|
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | We'll have approximately 40 anglers in camp for the outing and many other Spring Bay guests who will join us during the event beginning tomorrow with a Pizza dinner at the Mapping Party. Steve will mark maps as will many of the outing participants who know the lake well to cut the learning curve, and then the first evening of fishing will begin.
Stand by for daily reports. The weather looks pretty stable for the week, so hopefully the big girls will cooperate!
Attachments
----------------
 vermilion.jpg (108KB - 465 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | beautiful morning after a day of thunderstorms and crazy rain, Sue and I are going to go scout some with the Aqua-Vu HD today and see what we find in all the old haunts. Probably will troll muskies some and I'll cast for awhile after we wrap up the mapping party.
Here's a few of the many prizes we are giving away at the dockside seminars including some cool long sleeve MuskieFIRST shirts. Suick Lures, Violent Strike Lures, Vexan, and Naze Baits really stepped up for this one allowing us to give away 50 lures during the event. Steve and Joe from Spring Bay resort will add a bunch of really cool prizes and even more lures, and a Tooth Tamer muskie rod as well.
Now all we need is the Muskies to go. Shaley and a couple other regulars are already here and are on the water this morning. This is going to be a good trip....
Attachments
----------------
IMG_1606[1].jpg (192KB - 480 downloads)
IMG_1605[1].jpg (189KB - 495 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | shaley put a 44.5 in the boat just as the Outing kicked off today at 3 PM. The mapping party was a blast, and the pizza excellent.
Watch shaley's video: http://upload.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=9529
Attachments
----------------
IMG_1723.jpg (100KB - 490 downloads)
IMG_1725.jpg (85KB - 477 downloads)
IMG_1727.jpg (89KB - 511 downloads)
IMG_1728.jpg (95KB - 511 downloads)
IMG_1730.jpg (84KB - 475 downloads)
IMG_1731.jpg (74KB - 491 downloads)
IMG_0409finl.jpg (108KB - 496 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Location: Hayward WI | On the board with a cannonball jr fish
Attachments
----------------
IMG_1299.JPG (97KB - 478 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Do you guys have an up date ?
God.. I miss that place ! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 213
Location: FIB land | Slice of Heaven right there ... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Couple fish from yesterday, Steve got this one in the morning. A cool front is going through today just in time for the eclipse, so we may have rain as it occurs. Everyone saw lots of muskies yesterday, I 'lost' a big girl on a Kenders tungsten jig.
The first dockside is this afternoon at 3.
Several boats are fishing multi-species especially with the Pot Luck Multi-Cabin fish fry coming up tomorrow. Sue can't fish muskies anymore, so we spend quite bit of our time up here chasing trophy crappies, which we also shoot for clients. Two over 15" so far, still hunting the big ones. Probably 15 over 13, so some really nice slabs!
Attachments
----------------
IMG_4451.JPG (132KB - 465 downloads)
IMG_1623.jpg (203KB - 457 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
| I assume that report means the total number of people in attendance does not in any way represent the number of people actually seriously musky fishing meaning hardly any muskies are actually hitting the net. Am I close?? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Cfollow - 8/21/2017 10:24 AM
I assume that report means the total number of people in attendance does not in any way represent the number of people actually seriously musky fishing meaning hardly any muskies are actually hitting the net. Am I close??
Uh...why do you ask? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Slamr - 8/21/2017 10:38 AM
Cfollow - 8/21/2017 10:24 AM
I assume that report means the total number of people in attendance does not in any way represent the number of people actually seriously musky fishing meaning hardly any muskies are actually hitting the net. Am I close??
Uh...why do you ask?
Maybe he is trying to decide if he should cancel his outing on Vermillion? |
|
| |
|
| 14ledo81 - 8/21/2017 11:57 AM
Slamr - 8/21/2017 10:38 AM
Cfollow - 8/21/2017 10:24 AM
I assume that report means the total number of people in attendance does not in any way represent the number of people actually seriously musky fishing meaning hardly any muskies are actually hitting the net. Am I close??
Uh...why do you ask?
Maybe he is trying to decide if he should cancel his outing on Vermillion?
That is exactly the reason I ask. They have the outing every single year and it is like pulling teeth to try and figure out if any muskies are actually being caught. This website is musky specific and all I hear about is how good the pizza was at the outing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Steve, what kind of stuff do you find the crappies on there? Structure or suspended? Seem like the population is pretty good or lower numbers? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Ok, I asked a question, there is the answer.
Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I do not know where they may go in the summer but the west side of vermillion is excellent for panfish. Never caught a gill or crappie on the east side, just perch of no decent size. We, meaning my kids and my grandfather caught a ton of panfish along the shoreline casting tiny beetle spins with a 1" twister tail with two split shots in front. Even that tiny offering will catch pike and bass, even had a mid 40's want it. That setup works for panfish everythwhere. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1516
| It is a vacation for most pepole here. People trying to catch Muskie or nice crappie or what ever
Goal is to have a good time. So far seems to be happening. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 441
| Muskie fishing has been tough, this year, on Vermilion.
Very short windows. Couple of weeks in July, when they first started showing up on the rocks, was good.
You can move some fish on days when a front comes through, like today.
The fishing pressure has been intense!! Mostly in the middle and east end. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 14ledo81 - 8/21/2017 11:57 AM
Slamr - 8/21/2017 10:38 AM
Cfollow - 8/21/2017 10:24 AM
I assume that report means the total number of people in attendance does not in any way represent the number of people actually seriously musky fishing meaning hardly any muskies are actually hitting the net. Am I close??
Uh...why do you ask?
Maybe he is trying to decide if he should cancel his outing on Vermillion?
That's incredibly ....no words here.
Cancel a trip anywhere...because the fishing the week before was tough? There'd be a ton of people staying home when they shouldn't have across the muskie range. I promise you, no one here will give up if the fish are not cooperating, and most fish very hard. If you want to know about the Spring Bay outings....attend one! Pulling teeth my arse, we put images up as soon as they hit the table or inbox. Today everyone was off the water for Steve's dockside at 3 pm, where he gave up what's working and how/where to improve everyone's chances. After his talk, we gave away about 35 new muskie lures thanks to Suick Lures, Naze Baits, Vexan, MuskieFIRST, Violent Strike, and Spring Bay. Also gave away shirts and other goodies, and the same will happen tomorrow and the next day when two other well known guides will talk patterns. Pretty much everyone will go home with two new baits. Wednesday evening Spring Bay puts about 50 rib eye steaks on the grill with all the fixings and libations. Friday, a fish fry will take place and an awards ceremony where a free week next year at Spring Bay and a new Tooth Tamer rod will be won.
The Outing is about community, having a great time, and a shot at one of Vermilion's piggies. Tomorrow we have a cabin fish fry where everyone pitches together and we'll put on one heck of a pot luck feed.
It's called fun. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | {Steve, what kind of stuff do you find the crappies on there? Structure or suspended? Seem like the population is pretty good or lower numbers?}
We are fishing the slot where the cabbage edge gives way to Vallisneria. I found them in that stuff with the Aqua-Vu (and a bunch of muskies too) in a narrow path that grows between the cabbage and the bare sand/rock. We absolutely killed 'em this afternoon on the deeper edges in 9' fishing Kenders Outdoors feather tungsten jigs and Bait Rigs panfish cobra jigs tipped with 1" and 2" Gulp Alive Minnows. We are bobber jigging them, suspending the bait JUST above the stuff and moving it in jumps...quickly.
We are hunting the really big ones, and that is where they live this time of the year. Hard to leave a school of 13s to search out bigger fish, but that's the game. Same with the really big gills.
We also saw lots of muskies sitting on the bottom in that stuff. There's dozens of edges like that around the central and western portions of the lake, and after finding one, the trick is to identify the largest fish there and decide whether it's a destination that week.
EXCELLENT numbers and year classes. Vermilion's gills and crappies look good for a long time to come.
Black Bay is another location, trolling small cranks in 6' on the breakline at 1.4 mph.
Of course, I fish muskies too, but with Sue unable to and me just healing up, neither of us is up for an entire day pounding them. And I'm having a blast. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Michelle popped a 35" Pike, and Mark Randall boated a 45. There may be more, several boats are still out there. There were a ton of fish moving, but not many made it to the net. Most of the day was overcast and dead calm, and a front moved through at dusk. Tomorrow will be windy with a chance of rain most of the day, so maybe they will complete tomorrow instead of nipping and chasing!
Tomorrow Mike Brown will offer a 2:30 PM dockside and will give away a half day trip for the afternoon, and a ton of lures and bling will be given away. Not too long after a camp pot luck fish fry will happen rain or shine. The weather will tell us where it will be headquartered in camp. Some killer side dishes will be served....
Attachments
----------------
IMG_4457.JPG (112KB - 445 downloads)
image1(1)(1).JPG (82KB - 468 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | 38.5
Attachments
----------------
IMG_20170822_51913.jpg (85KB - 451 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The wind is howling today out of the West/NW, but near everyone hit the water. Sue and I shot an Amazon video for a client and put a few fish in the well for the camp fish fry, which kicks off in an hour. Mike's dockside was excellent, too. More when everyone is off the water. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1516
| The camp pot luck fish fry was a great time with great people. Thanks for getting those crappie. Best fish I have in years |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Fish fry was a blast, thanks everyone!
Attachments
----------------
IMG_1848.jpg (35KB - 475 downloads)
IMG_1849.jpg (89KB - 474 downloads)
IMG_1850.jpg (81KB - 434 downloads)
IMG_1851.jpg (49KB - 455 downloads)
IMG_1854.jpg (60KB - 437 downloads)
IMG_1855.jpg (60KB - 463 downloads)
IMG_1856.jpg (68KB - 470 downloads)
IMG_1857.jpg (66KB - 455 downloads)
IMG_1858.jpg (80KB - 455 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I bet that fish fry was good. As much as I like muskies that crappie info is interesting, Steve. 13s to 15s and up are nothing to turn your nose up at! I have a small lake where I pull a 16 or 2 from each winter and those are special fish.
Regarding muskies there I fished Vermilion for the 1st time for a few days this year and water was cold. Caught a 42. I'd like to go back but view that water as a chance to catch something while searching for a BIG fish. Probably not typically a numbers lake but according to some reports it can be if the timing is right.
Edited by curleytail 8/22/2017 10:17 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | sworrall - 8/21/2017 10:07 PM
{Steve, what kind of stuff do you find the crappies on there? Structure or suspended? Seem like the population is pretty good or lower numbers?}
We are fishing the slot where the cabbage edge gives way to Vallisneria. I found them in that stuff with the Aqua-Vu (and a bunch of muskies too) in a narrow path that grows between the cabbage and the bare sand/rock. We absolutely killed 'em this afternoon on the deeper edges in 9' fishing Kenders Outdoors feather tungsten jigs and Bait Rigs panfish cobra jigs tipped with 1" and 2" Gulp Alive Minnows. We are bobber jigging them, suspending the bait JUST above the stuff and moving it in jumps...quickly.
We are hunting the really big ones, and that is where they live this time of the year. Hard to leave a school of 13s to search out bigger fish, but that's the game. Same with the really big gills.
We also saw lots of muskies sitting on the bottom in that stuff. There's dozens of edges like that around the central and western portions of the lake, and after finding one, the trick is to identify the largest fish there and decide whether it's a destination that week.
EXCELLENT numbers and year classes. Vermilion's gills and crappies look good for a long time to come.
Black Bay is another location, trolling small cranks in 6' on the breakline at 1.4 mph.
Of course, I fish muskies too, but with Sue unable to and me just healing up, neither of us is up for an entire day pounding them. And I'm having a blast.
What kind of cranks would you pull steve? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Vexan Rattlin' Wasps fit the bill, as do Berkley Flicker Shads . Number 5 size. Blues and greens seemed to be the ticket. The new Off Shore Tackle Awesome Crappie Boards work really well keeping the crankbaits off the bottom and out of the prop wash area. Cool and calm on Vermilion today with light winds and partly sunny skies. 'Vermilion Patterns' with Matt Seifert is the dockside today just before the steak fry to allow folks to leave the water at about 4 and get back out by 6 or so.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Well...at least the Muskie cookies are cooperating
Props to the chef on those! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 571
| I miss the dockside videos that have been done in the past. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Big cold front rolling through had the fish shut down for us this evening, but a couple made the board earlier today. Quite a few folks still out on the water, so stand by for more reports. I have three dockside videos to edit, will get those done ASAP.
John VanCleave 36" muskie.
John Seeck sr. 37" pike
Attachments
----------------
Resized_2.jpg (173KB - 444 downloads)
IMG_4462(1).JPG (98KB - 428 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 43
| Vermilion is a great place. I have been fortunate enough that 4 out of the 6 muskies over 50 inches that I have caught have come from Vermilion. BUT it can also be very frustrating because action can be so slow at times. I have also gone days and days at a time without even a follow. But when those big girls are on the prowl...look out. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Everyone had a great time during the week fishing, enjoying the company, eating very well, and doing a little partying. There were a few big fish moving, but none ended up in the net. Here's the totals from the week:
Muskies:
47.5" Steve
45" Mark R.
44.5" Shawn H
39" Eric O.
36" Chad D.
36" John V.
Pike:
30.5" Shawn H
33" Bill S
36" John P
30,31,33,34,35,36,37 John S. Sr
35" Michelle O
34" Mike I
Several fronts went through while the crew was there, and night time temps went as low as the middle 30's. Muskies were slow, Pike were not, and all other fish were off the charts easy...and some were very impressive. The Spring Bay Resort steak fry on Wednesday was stupendous, the all cabin fish fry a true event, dockside seminars were really good, and everyone should have gone home with a couple new baits thanks to Suick, Vexan, Violent Strike, and Naze Baits. The largest muskie got a free week next year, and prizes were offered for one couple and the biggest pike.
Sue and I had to leave on Thursday to the Pay It Forward Veterans Event on Lake of the Woods out of Baudette (report coming soon), which was not easy to do because the fishing was so good overall.
Joe and Steve, and all the staff outdid themselves once again with hospitality unequaled. All in all, it was one hell of a good time, and we can't wait for next year!
If you like a fall fatty chance at a monster, some of the most incredible giant crappie angling you may ever see, partying around a roaring fire in the evening, drinking some 'apple pie', and just plain having a great time, check out the Fall Spring Bay Outing coming up in October, full details will be in the Outings forum tomorrow.
Dockside Seminar One Mike Brown
Dockside Seminar Two, Steve Full Image Gallery
Attachments
----------------
IMG_4451.JPG (132KB - 434 downloads)
IMG_4452.JPG (108KB - 383 downloads)
IMG_4454.JPG (99KB - 395 downloads)
IMG_4457.JPG (112KB - 422 downloads)
IMG_4502.JPG (81KB - 446 downloads)
IMG_4503.JPG (59KB - 441 downloads)
IMG_1854.jpg (124KB - 384 downloads)
IMG_1885.jpg (200KB - 434 downloads)
IMG_1899.jpg (173KB - 396 downloads)
IMG_1904.jpg (148KB - 394 downloads)
IMG_4442.jpg (54KB - 416 downloads)
IMG_4473.jpg (51KB - 394 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 244
Location: Mallard Island Lake Vermilion MN | Wow!
Looks like a fun time to me.
Geeezzzz....lots of good food n seminars, fish fry, plus free lure type stuff shared with all different types of people from all different places going out fishen for just bout anything.
Yup, looks like a steal of a good time.
What lake is that on again?
: )
Keep on rocken!
Tommy
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I ate some of your crappies while there, Tommy... |
|
| |
|
Location: Hayward WI | The Mallard Island Madman returns.........
We had another great time, 'skies were tough, panfish tasty and good times with old and new friends, which at some point in ones life, is what trips like this are about, catching a muskie is a bonus. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2024
| This might be the worst week of the year for me, 5 years and counting. Explore a few non-community spots, try different lures and have some success moving fish at least. My knees, wrists, hands, back and neck hurt. My belly is full of beer and good eats. Worst of all, my belly and head hurt from laughing so much and actually having to talk with people and have a great time. All on one of the most scenic waters in the US. It's not just about catching fish for us regulars. |
|
| |
