One of the most polarizing and high-action bites on Lake Vermilion of the entire season: the lead core trolling bite is an easy and effective way to catch a great shore lunch!
Beginning in Mid-August and progressing through September, the majority of the walleyes in the lake spill off of their mid-summer gravel, rock, and sand bars to feed on massive bloodworm hatches in the lake’s expansive 20-35 foot mud basins. Fish at this time can be both very scattered and full of these bloodworms, making reaction baits and covering water key to fantastic catches! Lead core trolling is an open water trolling set-up using a braided line with a weighted “lead core” that allows the angler to troll shallow water crankbaits at any depth they like, making lead core the key to the lock allowing you to catch these fish!
The most important thing to know when lead core trolling is how high in the water column your crankbaits are running. Too high in the water column and fish won’t swim up to grab your baits. Too low in the water column and you will be dragging your baits through the mud, fouling them up, and making them unappealing for fish to bite.
Some factors to keep in mind while determining the depth your crankbaits are running
- What type of lead core line you are using
- There are several different types of lead core line to use, but the most important detail to pay attention to is if you’re using standard or advanced lead core line. Standard line sinks at a rate of 5 feet per color (10 yards of line) at 2.0 mph, whereas advanced lead core line sinks at a rate of 7 feet per color. If you are using a different type of lead core line than you think you are using, your baits could be much higher or much lower than you think they are.
- The length and type of the leader line, and what kind of crankbait you are using
- The crankbait you are using, and the leader line that is attached to it are also factors that need to be taken into consideration as well. Using an app like the Precision Trolling App is a good idea to help calculate the dive curve of the crankbait on the leader line. Once you have this number, you can add it to your colors and/or line counter to figure out how deep your crankbait is running.
- The speed you are trolling
- Most lead core calculations are based on a speed of 2.0 mph, and that is a great place to start! As a general rule of thumb, slow down as water temps cool, and speed up your crankbaits in warmer water! If you troll slower than 2 mph, you will want to let less line out as the lead core line will sink at a faster rate. If you are going faster, the opposite will be true, and you will want to let more lead core line out.
There are several good types of lead core setups to use. I personally use Okuma White Diamond Fast-Action Trolling rods. With these rods, I can visibly see that the crankbait is running well in the rod holder. I use line-counter reels to help keep track of my colors, and I get a size of reel large enough to hold 100 feet of braid backing, 10 colors of leadcore, and a 20 foot braid leader. I use 18 pound test Sufix Advanced Lead Core Line, which drops 7 feet per color, and a 10 lb braid leader.
Some of the most popular crankbaits to run on Lake Vermilion are Number 5 and Number 7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps. Purples, Pinks, Gold, Orange, and Natural Perch are all good colors to run in different basins of the lake. One thing to always do on Lake Vermilion is to experiment with different colors and sizes. The fish can definitely have a different preference on any given day!
Looking for a place to buy your lead core setup and crankbaits? Look no further than my home base at Spring Bay Resort & Guide Service! The owner, Steve Amundsen was the first person to bring lead core trolling to Lake Vermilion, and he will be a great resource for choosing your set up, as well as offering other lead core trolling tips!
09/08/26 Lake Vermilion Fishing Report
