Waters · United States
Lake Vermilion fishing report
Updated Sunday, October 25, 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
A rocky lake in the North Woods near the Boundary Waters, with hundreds of islands and endless shoreline. It is a top muskie lake, with walleye on the reefs and smallmouth along the granite shores.
Today's report: good (64/100)
Walleye is the most promising species on Lake Vermilion today. Water temperature is around 39°F (4.0°C) and barometric pressure is stable.
Best time to fish today
- 12:00 PM–2:00 PM local time — score 55/100
- 3:00 PM–5:00 PM local time — score 49/100
- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM local time — score 66/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Sunday, Oct 25 | Monday, Oct 26 | Tuesday, Oct 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 64 — good | 47 — fair | 66 — good |
| Muskellunge | 42 — fair | 41 — fair | 37 — poor |
| Smallmouth Bass | 44 — fair | 42 — fair | 34 — poor |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Lake Vermilion rating:
- light: helping (+1)
- cloud cover: helping (+1)
- season: helping (+1)
- wind: helping (+0.85)
- pressure trend: helping (+0.8)
- solunar period: helping (+0.8)
Forecast computed Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:45:35 GMT · data: Open-Meteo · refreshed automatically through the day · see our published accuracy
Winter fishing on Lake Vermilion
Lake Vermilion freezes later than the shallow prairie lakes because of its depth and size. Under the ice, walleye hold on the reefs and the drop-offs off the islands, and perch and pike use the bays. Current between islands and near narrows keeps ice thin in places, so local knowledge and ice reports matter more here than on a simple bowl-shaped lake.
Seasons, closed sections and permits are set by the state and change. Check the current regulations before a winter trip, and never trust shelf ice or a forecast for your safety.
Wondering how this stacks up against the apps you already know? Cast & Scan vs Fishbrain vs BassForecast — an honest comparison, including where they beat us.
Read before you go
- When pike bite: the pressure, light and temperature windows
- The best time to fish for bass
- Barometric pressure and fishing, explained
More walleye waters
- Lake Erie (Western Basin) — Ohio, USA
- Lake St. Clair — Michigan, USA
- Au Gres River — Michigan, USA
- Burt Lake — Michigan, USA
- Devils Lake — North Dakota, USA
Nearby waters
- Knife River — Minnesota, USA (68 mi away)
- St. Louis River — Minnesota, USA (80 mi away)
- Lake Winnibigoshish — Minnesota, USA (90 mi away)
- Rainy River — Minnesota, USA (90 mi away)
- Bois Brule River — Wisconsin, USA (98 mi away)
- Leech Lake — Minnesota, USA (107 mi away)