first time on Vermillion

[ccarlson]

I've wanted to fish Vermillion for several years but haven't done it yet. Looking at getting in a family camping trip this memorial day weekend with the wife and kids but thought I would like to have a spot where I can get out for a few hours and do some fishing on my own or with the family if the weather is good so thought it would be a good time to head for vermillion and check it out. We'll be camping at fortune bay (is that good or bad?) this time and plan to check out some of the other private spots while we are there. Anyway, for a first timer to the lake camping in that area, where should I head to for walleye? I plan to get a good map and I've got the mapping gps so finding my way around isn't a problem. Just need some help in a direction to get me started on a new lake. If possible, to help me get my perspective, let me know roughly how far any spots might be from where I'll be camping at the casino area. Thanks a lot. By the way, this a good site for lake specific info like this. (I was a walleye central regular but have found myself using this site more lately.)

thanks,
chuck carlson

[guideman]

Hi Chuck, it's always nice to talk to a convert, that other site has way to many retards on it's forum.

The location you have chosen will suit you well...Big Bay is the place to be for the best walleye fishing
on the lake.

The points, humps and islands number
in the hundreds, the west end of the bay is great this time of year. The
best way to cover some water is to
troll some cranks, shad raps or a
husky jerk work well, stay along the
first break and cover the points.

The evening bite is the best of the day, jigs tipped with a minnow will
put some fish in the boat. I also
like slip bobbers with a plain hook
tipped with a minnow or a leech.

Shoreline points and shallow flats
with rock or boulders will produce
in the evening. Look for deeper structure during the day, points or
hard bottom flats in 15 to 30ft.

Transition areas along the shoreline
will also hold fish, look for hard to soft bottom or gravel to rock or
boulders for the best results...

I hope that this helps you out, have
a great weekend.....

------------------

Ace guide service.
[email protected]
www.aceguideservice.com
1-888-ACE-0588

[tjwierz2]

One thing you should pay attention in guideman's response is to use a plain hook when slip bobbering. Fished next to a guy last weekend...both slip bobbering, he was outfishing me 2 to 1 until I switched to a plain hook and slip shot. After that, we fished pretty much even.

I had little luck fishing the daytime hours, so I'll let someone else help with that. Early morning and the evening bite is the best. Good luck, and please report your fishing SUCCESS!

Also, I did not know Fortune Bay had a camping sites...are these tent sites? I am very interested to know how it treats you. Please report about your stay there as well.

Looks like it should be pretty cloudy for you this weekend too...more the better for the 'eyes.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Hi chuck,
You made a good choice when you picked Fortune Bay for a camp site. They have some very nice sites and are also close to good fishing areas as Ace stated.
Ace pretty much covered the fishing areas so won't go there other than to say "don't be afraid to go deep for day time and front walleyes".I have already caught them in 43 feet of water this spring!
Good fishing.
Cliff

------------------
Cliff's Guide Service
CliffsGuideService-LakeVermilion.com
Lake Vermilion
Phone: (218) 753-2005

[tjwierz2]

Good bait store in Tower...not sure the name, its the main gas station in town. Generous on the minnows I thought. I used chubs, they are still small this time of year and they have a lot of energy and react to stress well.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

There is bait available at the casino marina.
These minnows are also running smaller than I like but it's all we can get in fatheads and rainbows. I use the bigger ones first and hope I have enough. I have also done well with shiners, but the stores are stingy with their count on them.
The Y Store at the junction of 77 and 169 also sells all kind of baits. It is 2 or 3 miles from the casino.
Cliff,

------------------
Cliff's Guide Service
CliffsGuideService-LakeVermilion.com
Lake Vermilion
Phone: (218) 753-2005

[ccarlson]

Thanks for the info. Looks like the weather may be somewhat cooperative this weekend on Sunday and Monday anyway.

I'll bring some good leeches along but wondering where a good bait store is near the casino. I netted my own shiners with a friend for local use around Brainerd here but there's no way they will last the trip. Do I need to buy shiners or will rainbows or fatheads work for jigging up there?

Thanks for the tip on the deep daytime fish. It's good to hear a depth so one isn't afraid to give it a try as each lake has different tendancies. We have some lakes around here that the fish never get past 20 but others that we get them near 50.
thanks again,
ccarlson