Posts: 185
Location: Mendota Heights, MN | Fishing Report for Lake Vermilion
August 17 -21
Headed up to the Big V on Thursday the 17th, Very low skies, humid, SE winds 5-10 mph, high humidity, low pressure (29.11), water temps at 70 degrees, visibility to 3 feet.
Started fishing at 2 pm casting Shumway Flashers around reefs and rocky points. Started seeing fish right away. Fish where following baits to about 8 feet from boat aggressively then turning away. Had several fish come to the boat and follow on figure 8.
It was simply amazing the number of fish we where moving, but could not get to commit.
Virtually every spot we hit held fish that showed themselves, often on the first cast. Hit one spot where my partner and I each took our first cast and had follows.
The size of the fish was exceptional as well. Most fish where mid 40’s, several 50 plus inchers. We had a total of 16 follows during this period.
This pattern held until Friday at about 9 am when my partner nailed a 42” fish on a flasher in about 1’ of water over a windswept reef.
Almost every fish moved came as we fished the SE, windward side of structure.
I was able to boat a dink at 22”, and a hammer handle. 3rd man in the boat had no fish caught.
Then on Friday afternoon the skies cleared, the sun came out, temps dropped, wind direction started to clock out of the west, wind speed increased to 15-20 mph, visibility reduced to 2 feet, the pressure rose, and the fish disappeared.
My partner was able to boat a nice pike, 41.5” later that evening around 8 pm on a reef hog.
Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon we saw only 2 other fish, the wind continued to blow hard, making mid lake fishing on reefs in Big Bay almost impossible in my small boat.
Water temps where 67-69 degrees.
Saturday we sought out warmer waters and headed up by Hinsdale Island and fished our way back around Pine Island. Did find some areas with 70 degree water but poor structure and did not move fish.
Tried fishing walls a lot during this period without success.
It was a great trip overall though. Never have I seen so many fish moving of such size in all my life. It really demonstrated how big a factor the weather could be. As I get more years under my belt as a Musky fisherman I have no doubt I will enjoy greater success in the tough weather conditions that set in. At this point though I was shut down and shut out.
A bigger boat on Vermilion probably would have helped as well. I do think that the front side of the mid lake reefs would have produced if we could have done a decent job fishing them.
Thanks to everyone who gave me tips before heading up. I would be happy to answer more questions if you want to e-mail or PM me.
Steve
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