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Posts: 674
Location: Duluth | Headed to Vermilion this weekend, west end, I'll give a report of all the fish we don't catch or see  |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | Appreciate that! |
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| There have been many posts about how fishermen not being able to go to Canadian waters has put a lot of folks on northern MN lakes. Looking for the silver lining, has this at least resulted in good economic news for resorts, stores, etc. in that area?
Seems like it should but wondering what those of you there are seeing. Might it also mean more business in future summers for resorts on those lakes?
I have been seeing a number of business stories where economists are speculating about the long term changes in behavior of the consumer, like what percentage of grocery shoppers will continue with online buying after the pandemic subsides. Thinking this may also happen with sportsmen? |
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Posts: 674
Location: Duluth | I know Zups in Cook is having a great summer. I know my marina here in Duluth has more campers than they have ever had.
I also know I'm not getting away from any crowds going to Vermilion, it's a tradition with my buddies. If anything Covid helped the secondary resort destinations. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Hang a biggun, dude! m |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Vermilion has been a Zoo this summer... Boats, jet skis everywhere . Crazy busy.
Water temps are in the low to mid 70's and there are still a few muskies left in there.
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Posts: 354
Location: Vilas County, WI | We stayed at Everett Bay Lodge July 18 - 25. There were three groups in camp that were there because they couldn't get into Canada and took this as Plan B. (They scooped up Covid cancellations). We booked our stay last fall long before all this nonsense.
Anyhow, all I've read is that Vermilion sucks this summer due to the increased traffic. We were prepared for the worst. I didn't think it was bad at all - that lake is so big there's always places to fish. Sure your community spots have more activity but there are plenty of other spots to be had.
I'm not a regular up there but my interpretation of busy (i.e. Minocqua or Eagle River Chain) must be a lot worse than what is considered busy up there.
Head up there, fishing is good, and good luck. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | By Vermilion standards it has been busier than normal... Still a Great place to fish and relax. |
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Posts: 674
Location: Duluth | Yea, we are at Whispering Winds resort. Know that end of the lake pretty well, not too worried about traffic keeping us away from fish. |
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Posts: 60
| Was there for first week in August this year. Weekends were definitely more busy than past 5 years of the same week. Fishing was tough, patterns didn't hold day to day. Water temps were 72-74 and most of week was sunny and calm, could have used more weather and wind. Had to daily mix in spots between shallow rocks, deeper humps, and weeds to see fish. Moved average of 2-3 fish / day. Landed a 47", lost 3 smaller ones. Bonus 40" pike. Raised one legit low 50's. Fished mostly middle area of the lake. Good luck to all who venture there, I'll keep going back annually for a shot at a rare giant. |
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Posts: 674
Location: Duluth | Not the first nor the last time I take a trip to Vermilion and strike out.
Got up there Friday, had a fish wake up behind a fat bastard in the first hour and that was it. We had three boats with two guys fishing all weekend. Was on the water until we got blown off Friday around 9, then went out with a guide from 10:45-1:00am.
Was back on water at 6:45am Saturday took a break from 1:30-2:30 then out on the water until 12:30 am. Sunday got on the water at 7. one of our boats had 3 fish up in a short period then everything calmed back down around 11. Fished until 1 then hit the road with tail between my legs.
We had intel from multiple guides, lots of experience on the boats but thats the thing about Vermilion. When they aren't going they aren't going. Saw quite a few tanks sun bathing on a community spot, thats never a good sign. |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | CincySkeez - 8/17/2020 10:03 AM
Not the first nor the last time I take a trip to Vermilion and strike out.
Got up there Friday, had a fish wake up behind a fat bastard in the first hour and that was it. We had three boats with two guys fishing all weekend. Was on the water until we got blown off Friday around 9, then went out with a guide from 10:45-1:00am.
Was back on water at 6:45am Saturday took a break from 1:30-2:30 then out on the water until 12:30 am. Sunday got on the water at 7. one of our boats had 3 fish up in a short period then everything calmed back down around 11. Fished until 1 then hit the road with tail between my legs.
We had intel from multiple guides, lots of experience on the boats but thats the thing about Vermilion. When they aren't going they aren't going. Saw quite a few tanks sun bathing on a community spot, thats never a good sign.
Interesting. With the weather you had I thought maybe you'd get bit. I did not fish V this weekend but I wanted to. |
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Posts: 674
Location: Duluth | Two of my buddies stayed up there today and he had one in the bag by 10 am..waiting for a full report.
Dang thing called work getting in the way again.
Kirby believe me I thought it was going to be a lot better. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Water temps have dropped like a rock in the last few days.
60-61* and with air temps dropping down to 27-28* tonight the water temps will drop even more.
The water levels have also been dropping.... Time to get the Big Dawgs hunting. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | CincySkeez - 8/17/2020 3:14 PM
Dang thing called work getting in the way again.
Yep, one of my favorite sayings was along the lines of, "I fish because I have to work; and I work because I have to fish!"
Bet you had a good time anyway, that's a great place just to BE. m
Edited by mikie 9/9/2020 7:21 AM
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Posts: 239
Location: Illinois | I will be in the Vermillion area next week. What are the chances of finding a reputable guide on short notice? Any recommendations would be appreciated! |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | Natureboy - 9/9/2020 10:17 AM
I will be in the Vermillion area next week. What are the chances of finding a reputable guide on short notice? Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Call around. Ronnestrand, Seifert, Borovsky, Amundson |
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Posts: 31
| I too would recommend reaching out to Steve Amundson at Spring Bay Resort. |
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Posts: 69
Location: Royalton, MN | We were up there from the 5th to the 9th during the tail-end of that cold snap and struggled worse than any of my prior trips up there. No bites, just a handful of good follows. Tried east and west. |
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Posts: 462
Location: Syracuse, Indiana | Apologies for the late report. Fished the west end of the Big-V Labor Day week, mostly for bass. Fishing overall was slow, and surface water temps dropped 5 degrees that week (I'd bet they have since rebounded some). Community spots were pounded until Labor Day afternoon. Afterwards, we had the lake largely to ourselves. Senkos or jigs in green weeds produced smallmouth. Senkos in the rocks produced largemouth. Go figure. The normal dock pattern for largemouth was non-existent. Didn't target walleye, but caught one on a figure-8 (again, on a Senko). I had two muskies on, both on blades, and each less than 20" long. Not sure what that means for the future. Another guy in my group reported unhooking a 40" at boat side (again, on a Senko). Pike action was way down from prior years. Biggest for our group was 30". Hope to be back next year. |
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Posts: 59
| Those Senkos sure are effective. Ive caught tons of bass on them. Northern pike also seem to enjoy them on occasion, as do the walleye. Ive even found that they work for sight fishing muskies in the spring, they cant resist a 6" dead stick right in front of the face. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion |
Water temps are 58-60* on the far west end right now with some weeds dyeing off.
Colder temps are forecasted for this week.
Got a nice 28" Walleye in 2 fow on a suick last evening.
Seems like there is more boat traffic out there than normal. |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | Top H2O - 9/28/2020 9:04 AM
Water temps are 58-60* on the far west end right now with some weeds dyeing off.
Colder temps are forecasted for this week.
Got a nice 28" Walleye in 2 fow on a suick last evening.
Seems like there is more boat traffic out there than normal.
The traffic in September has been the worst of the year. I’m blown away by the amount of boats. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Yep... Spring Bay is full. A lot of Walleye guys out there |
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| Interesting that is is still so busy. Do you think it is folks who in ordinary times would be going to LOW? |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | Hard to say. Probably that and people just have a lot of time on their hands this year. It has been crazy though. If you know square rock in Wakemup bay, you know that it’s not that great of a spot, nothing is really that great in wakemup, but I watched 3 boats go around it at the same time for a good hour. It’s just unheard of. And know success rates are extremely low so I know the fish aren’t hurting that bad from it. They don’t bite anyway! |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Spring Bay has had a lot of business from guys/groups who could not go to Canada this year. so much so that they have been referring people to other resorts. It's been their best year to date. They have like 18-20 rental boats that have been rented all summer.
The covid has turned a lot of boats into "work from home" platforms.
Square Rock has been known to put a couple of fiddys in guys boats,...  (The little opening between the Rock and the Island.
I'll bet there will be more Deer Hunters in the woods this fall, because of the covid. also. |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | Yes, deer season is going to be rough. I’m praying for -20 and windy. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Went out yesterday after work and the water temps were 59-58*
first spot with the wind blowing into a small rocky bay with some weeds I tagged a 40" pike 2 ft. from the shore. love it when they come flying out of the water head shaking like crazy.
Temps will drop close to 6-8* in the next 4-5 days.... are you ready for Turnover ?? |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Water temps at 55-54* on the West End. Still a lot of green weeds |
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Posts: 814
| Anybody have up to date water temps? Thanks |
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Posts: 299
| 48 on Sunday. Muskie were real slow. Barely showing on rock reefs. Wind made fishing very challenging while I was there. |
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Posts: 2374
Location: Chisholm, MN | 46 yesterday. I did not see a fish all day. Conditions seemed prime too. Another vermilion beat down in the books. |
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Posts: 111
Location: somewhere! | Kirby Budrow - 10/22/2020 2:43 PM
46 yesterday. I did not see a fish all day. Conditions seemed prime too. Another vermilion beat down in the books. east end or west end ??? |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Had to break 1/2" ice Sunday in order to get my boat out of the water,.... The whole bay is Iced over this afternoon with a low of 11* tonight and a high of 28* Tuesday.
It's supposed to warm up next week.. Soo, i'll put it back in for the Cisco/ Whitefish Run. Can't wait. |
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Vermilion