It’s a fishing day

Lake Vermilion fishing conditions · Minnesota

Sit it outno muskellunge window clears the bar in 36 hours

Water is 47°, below the 55–78° muskellunge like.

Log a trip here
Right now: 36 for muskellunge, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, 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. 362 am
  2. 36
  3. 36
  4. 365 am
  5. 41
  6. 41
  7. 458 am
  8. 45
  9. 41
  10. 4111 am
  11. 41
  12. 45
  13. 452 pm
  14. 41
  15. 41
  16. 415 pm
  17. 35
  18. 31
  19. 318 pm
  20. 41
  21. 41
  22. 4111 pm
  23. 41Tue
  24. 45
  25. 452 am
  26. 41
  27. 38
  28. 385 am
  29. 38
  30. 38
  31. 318 am
  32. 38
  33. 35
  34. 3111 am
  35. 31
  36. 35
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
47°F

Muskellunge range 55–78°

Wind
10 mph

From the north

Flow
5.07 ft gauge height

steady

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:44 am

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
35°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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.

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

45Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

47°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

39Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

47°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Below walleye's active range (50–72°F). Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 6 walleye and sauger a day combined, only 1 walleye over 20". Season runs from the opener (Saturday two weeks before Memorial Day weekend) to the last Sunday in February. Many lakes have their own limits.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

39Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

47°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Below smallmouth bass's active range (55–78°F). Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota Southern and North-central zones: 6 bass a day combined. Smallmouth are catch and release from Mar 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day and again from the second Monday in September.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

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

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

47°
40°50–80° · ideal 65°90°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

47°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 8 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 temperature47°F
  • River5.07 ft gauge height · steady
  • Barometer30.52 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:44 am
  • Sunset today6:01 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:20 pm–6:20 pm

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 today 6 am to tomorrow 7 am
80Worth the trip
Leech Lake108 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am–10 pm
80Worth the trip
Mille Lacs Lake128 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am–7 pm
80Worth the trip
Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)135 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am to tomorrow 6 am
80Worth the trip
Lake Minnetonka212 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 6 am
86Go
Bay de Noc (Escanaba)290 mi · MichiganBest now until tonight 1 am
68Marginal

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.