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Posts: 135
| Don't want to start a Wisconsin vs. Minnesota debate here, but I want to go North (From Indiana) this summer last week of July or first week of August, got my eye on Big Chip or Big V. I'd like to catch numbers with a chance at a 45"+ fish or two.
My impression from these boards is that Vermilion might be tougher to fish, clearer water and may not produce the numbers that Chip would, but that there's a much better chance of a lengthy fatty on Vermilion. Am I on target here?
I'd be coming up alone, fishing alone in my 17ft lund w/ 25hp Evinrude. Wouldn't need a cabin, I'd be willing to hotel it and put in/take out the boat every day.
Chip is appealing because it's 2 and a half hours closer for me, also if my impression of seeing more fish on the Chip is correct, but the idea of running into a 50+ on V is appealing too. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks y'all!
Edited by whit65 5/24/2008 5:17 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | water on vermillion is semi-clear to stained and yeah, big fish ... never fished the chip but if i had a week to fish and big v was on the list the only thing that would steer me anywhere else is if it were eagle. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I have only fished Vermilion, not the Chip.
There are a lot of big fish on Vermilion, and if you are fishing the right spots you will see them. Getting them to hit on the other hand could be another story. Personally, there's too many people out there for my liking. I drive 10+ hours to get away from the crowds, not join them. I'm not sure the aggrevation and extra gas mileage is worth the chance of sticking a 50" fish in this case. But that's just me, many guys love it out there.... |
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Posts: 135
| Thanks, Sled,
Brian, that brings up another point, for anyone who has been to both Chip and Vermilion, what's the traffic during the week like on the lake? Are they similar?
Thanks!
Whit |
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Posts: 1287
Location: WI | I fished the Chip last summer during the first week of August. Fishing pressure wasn't too bad until the end of the week. There might be decent numbers of them there but that doesn't mean it will be easy to fish. I caught one all week, a 28 incher, but I did have a bigger one follow a Suick and also lost a low 30 inch fish. I saw 2 bears, tons of eagles, loons, etc, it's a peaceful lake. I havn't fished big V yet.
Hope that helps. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Give Joe at Spring Bay Resort a call and ask him the questions, he'll help you with anything you need to know about Vermilion.
http://www.springbayresort.com/ |
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Posts: 3147
| I live in Minn a few hrs away from "v",,,,I wont fish it again in July too cowded if I wanna deal with crowds like that I'll go to Mall of America at least thats air conditioned,,, Maybe gas prices will effect the crowding |
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Posts: 135
| Is one side, East or West less crowded- and what do you mean by crowded- Like do you see boats in most decent bays, on most reefs/weedbeds, around most islands?
It can definitely get like that on Cave Run, where I usually fish, especially on weekends. During the week at peak times one can still usually find good spots without boats on them, just not the famous spots. Guess I'm wondering what crowded is.
Thanks!
W |
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Posts: 480
| Vermilion is like the mall of america, you can find some quiet areas but you will never truely be alone. Can you catch big fish in those areas?, you bet. Fish really early, fish really late and look around at the in between time. You can find spots most people pass up to get the the community spots, because it takes extra work to investigate those spots. They are smaller or don't have all the things community spots have like size, diversity or convience to the milk run but that doesn't mean they don't hold the quality fish you are after. Muskie fishing is work, and working hard has rewards, and if you work hard for 3 days I bet you have rewards far beyond your efforts that you can cash in on. I would choose Vermilion unless I was in some kind of hostage situation. |
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Posts: 556
| i dont see that many people on vermillion
sometimes i think that people forget there there are muskies on both sides of vermillion i fish the west side |
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| I fish both and both are beautiful. The Chip is a little more wild, but Big V has better fishing and better chances at big fish right now. You can't go wrong with either one, and the Chip is much closer for me to get to. Vermilion is worth the drive though if you want amazing fishing |
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Posts: 19
| The Chip has some big ones in it, you just have to know where to look. The east side is generally better. If you do go there, stay at Indian Trail. They have bunkhouses for 25 bucks a night. Its in easy reach of all major spots, and the pizza isn't that bad either. http://www.indiantrailresort.com/
Edited by Ifishskis Jr. 5/26/2008 8:06 PM
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| i only fished the chip once back in 1998.
i fish vermilion 2-3 times per year.
if i had to choose, i would pick vermilion and i would get ahold of ACE Guide Service.
good luck
dannyboy
www.dannyboysguideservice.com |
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Posts: 157
Location: Wausau/Phillips WI | I fished on the Chip each year for a week 7 times from 1995 thru 2005. Thursday night the traffic always started to pick up thru Sunday morning. From Sunday afternoon thru Thursday afternoon you could just about fish anywhere without too many other boats around. Lots of undeveloped shoreline. Never fished on "V".
Buddy |
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| Both are very big bodies of water. I would suggest doing alot of homework before going and targeting certain areas to make it fishable if you are not familiar with either. Really study a good lake map and make your plan before you go. The Chip with the stained shallow water will give you a shot at some good numbers with a 45"er a real possiblity. July/August can give you a great bite on the Chip. If you don't own a GPS I suggest getting one for eihter body of water, both to mark fish and for safety. It is very easy to get turned around if you are not familiar with the water. |
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Posts: 135
| Still very torn between the two!
I do have a GPS, and can't imagine going without one. In fact, I have one in the boat as well as a handheld. I've been voraciously studying everything that search comes up with on both lakes from this forum, as well as the other websites, google, etc.
Seems that there are pro's and con's to both, but can't go wrong with either. I am definitely swayed by the greater chance at a really big fish at Vermilion, but the pressure thing is on my mind. I do think that it can't be any worse than Cave Run, which I always avoid during the weekends. Chip sounds like it might actually be a little less developed, which is appealing too. What a good problem to have, eh?
Thanks everyone for all the advice and opinions, what a great resource. |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Whit
Both are big waters, I would spend the week on vermillion, both will have heavy traffic fri-sun, and the mon and thur should be pretty quiet. I think you will see more fish on Vermillion, and definitely bigger fish. Both ends are good. Water is a tea color and last fall seemed a little darker. I would recommend getting a guide the first day, well worth the money to to shrink you learning curve up there.
Troyz |
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Posts: 227
Location: New Brighton, MN | I fished Vermillion for the first time last September. I saw alot of boats, but there's so much water, I wouldn't say it was crowded. I didn't have to fight for any spots. Everything looks good. Being a shield lake, I couldn't find many weeds. It isn't a "fertile" lake, so I was on unfamiliar structure... I just hit windward rocky points all day for 2 days. Saw 3 nice fish. I consider myself a "beginner", so I guess I did ok. DCG all day.
I'm headed to the Chip for the first time this August, not sure what to expect... I've heard mixed reviews about how good it has been the last few years. It depends more on weather, luck, presentation and patience than anything else. My chances on Vermillion are probably abouth the same as Chip, I figure. |
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Posts: 157
| I fish the big V about twice a year.
and I have a family cabin near the Chip on another musky lake.
I have fished both
Everyone seems to be on the right track here
Big V lots of pressure, lots of fish, and lots of big fish
Chip fair amount of pressure, lots of mid sized fish, a shot at a big fish
One thing to point out is if the Chip is off, there are lots of surrounding waters you can jump to.
It depends on what you are looking for in a trip, lots of people and big fish or not as many people with fish.
Both places have terrific views
Although if it were me I would pick the big V 100% no doubt
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Posts: 20
| Vermilion is a Zoo. I would fish during the week but even then it's busy. I would suggest night fishing. The northwest gets less pressure I think. Big thing is local weather. It's high skies you can see the biguns up on the reefs but they are not eating. Unless you snag them like some people |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | I have fished on the Chip for over twenty years, I will be making my first trip to Vermilion this year. There is no doubt if you want to catch a 50 you should go to Vermilion, tons of big fish up there. The Chip does hold some very big fish just nowhere near the amount of them. The Chip does not get a lot of pressure in my opinion. The community spots get hit hard but there are tons of spots that get very little pressure. I never fish where somebody is when I am up there. If somebody is on a spot I want to fish, I just go to the next one. I'll find out this summer if Vermilion is as big a zoo as people say. It comes down to what you want out of your trip.
If you go to the Chip I would wait until at least the middle of August. If we have a hot summer the bite in late July can be very tough. From the third week in August until the lake turns over is the best time to fish the Chip. The big fish start showing up on the shallow structure big time. If you can't change your time frame, head to Minnesota and deal with the crowds. |
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I've got a week in late July or early August - Big Chip or Big V?