A question I often receive from repeat clients is: “When is the best time to fish Lake Vermilion?”
Like many things in the fishing world, there isn’t a simple black-and-white answer.
If big fish are what you’re after, the months of May, June, September, and October are usually your best bets. If you’re looking for numbers of fish, May, June, August, and September are typically the most productive.
And if you’re talking about weather and overall comfort, there’s no better month on the water than July.
In short, every month of the season on Lake Vermilion can provide excellent fishing. It really depends on what kind of fishing experience you’re looking for. With Patriot Guide Service, you can book a trip at any time of the year and expect a great day on the water!
May
The month of May is one of the most interesting—and unpredictable—times of the season.
I would describe May walleye fishing on Lake Vermilion as very up and down. Over the years, I’ve had some of my best bites in May and some of my toughest days as well.
Much of it depends on the type of spring we have.
- Early, warm spring: Fantastic fishing
- Late, cold spring: Tough bite
In May, we primarily fish jigs and minnows on sand flats in 6–15 feet of water.
June
June is one of the best times for walleye fishing on Lake Vermilion.
Limits are common, and this is when we catch a lot of big post-spawn females. By the first week of June, the water has usually warmed and stabilized, and the fish are feeding aggressively on rock reefs and rocky points.
The best depths are typically 6–15 feet of water.
If you enjoy fishing with a bobber or a jig, this is the time of year to do it.
One interesting pattern I’ve noticed over the years:
- First half of June: usually better on the east end of the lake
- Second half of June: usually better on the west end
And don’t forget to bring jumbo leeches—they’re hard for walleyes to resist.
July
July offers the best weather of the year.
Sunny skies, calm winds, and warm temperatures make it a great time to spend a day in the boat. While we typically won’t catch as many big fish as in other months, July can be a fantastic time for eater-sized walleyes.
This time of year we usually fish using:
- Lindy rigs with crawlers
- Spinners with crawlers or leeches
The best areas tend to be sand and gravel flats in 15–25 feet of water.
There’s also still a solid jig bite on the rock piles, often producing a mixed bag of walleyes and bass.
August
August can produce some of the best numbers of fish all year.
While trophy fish are less common, mornings with 50 walleyes caught are not unusual.
The weather is still beautiful—much like July—and it’s a great time to be on the water.
During a typical August, midge hatches occur in the main mud basins of the lake. When that happens, trolling crankbaits with weighted leadcore line becomes one of the best ways to catch fish.
This pattern usually takes place in 20–30 foot basins, and it allows us to cover a lot of water while seeing large portions of the lake.
There can also be a strong jig bite in August depending on how heavy the midge hatch is. If the jig bite is going, the fish are usually located in similar areas to where they are found in June.
September
September is a fantastic month to be on the water.
Kids are back in school, many summer boaters have gone home, and the lake becomes much more peaceful.
The fishing can also be excellent.
Walleyes begin to spread out, and many different techniques can produce fish:
- Jigs on rock structures in 6–25 feet
- Leadcore trolling in basin areas in 20–30 feet
- Sand flats in 12–25 feet
- Edges of deep holes in 25–35 feet
Fish on the sand and around deep edges can be caught using several methods, including:
- Lindy rigs
- Jigs
- Jigging Raps
If you enjoy fishing multiple techniques in the same trip, September is an outstanding time to visit Lake Vermilion.
October
October is the final major month of the open-water season and, in many ways, is similar to May.
The fishing can be very weather dependent.
Some days bring cold temperatures, wind, and rain. Other days are calm, sunny, and absolutely beautiful.
One big difference from May, however, is that October may be the best big-fish month of the entire season.
When conditions line up, the fishing can be incredible.
Most of the patterns are similar to September, but as the water cools there tend to be more defined bite windows, often in the afternoon.
When the stars align, October can even rival—or surpass—the excellent fishing of June.
So When Is the Best Time?
If I had to narrow it down:
- Best months for big fish: June and October
- Best months for numbers: August and September
- Best weather: July
- Most exciting first bite of the year: May
Lake Vermilion is a beautiful lake that rivals the scenery of the Canadian North Woods. With many great resorts and several boat-in restaurants, it’s a destination anglers return to year after year.
Depending on what kind of trip you’re looking for, some months may fit better than others—but one thing is certain:
It’s always a great time to book a trip to Lake Vermilion.
Lake Vermilion Fishing: What to Expect on Your First Guided Trip
