07/28/24 Lake Vermilion Fishing Report

Fishing continues to improve on Lake Vermilion, with limits of walleyes on the east end becoming the norm! 

EAST END WALLEYES: Fishing is now very good for walleyes. Keep driving around until you are on a big school of fish and drop Lindy-Rigs on them. The best bait has usually been a crawler, but leeches and minnows have been working as well. Sand and gravel humps in 17-26’ are where the majority of fish are at, although there are still some fish on the 10-15’ rock piles as well.

WEST END WALLEYES: Bite windows are still an important factor to consider while fishing the west end of the lake. 15-25 foot sand and gravel bars continue to hold the majority of the fish with the best bite window usually being in the morning before 9am. The best way to fish these bars is with a Lindy rig and a crawler, but don’t overlook reaction baits like jigging raps when the bite gets tough. 

SMALLMOUTH BASS: Bass fishing continues to be excellent on Lake Vermilion, with lots of action to be had around the majority of the lake. Pitch Ned rigs, jigs, swimbaits, or jerkbaits at tapering rocky shorelines in 6-8 feet of water and you will catch fish. Another excellent way to catch bass is to throw a slip-bobber and a leech on a 6-15 foot rock pile and wait for them to bite. 

Fish Lake Vermilion with guides who bring years of hands‑on experience to every trip.
Patriot Guide Service is led by seasoned local guides who understand summer patterns, structure, and fish behavior—providing guided fishing trips for all ages and skill levels that are educational, efficient, and fun.

Patriot Guide Service

Patriot Guide Service

woman with brown curly hair and dark sunglasses holds a walleye. She's in a heavy jacket and sitting in a boat on lake vermilion.

10/02/26 Lake Vermilion Fishing Report

This is likely the last written fishing report of the season for me. If you follow me on YouTube, I'll try to get one more video out yet. Thank you...
older man with a gray beard and a black hat, and a big jacket holds a large walleye close to the camera. Lake Vermilion is in the background.

09/23/26 Lake Vermilion Fishing Report

Another fun week on Vermilion - good fishing and the fall colors are starting to pop!  EAST END WALLEYES: The best bite continues to be in transition areas along the...
group of people all standing around three large nets of fish. Most people are wearing matching red shirts and a lake in the background.

09/15/26 Lake Vermilion Fishing Report

Steady fall fishing continues on Vermilion, with bigger fish continuing to show up!  EAST END WALLEYES: Fishing has been good on transitional areas on the bottoms of rocks in 12...
guy in a neon yellow long sleeve shirt holds a walleye while he's standing on a boat

09/08/26 Lake Vermilion Fishing Report

Another solid week of fishing on Vermilion! Some bigger fish are starting to show up!  EAST END WALLEYES: The best bite on the east end has been along the sides...