2024-2025 Vermilion Ice Fishing

[JerkinLips]

Checked the ice at McKinley Park Monday (Dec. 2)  afternoon.  There was quite a bit of open water before Birch Island and I found only 2-3 inches of ice 10 yards out from the landing.  If the lake doesn't freeze over tonight it may not happen until Thursday morning after the snow stops and the wind dies down.  I was hoping to walk out fishing Thursday, but I may wait until Friday to be safer.  To be very safe I may just wait until next Monday (Dec. 9).  The winter is long.  No need to rush it.

Edited December 3 by JerkinLips
Correct location.

[SkunkedAgain]

Good update.

 

There has already been a host of idiots walking on the thin ice in the metro, with several rescues taking place. I read that a retired pastor in Duluth also went ice skating on thin ice and died. It's good to see that you're waiting a bit.

[SkunkedAgain]

Looking at the webcams, I don't see any open water. Is Big Bay completely frozen over yet?

 

The forecast looks like a few inches of snow Sunday/Monday followed by temps below zero.

[JerkinLips]

Looks like Vermilion froze overnight on Monday, which would make it officially frozen Tuesday, December 3.  I am going out to McKinley Park Friday morning to check out the ice conditions and possibly fish.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks for the update. Good luck today!

[JerkinLips]

Made it out fishing Friday, December 6th.  The ice thickness at the landing was 5 inches, quite an improvement from the 2-3" on Monday.  I kept testing the ice with a chisel, then checked the thickness 1/4 mile out.  Found 4 inches so I continued to go out further.  At almost 1/2 mile out from the landing I drilled a hole and found only 3 inches of ice.  I decided I went out far enough.  It didn't appear that anybody else went out that far.

 

After fishing in that location for 3 hours, the heat in my fish house had created over 1/2 inch of water on top of the ice.  I decided that I better move before I weaken the ice in that spot even more.  Moved 30 feet out further and found 4 inches of nice black ice.  Finished the day there.  Proof that the ice can vary a lot in a short distance.

 

Fishing was quite slow.  Caught only 6 walleyes in 6 hours of fishing (9am to 3pm).  4 of them were caught between 1:40-1:55pm.  The biggest was only 14".

 

If you venture out, be VERY CAREFUL.  The ice is very marginal and this weekend is only going to get warmer.  They are predicting 6-10" of snow on Sunday so that will make the ice even more unpredictable.  Looks like next Tuesday-Thursday will be very cold so maybe I will go back up the end of next week.

[SkunkedAgain]

Appreciate the report. Too bad the fishing didn't reward you but 6 walleye isn't the worst you could do!

 

It doesn't look like we got as much snow as predicted, so hopefully the cold can really do its magic on strengthening the ice this week.

[CigarGuy]

Skunked, we had about 4-5" on the ground, some melted with the warm weather over the weekend. But, overnight and it's still snowing, we're adding to the totals. I'd say we've got another 4+ so far. The railing was clear before it started snowing. Some wet spots out in front of me, I haven't checked the ice thickness yet. Hopefully, we're not in for another bad year with slush on the lake!

[SkunkedAgain]

Much appreciated. It may not have been the best start but hopefully the next week will start to firm things up.

 

I like your view.

[SpoonGoon27]

Any ice reports for Frazer Bay? 

[JerkinLips]

Finally made it back out on Vermilion today.  The ice is in much better condition than I expected.  The spot I fished last Friday (3/8 mile out from McKinley Park which had only 3-4 inches of ice) had 9½ inches of ice today (top 1½ inch was frozen slush).  I walked out a little over 1/2 mile to fish and found 9 inches of ice (top 1½-2" was white ice).  I found large patches of slush at 1/4 mile out and 3/8 mile out from the landing, and then didn't find any more.  A couple of vehicles found slush at the landing as shown in the attached picture.  Any locations with large accumulation of snow are likely to have slush underneath (even after the -20°F temps the last 2 mornings up here.  Most of the surface was snow free or hard pack thin snow, very easy to walk on.

 

Lots of ATVs and sleds running around out from the Park, even as far as Ely Island and the small island before Birch Island.  A couple of ATVs dragged a small wheel house and a small skid house out of McKinley Park bay on the east side.  I'm sure that there will be a lot more vehicle traffic this weekend.  I'm going to wait until late next week to drag my lightweight skid house out with my sled.

 

Fishing was much better today than last Friday.  Caught 50% more walleyes, and they were much larger than last week.  Caught 4 eyes over 16 inches including the 22 inch pictured.  I caught one eye at 20 inches exactly but didn't dare keep that one, even though I think my adhesive tape scale measures fish longer than they actually are.  Started fishing at 9am and didn't catch an eye until 11am.  Then I would catch a couple about every hour.  The best bite was around 3pm.

 

If you venture out, be cautious of the ice condition, courteous of other anglers, pick up your trash, and good luck.

 

[SkunkedAgain]

Your reports are great. I'm glad that you got rewarded with some healthy walleye.

 

It sounds like the ice is ready for another season. I can't wait to get up there and get some ice on my lines as well.