Lake Vermillion is the next lake I’d like to to fish and get to know.
Any general direction or information would be appreciated.
Recommendations on resorts would also be helpful.
I have looked through the In depth archives, everything seems a couple of years old.
Thank you
Steve
I love Vermillion.
Honestly the last time I was there stayed at the casino makes super easy access at their marina in my opinion. They have a nice little cook and cleaning station there and outlets on docks. I was there somewhat late in the season so just worked islands and did pretty well. They will shuttle you back and forth from the casino to marina. Honestly though the walk is easy from one to the other.
Great tip rj
I don’t think there is a bad place to stay, there are many resorts and all have different things to offer depending how much you want to spend. There is always a good numbers of resorts from Vermillion at the northwest sports show next weekend. Or there is a lake Vermillion resorts association website to look at also.
Our family has vacationed up there for 30 years,great place to bring the Family.
Thanks
What kind of amenities are you looking for? Lots of choices from family friendly to just fishing or even boat in camping.
What species do you want to target? The two sides of the lake are quite different.
Well i realize working the islands is like saying fishing in water on that lake. The comment was more for staying at the casino
Great tip rj
Well i realize working the islands is like saying fishing in water on that lake. The comment was more for staying at the casino
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tim hurley wrote:</div>
Great tip rj
To the OP, unless you’re there to play cards or slots…then you don’t really need the casino, do you?
Plenty of fishing resorts offering plenty of fishing amenities and fishing opportunities if you’re there to go fishing…and/or “family” related activities.
Vermillion can be a tough nut to crack. Lot’s of water and not exactly teeming with fish, but good quality and trophy muskie/pike potential.
Having been there a few times, choose a resort located on the west end or if on the east side in a protected area. The times I spent there on Big Bay, although a prime location to good fishing, when the wind kicked up… I was essentially kicked off the lake. 
The casino is a great place to stay if your up there strictly fishing,you don’t have to gamble if you stay there. The rooms are reasonable,good places to eat after coming off the lake.
I don’t think it fits the family vacation,it does have an indoor pool or a small beach at the lake.
The marina is top notch, boat ramp,bait, and docking, slips are available also.
The wife and I have been going to Ludlow’s (https://ludlowsresort.com/) in mid-May for 5 years in row now. We love Vermilion and love staying at Ludlow’s. It is super quiet, extremely family friendly, you have access to both sides of the lake and if you don’t want to drag your own boat up there, their rentals are reasonably priced.
As stated, it can be a tough lake to get tuned into, but if you don’t mind spending the money, going out with one of the local guides (they are all really great folks) will help you figure out the lake very quickly.
One of the reasons we like the lake so much is that there are very few lakes where you can spend the morning catching a limit of eater walleyes, head to a bay and pick up a limit of 12-15″ crappies, spend the afternoon casting or sucker fishing for big pike or casting for smallmouth around the many rocky islands and then spend the “magic hour” hauling in 20+” walleyes.
I fish from soudan and tower. I go north and east. What beautiful scenery. We try different places. But if you like tent camping or have a camper, the new state park is awesome. Right on the water and has all the amenities you want including wifi. Precast out buildings and showers. And your 10 minutes from the small town if you want a good breakfast or need fuel. Head another hour and your in ely. I love that entire area.
Last year was my first trip up there. The late ice-out threw a monkey wrench in things but we still had a great time. I stayed at Life of Riley’s Resort on the north end of Norwegian Bay on the w north and west end of the lake. Because of the late Ice we were about a week early for the crappies and walleye to turn on. Got a few but it was slow. That said, most all of Norwegian Bay is national forest (I think national) so it is undeveloped. There are but a few homes and cabins there so you get the feeling of it being very secluded.
On that same weekend I had a friend that has a place in Tower so we went out on his boat and bottom bounced the flats around big bay and worked a couple islands just north of there. About 3-4 hours on the water we netted a 4 man limit of eaters on top of a lot of shorties.
The few fish I did see come out of Norwegian Bay by others at the resort were all much bigger 25”-27” as opposed to the 10-16” fish on the lower end. I hear this is typical. All of the stocking goes on on the lower end this the numbers and smaller size. Even though we fed ourselves well fishing down there I still prefer the scenery on the upper end. Very few boats in comparison.
Saw some monster musky and got some nice pike out of Norwegian Bay.
I’m anxious to try it again, hopefully this spring with a little warmer water.
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