The walleye fishing is fantastic on Lake Vermilion. Anglers that know how to fish this lake will usually do well for numbers of walleye and there are plenty of bigger fish in the mid to upper 20 inch range as well.
It’s a Big Lake
Some people complain that it’s hard to catch walleye here, but it’s big water and you need to understand how to fish big water. One spot can hold fish one day and then there may be nothing there the next. It might seem like a tough lake to fish at first, but once you figure out how the walleye are relating to the offshore structures, they become a little easier to catch. Put in the time to learn the lake and you may be rewarded nicely.
The East End is Big Water Fishing
The east end is big water, but it offers so much potential for more numbers and trophy fish too. There is so much structure on the east end of the lake and it can really pay off if you put the time in to learn how the walleye are relating to the structure depending on the time of year. The wind can ruin a day in a hurry though, so make sure you have enough boat to get out here and fish the bigger water on the east end.
The West End is Smaller & Clearer
The west end doesn’t have the offshore structure that you will find on the east end, but there is still some very good walleye fishing on this side of the lake. You have plenty of islands, points and neckdowns to keep you busy on this side of the lake. With clearer water, low light conditions will definitely help you put more fish in the boat. The weeds will also grow deeper in this part of the lake, so you will need to look deeper to find the weed edges in the summer.
Fish the Islands
You have so many islands to fish on Lake Vermilion. Wind blowing into the island is always helpful. A good drop-off with some rocks and/or weeds will also help attract bait fish and walleye.
Fish the Points
There are so many points to fish on the lake. Wind blown points tend to be most productive. Find some nice drop-offs to go along with some rocks and weeds and you’ll have better success.
Fish Reefs
The offshore reefs are numerous on the east end of the lake. There aren’t as many on the west end of the lake. If you have the right size boat and the wind isn’t blowing too much, the offshore structure is where you’re going to find better numbers of walleye and usually some better quality fish too.
Fish the Rocks
Lake Vermilion has plenty of rocks and the walleye will relate to them. Early in the year, you can find a lot of walleye in the shallows on the rocky shorelines after the spawn. Once summer temperatures set in, you’re going to find walleye on the points and offshore on rocky structures.
Fish the Wind Blown Structure
The wind will help position the bait fish which will then help position the walleye. Find walleye on the main lake points, islands and offshore structure too. On the east end, the wind can help move fish several miles. On the west end, it is still a factor, but not as much as on the east end.
Best Baits for Walleye
Walleye eat a variety of different baits, however, when push comes to shove, it is much easier to catch them with live baits. Minnows, nightcrawlers and leeches are definitely the best live baits for walleye.
While most anglers will just use live baits, many anglers will also target walleye with lures as well. Crankbaits and soft plastics are the best lures for walleye, however, you can catch walleye with a variety of different lures.
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Best Rigs for Walleye
When targeting walleye, there are many different rigs that you can use to catch them. While most anglers will keep it super simple and just use a simple jighead, many anglers will use a variety of rigs such as spinner rigs, 3 way rigs, bottom bouncers, drop shot rigs and many others.
To learn more, take a look at our best rigs for walleye page.
Best Techniques for Walleye
Jigging is by far the most popular technique for walleye fishing, however, you can catch them a variety of different ways. Casting, trolling and drifting are some of the other awesome techniques that anglers use.
To learn more, take a look at our best techniques for walleye page.
Learn More About Walleye
Our walleye fishing section has tons of tips on the best lures, live baits, where to catch them and how to catch them.
Visit our walleye fishing website to learn more.
