Winnie vs. Vermillion

Trying to pull the trigger on one of these two for opener and looking for suggestions/ pros and cons as I’ve never fished either early in the year, especially opener, as I typically try to avoid the crowds. The factors I’m weighing other are of course chances at success, relative crowd size and travel time. I usually don’t care about travel time but I’m taking my parents and they aren’t too thrilled about leaving my place in Grand Rapids at 2am or earlier for Vermillion. They’ll do it, but they might appreciate the shorter trip to Winnie if all else is equal.

If it were me I would be going to vermillion and fishing the north east side of the lake.

I have never fished Winnie, but Vermilion has always been a good lake for the opener. It can be cold, but the fish don’t seem to mind. It is never too crowded, most people don’t get up there until Memorial Day.

Maybe I’m just hearing horror stories of Vermillion’s Pike Bay and surrounding area being like a game of bumper boats?

Why the NE part of the lake Bearcat?

greenheadguru wrote:

Maybe I’m just hearing horror stories of Vermillion’s Pike Bay and surrounding area being like a game of bumper boats?

Why the NE part of the lake Bearcat?

I stay north of pike bay. I fish the shallow fingers with jerk baits and pitch jigs. We do it most every year and do really good. I stay east of ely island and north.
Also I just really like that area. And if you can get a camp site at the new state park that place is awesome

Bearcat89 wrote:

And if you can get a camp site at the new state park that place is awesome

You referring to the Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park?

Awesome. I would rather make the trip to Vermillion. Like you I really like the area. This will be the first year I don’t make the trip into the BWCA for opener and Vermillion still gives me the same remote feel.

If you are in it for the fish and willing to drive that far, consider URL. Its only crowded if you want it to be and unlike Verm there are not so many distinct points of structure to attract crowds. Its vast anyways. Our group has fished almost every opener there since it reopened to walleyes in 2006. We have never once left that lake without our limit. Not one single time. We only fish it 2 days a year.

crappie55369 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
And if you can get a camp site at the new state park that place is awesome

You referring to the Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park?

Yes the park that opened last June

Red can absolutely be lights out and it has been for me in the past but I typically plan to make that trip the second weekend.
One of the benefits of living in Grand Rapids…Red, Vermillion, Leech, Winnie, Cass, Mille Lacs, all under a two hour drive. I make most of them day trips (as long as the wife allows it).

greenheadguru wrote:

Red can absolutely be lights out and it has been for me in the past but I typically plan to make that trip the second weekend.
One of the benefits of living in Grand Rapids…Red, Vermillion, Leech, Winnie, Cass, Mille Lacs, all under a two hour drive. I make most of them day trips (as long as the wife allows it).

Lucky!

Bearcat89 wrote:

If it were me I would be going to vermillion and fishing the north east side of the lake.

The exact opposite of where we’ll be staying. Figures

Reef W wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
If it were me I would be going to vermillion and fishing the north east side of the lake.

The exact opposite of where we’ll be staying. Figures

Do you do the opposite end of vermillion ?

Bearcat89 wrote:

Do you do the opposite end of vermillion ?

This will be the first time I’ve been there and we are staying on the west end.

Reef where you staying on the west end. Going to be up there at the same time. I usually burn plenty of gas getting to the east end a couple of days during the stay for a change of pace.

carver wrote:

Reef where you staying on the west end. Going to be up there at the same time. I usually burn plenty of gas getting to the east end a couple of days during the stay for a change of pace.

Pehrson Lodge, Sunday through Wednesday.

Any tips for that end of the lake?

Sent you a PM.

I would take Bearcats advice, but we’ve struggled on Vermilion before. Lots of sharp drops and structure. I think you need to be good with a jig, which I am not. Beautiful lake and my PB walleye is from Vermilion so good luck if you go.

lindyrig79 wrote:

I would take Bearcats advice, but we’ve struggled on Vermilion before. Lots of sharp drops and structure. I think you need to be good with a jig, which I am not. Beautiful lake and my PB walleye is from Vermilion so good luck if you go.

You are correct, the lake offers so much structure it’s crazy. I can get them in deep bluffs and shallow bays all in the same hour. So at opener I personally enjoy the shallow bite that lake has to offer. And you can see so much beautiful land its awesome.

Reef, Be sure to join us in Wakemup Bay for the evening bite.

Any guesses on how early a guy needs to get to the Stuntz Bay landing in order to find a spot Saturday morning?

Honest John wrote:

Reef, Be sure to join us in Wakemup Bay for the evening bite.

The evening bite in Wakemup is an urban legend.

greenheadguru wrote:

Any guesses on how early a guy needs to get to the Stuntz Bay landing in order to find a spot Saturday morning?

I would guess early. Unless you want to make a long walk. I’m lucky enough to be tied to 2 boat garages up there. But the parking spots on the road do fill