weekend after opener

[bigsmallie]

Hey everyone. Am heading up to vermillion again with family and this year we are fishing the west end of the lake, which we are not to familiar with. Looking for some eyes, and smallies(little early). Would like a general area to concentrate at, depths would be helpful too. Any help would be appreciated!!!! See ya on the water.

[garytheguide]

i tend to fish a little deeper at first 20-50 feet...it all depends on the weather....norwegian pt area can be good....as can the north and south end of taylors island...on the wake-em-up bay side....there can be a good bite around the mouth of black bay....wich is shallower....it will all be depending on the weather...jigs and minnow or lindys..as well as cranks can all be effective good luck and set the hook!!!!

[bigsmallie]

Thanks, that will help. I was suprised last year we were getting the eyes on main lake in 32 foot mud flat. Little different than what I'm used to for the spring. The smallies were a little lethargic, we did get about 20 a day though. (catch and release of course) Appretiate the info!

[mbeyer]

We sometimes find the smallies a bit elusive early in the year. They are easy to find when they are in shallow water. Do you guys find the smallies in deeper water early? Open water??

[garytheguide]

i have fished the smallies early....mostly off the deep rock piles.....jig is good....they are not as easy as the fall smallies on the shallow rock piles....i have or have had a client boat 18-20 inchers early fishing for eyes....but no real pattern then of course....so no way to get numbers till warmer.....at least for me.hey set the hook!!!!!!

[bigsmallie]

Gary, thanks, what do the deeper rockpiles come up to, 15-20 feet? Is there a true breakline of where the rocks end, and sand and mud begin on most areas of the west end?

[garytheguide]

yes and then there are times ........in summer and fall that are killer very shallow.....i cant tell you a ryhyme or reason for an early season pattern...it just doesnt pay to fish them till spawn or later if you ask me.............go little leaguers like mny son!!!!!!!!!!!!!baseball is as good as fihing!!!

[slick814]

bigsmallie - just an FYI.. there's a walleye tourney launching out of the casino that weekend.. not sure how many boats there will be, but I know it's a 100 boat limit, and a guaranteed first prize, so there may be a little extra traffic out there on saturday.

[bigsmallie]

Thanks gary, we'll fight through the traffic. I guess if the boats are lined up, we'll join them, since most of them will be on fish! Hey just curious, any idea why there hasn't been a bass tourney on vermillion for a couple of years. I miss that, it's a fun lake to fish, and I have done pretty well on that lake. Just curious if any one knows, I thought maybe it was a permit issue or something.

[delcecchi]

Wasn't the last bass tourney or one of the last sort of a disaster, PR wise? Memorial Day weekend, spawning bass, fishing beds etc etc.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Quote:

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Wasn't the last bass tourney or one of the last sort of a disaster, PR wise? Memorial Day weekend, spawning bass, fishing beds etc etc.

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That seems to be exactly what happened. Also add very warm water temps to that!

They got some bad publicity that they probably did not deserve.

Cliff

[bigsmallie]

ya, there was an issue with spawning fish during the everstart. The problem was just that, that some of the bass were still spawning. There was a minnesota pro/am after that which was run very well. A lot of people are against tourneys, which I say, to each there own. There's positives and negatives on both sides. Just curious if any one knew why there hasn't been one in a few years, may just be that it's so far north, and most of the guys that fish the circuit are from the cities.

[slick814]

This one is a walleye tourney, though... not bass. I doubt that the spawning thing will be much of an issue. This one is well run, too, and to be honest, I doubt that most people will even realise that it's going on. Hopefully better weather than last year it was just about the most miserable day I've ever spent on any lake. Not doing it this time, but I know a few folks who are..

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Hey, I've placed second in a couple very early bass tourneys on the V. The best place to look for the smallie action is any rocky/small boulder shorline adjacent to moderately deep water 15-25/30. Pitch in some sencos or a suspending rapala and throw right up to shore. Cover lots of ground and you'll catch alot of fish! Usually 2 or more per day in the 3-4lb+ catagory. Great time for smallies! If your sick of catching them try Dago bay with a jig and worm for lots of largemouth action! Good Luck!

[shamrock7]

Casey's Guide Service??????????? What??? Do you fix computers when the fish aren't biting?????????

[yukon]

Casey, peachy guy!

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Trying to get out of the computer thing, but I still take some jobs. Also haven't been selling many cell phones either. I have been working on some tv's and electronics and my latest specialty is repairing coin operated showers (had to fix a couple last week at the campground). So I guess if you need ANYTHING I can probably do that for you.