Someone must have at least seen a fish, like a musky,  in the bay in front of our cabin here on head-o-lakes.    Suddenly a plethora of boats cruising through, casting away.  Not yet to the "take a number" level of a few years ago but a pretty good jump from a couple weeks ago.

[JerkinLips]

Fished a couple of hours Friday and Saturday mornings.  Had a tough time keeping the perch and rusty crayfish off of my crawlers, but I did manage to catch a few medium walleyes.

 

Lake was very quiet both mornings, but Saturday afternoon got quite busy when the family went for a boat ride.  Glad I usually get to avoid weekends.

[StateofHockey]

Walleyes slow for me tried big bay reefs and north of Pine Island. Switched to trolling shorelines 7-12 fow and caught mixed bag of smallies, pike and small walleyes. Best action just off rocky points with perch colored lures occasionally bumping bottom 

[StateofHockey]

Saturday afternoon had pretty heavy boat traffic. Maybe peak of summer.

[chaffmj]

3 of us were out fishing on Basswood Lake in the BWCA motor area a little over a week ago and we caught lots of smallmouths, walleyes and a few pike.  The largest walleye was 27" and the largest smallmouth caught was 21". 

 

 

 

[Daddy Mac]

On 7/25/2022 at 11:28 AM, Daddy Mac said:

Finished our trip last week on the east side of the lake. We caught most of our walleyes on Lindy crawlers and spinner rigs near rocks and weed edges. Seemed to turn on better and better as the week went on. Weed edges were shallow 6' to 7', but we also caught fish in big rocks in 10' to 12'. The 10' to 12' FOW we could see them on our sonar. Trolling worked best for us the whole week. Good luck!

Seems like anywhere we saw a lot of weeds or a big boulder there was fish around them. We caught numerous fish near Mattson Bay island, Timber Bay, Ely Island, & even parts of Pike Bay. They weren't huge walleye, but they were steady when we found lots of weeds or rock.

[james_walleye]

Fishing has been here and there for me this week. First couple hours of the day have been good pulling lead core. A lot of 12-13" fish in the system but getting plenty of 14-16"to. Beyond 9am the bites have slowed way down even though there are fish everywhere on the graph. I've had good stretches of time in 17-19 feet and 23-24'. Cranks with rattles have worked best for me. Last night produced some nice 14-16" for some family members in 8-12'. 

 

Lastly..... Couldn't believe how fortunate I was to witness this. Between birch and pine islands. 

[redlabguy]

That is great to see! Between Birch Point or Birch Island and Pine? Great to see wherever! Last one I saw was in Quetico umpteen years ago.

 

I’ve been wondering about lead core. I’m starting to find fish with lindy rigs (although I’ve started to use tungsten worm sinkers) or spinners with crawlers in 18-20’ near steep rocky shore. 
 

Your wildlife shot reminded me of one I took about a month ago along 77. Thought I’d share it. not as cool as a moose, though!

[delcecchi]

Good thing DNR is going mostly bucks only in the north....   Apparently all those deer I see along the road aren't enough

[james_walleye]

Red, the moose was near birch island. As far as the lead bite goes....I had heard it was lights out a week ago. No doubt from what I've seen that before 9am you can get into a good bite. For me it's been poor after that. I'd be real curious if others are finding that as well. I have tried deeper areas as well and they weren't good after 9am for me either. 

[BrianF]

Fished solo Sunday and Monday afternoon.  Began by targeting smallies, but couldn’t buy a fish which was odd because the conditions were juicy - calm, cool, cloudy, drizzly.   Frustrating to say the least!    Figured if I was gonna get skunked, then it might as well be swinging for the fence.  Switched to Muskies at 7:30 and got lucky as heck, putting three in the boat over the next two hours, including a porker 48”er.  Felt very content the rest of the evening. 

 

Got back out on the water Monday afternoon under post-frontal high skies and was fortunate to trick this lonely blonde an hour into the day.  Missed another a short time later and had some follows before pulling the plug to head home.  Didn’t want to leave that’s for sure!  All East end fish caught casting btw and all released unharmed.   Water temp was 71.