It’s a fishing day

Lake Vermilion fishing conditions · Minnesota

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 65. Water is 41°, below the 50–72° walleye like, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 61 for walleye, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 613 pm
  2. 65
  3. 61
  4. 616 pm
  5. 47
  6. 47
  7. 479 pm
  8. 51
  9. 51
  10. 51Sun
  11. 47
  12. 47
  13. 473 am
  14. 47
  15. 47
  16. 476 am
  17. 51
  18. 47
  19. 479 am
  20. 47
  21. 51
  22. 5112 pm
  23. 47
  24. 47
  25. 473 pm
  26. 51
  27. 47
  28. 376 pm
  29. 37
  30. 37
  31. 379 pm
  32. 37
  33. 41
  34. 41Mon
  35. 37
  36. 47
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
41°F

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the south

Flow
94.9 cfs

steady · -15% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:43 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
47°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Minnesota regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

65MarginalNow until 7 pm

Water

41°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Release 20–26".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Walleye from 20 to 26" must be released; 4 a day, only 1 over 26".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Vermilion

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

41°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Catch and release from Mar 1 until the walleye opener; 6 bass a day combined after that.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Northeast Zone (north and east of US 53)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on smallmouth bass

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

41°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below muskellunge's active range (55–78°F). Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

54" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 54" minimum, 1 a day. Season is the first Saturday in June through Nov 30 (Jun 5–Nov 30, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on muskellunge

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

41°
40°50–80° · ideal 65°90°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below crappie's active range (50–80°F). Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 10 crappie a day, open all year. Many lakes cut it to 5.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on crappie

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

41°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below common carp's active range (52–86°F). Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: carp have a continuous season and no limit. Carp may not be taken by spear, archery or dip net in designated trout lakes and streams.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperature41°F
  • River94.9 cfs · steady · -15% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.83 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:43 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:04 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:10 pm–4:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Minnesota DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A scenic 40,000-acre lake on the edge of the Boundary Waters — walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie, and crappie among its 365 islands.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Rainy Lake (International Falls)62 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
59Marginal
Leech Lake108 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
82Worth the trip
Mille Lacs Lake128 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
100Go
Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)135 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
82Worth the trip
Lake Minnetonka212 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
100Go
Bay de Noc (Escanaba)290 mi · MichiganBest now until 8 pm
94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Vermilion?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Vermilion you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Vermilion?

Lake Vermilion is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Crappie, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Vermilion?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Vermilion against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Vermilion have?

Lake Vermilion has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Vermilion?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Vermilion. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Vermilion tidal water?

No. Lake Vermilion is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.