Vermilion......?

[riverkid21]

Some friends and I are looking for a week long fishing trip mid August this year and I was just wondering if people would recommend Lake Vermilion? Just want to get away and be able to catch some fish without dealing with a lot of fishing pressure. Bass/Pike/Muskie will be what we are throwing for so I was hoping this lake could keep us happy for a week. Good choice? or will the fish be hard to come by? If so any other lake options would be appreciated.

[MUSKY18]

Vermillion is a fantastic lake. We fish mainly muskie, but we found the smallie fishing to be incredible as well. Really didn't fish for much else. Some of the really more popular muskie spots can form waiting lines, but there are many, many spots that you can fish that won't be as crowded. All in all, I would definately fish this lake.

We stayed at Trancheff cabins when we were up there. Not the fanciest resort in the world, but nice cabins and folks are wonderful. Pat will help you out and put you on some hot spots. Couldn't ask for a better location on the lake. Right in the middle, so you can go either direction on the lake to fish. Check them out if you decide to go.

[riverkid21]

Thanks a lot, sounds pretty great up there. Just what we are looking for. I should have mentioned as well that we were thinking really anywhere in minnesota/wisconsin for a destination. Sounds like vermilion is taking the lead for now though. A lot of the time up there would be mid-week, so hopefully that will relieve some of those muskie lines! If anyone has any other suggestions or praises of vermilion, throw them out there.

[Steve Foss]

Vermilion is one of the hottest musky destinations in Minnesota now. The population is excellent, and several fish at or slightly over 50 pounds (not inches, pounds), have been landed in the last few years by folks trolling for them in late fall, when they put on the feedbag.

Plenty of 50-plus inch fish in the Big V. Thing about musky fishing V is that for all the spots that have become well known and attract lots of boats, there are as many spots that hold fish the folks don't hit much. So travel and experiment!

And Vermilion is among the best multi-species lakes I've ever fished. The walleye and smallie fishing is simply excellent.

For me, the multispecies angle makes Vermilion a prime destination.

[Grant Pearson]

Vermillion is a great lake for large muskies and pike, as well as smallies. I spent a summer working on Vermillion on the cook side and spent a large percentage of my time going after the muskies. Wake-em-up bay on the Cook side is a great place to start for muskies. It's got nice cabbage beds as well as nice rock humps. I would definitely sign up for a week or two for the big V. I have hooked (not landed) some that were close to the 50 pound mark that I would've loved to have boated, as well as seen a lot of nice fish CPRed from the lake.

[hanso612]

Vermillion is a great lake to base camp out of. Day trips can be made to Trout lake, and down the Vermillion river. I have stayed at Vermillion dam lodge every year for a week in July. I highly recomend the lodge and that end of the lake. There is a state record everything in Vermillion. You should have seen the largemouth we say diving by the dam a few years ago, wow.

The only downside is the fish are getting very wormy. More snails, herons, and weeds up in that end-coupled with warmer weather and the grubs have exploded. Tower end isn't as bad yet, but I'm even starting to see them in Burntside fish.

Sorry to leave you with that image, but it's true. Nevertheless, Vermillion is a great lake. Hans

[Grant Pearson]

If you're targeting muskies though, I don't think you have to worry about worms or anything. CPR is the way to go with skis

[TopwaterTom21]

Vermilion sounds great!! Where would you all recommend staying? Something more cheap than expensive. Cabin or campsites.

[hanso612]

The fall lake campround in Ely is a little out of the way but perfect. You could base out of there and splash in Tower. What you save by camping you would eat up in gas but it's a fallback if others on Big V are booked- that others might not think of.

White Eagle and Life of Riley out of the cook side as well as V.Dam have all been top notch. Ed at Vermilion Dam will put you on muskies or he knows a few guides who will. Hans

[MUSKY18]

Without a doubt, TRANCHEFF CABINS. Very resonable pricing and in a great spot on the lake.

[AWH]

 Originally Posted By: riverkid21

Just want to get away and be able to catch some fish without dealing with a lot of fishing pressure.

If this is your main goal, you could be disappointed. The month of August will see plenty of fishing and recreational traffic on the lake. But it's a big lake. And as others have said, there are always spots on the lake that you can get away from the crowds and still experience good fishing. I'd still say it's a good choice. But you should have realistic expectations that there will likely be plenty of traffic on the water.

Aaron

[LunkerBaitCo]

In all honesty, if you "just want to get away and be able to catch some fish without dealing with a lot of fishing pressure," Vermilion is 2 out of 3. Muskie pressure is incredeble there in August. You've been warned.

[PDXFisher]

Chad Cain doesn't even want to guide on Vermillion anymore due to the pressure. The way he describes it, "it's a big lake that fishes really small" because of the number of boats queueing up for the rather small spots there.

[SkunkedAgain]

I'm not a musky guy, but I do spend a bit of time up there. If you go to the "hot spots" during the best fishing times of the year...yes it will be packed. It's a giant lake though, with many spots to fish. It's kind of like the BWCA. If you go to the Sawbill on Labor Day weekend it'll be a zoo. Go a little further in on a different weekend and you'll get everything you're looking for.

[riverkid21]

Is it really going to be that bad mid week? I know there will be a lot of traffic on weekends but mid week? If you wouldn't recommend it, where would you recommend to go then?

[hanso612]

I've picked up muskies fishing for other species on Vermillion in very unusual places. Fish obscure patterns, like following tullibee of niles point in the deep water, or trolling in the propwash for fish just off the busiest marias for the dinner bell skis and you will have the place to yourself and might pick up a musky or too or find a new pattern.

The biggest problem in August is not only do the musky guys fan cast the community holes to death so do the resorters from down south. The bass guys hit the weedlines and inside bends and shoreline cover in general. So do the panfish rookies. So the shore gets pounded.

Put on a deep diving crankbait and troll some likely offshore walleye midlake humps and you'll never know what you will catch.

We go at night and have the place to our selves. Watch out for bar rush.Hans

[croixflats]

I'm not familiar with Lake Vermillian its a place I defineatly want to go to.

Not to take away from Lake Vermillian but Lake Wabadoe and Little Boy, both are canected by a channel, in the Longeville and Hackensak area are also great musky lakes, considerd the best lakes for ski's and you got many other lakes to choose from, Leach lake and Women for starters.I believe state record was out of Little boy.

It looks like your looking for info on lakes so I I thought Iwould put it out There.

[DHanson]

 Originally Posted By: croixflats

I believe state record was out of Little boy.

Are you serious?

[Quackaddict9]

MN state record muskie came out of Winnie and the tiger muskie out of Lake Elmo a few years back.

[MuskyBrian]

Vermilion has BIG muskies....But I have been out there at times in July and August and been flabbergasted at how many musky guys are out there. Some people only fish it at night...I don't know about you, but I don't feel like I should have to do that in Northern MN, big muskies or not. I respect those who fish it regularly and do well, but if I am driving that far I will keep going to LOTW personally...

[SkunkedAgain]

Vermilion is a different lady during the week, not as busy.