eVermilion Magazine

East End Report: Opening weekend provided some great weather this year and the fish were cooperating.  The walleyes were in the mud in 20′ to 32′ during the daytime and were biting on Lindy Rigs and jigs and minnows.  The evening bite was best on. . .

West End Report: The Saturday walleye opener on Lake Vermilion was a beautiful day with much warmer temperatures than we sometimes get for this big Minnesota fishing event. Overall, it was a pretty good opener, starting out with a chilly Saturday morning, but it didn’t prevent the fish. . .

As fishermen arrive for the Opener, the Lake Vermilion AIS team is ready. Vermilion’s two boat cleaning stations will be open, and new highway signs will alert drivers to their locations. The cleaning stations – one on each end of the lake at the Y. . .

The Minnesota DNR has been going through an expedited rulemaking process during 2016 to consider changing Northern Pike regulations from one statewide zone to multiple zones. Multiple zones could take into account differences in abundance and growth rates in different regions without the need for. . .

A strong walleye run and a lower-than-average egg quota this year allowed Tower area DNR fisheries staff to wrap up egg-stripping operations in just four days. Hatchery manager Jeff Eibler couldn’t say whether that’s the shortest time for egg-stripping ever at the hatchery here, but. . .

While many fishermen go through their tackle boxes, the AIS team members at Lake Vermilion and Burntside Lake are practicing their AIS education and inspection skills ahead of the May 13th fishing opener. About 50 DNR-authorized inspectors will greet boaters at public and private boat accesses. . .

Want to join the dedicated team protecting Lake Vermilion from aquatic invasive species (AIS)? Pretty good at manipulating data in Excel? Need a community service project with a non-profit for high school or college credit? The Vermilion Lake Association is looking for two volunteers to. . .

Anglers can support walleye stocking by purchasing $5 walleye stamps that help the Minnesota DNR provide more places to fish for walleye. “You can buy a walleye stamp any time of the year, even if you already have a fishing license,” said Neil Vanderbosch, DNR fisheries. . .

The 2017 sucker sale at the DNR’s Pike River Hatchery began Monday April 10 and was over five days later. In total, 3300 lbs of suckers were removed from Lake Vermilion, destined for smokers in the Northland. This year’s take was well below the annual. . .

As soon as the ice turns to open water, male loons arrive to claim their territory. This year, two new floating nest platforms were positioned by lake association volunteers in areas with low boat traffic where natural nest locations were inadequate. Both platforms were placed. . .