Vermilion Lake Fishing
St. Louis County, 39,272 acres, 76 feet deep.
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
The short version on Vermilion Lake
Vermilion Lake is a lake of 39,272 acres in St. Louis County. Depth bottoms out near 76 feet. 15,006 acres, about 38% of the total, are less than 15 feet deep. A drive of about 8 miles reaches Tower, the nearest city. It falls under the Tower area fisheries office. It is on the DNR muskie lake list with a introduced population.
Recent DNR surveys found walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. There are 15 public water accesses around the lake. The most recent large lake survey dates to June 1, 2025. The walleye catch of 18.7 per gill net was above the DNR normal range of 3.6-10.8. Median ice-out since 1950 is April 30, from 287 records.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 DNR survey results for Vermilion Lake
From the large lake survey completed June 1, 2025: catch, catch per set and average weight against the DNR normal ranges.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 374 | 18.7 | 3.6-10.8 | 1.04 | 0.8-1.3 |
| Walleye | Fall electrofishing | 531 | 177 | |||
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 21 | 1.05 | 1.1-2.4 | 4.54 | 2.8-4.3 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 313 | 15.65 | 1.4-6.8 | 0.29 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 21 | 1.05 | 0.2-0.8 | 0.35 | 0.2-0.6 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 26 | 1.3 | 0.3 | ||
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 1 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 1.82 | 1.4 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 2 | 0.67 | 1.4 | ||
| Smallmouth bass | Standard gill nets | 2 | 0.1 | 0.2-0.6 | 1.32 | 0.7-1.2 |
| Smallmouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 270 | 90 | 0.86 | ||
| Muskellunge | Standard gill nets | 2 | 0.1 | 26.97 | ||
| Muskellunge | Standard electrofishing | 1 | 0.33 | 3.72 |
Gill net catch on Vermilion Lake by species
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
Survey narrative for Vermilion Lake
“Lake Vermilion is managed to support a high-quality, multi-species fishery driven largely by strong natural reproduction for most species.”
“The lake is intensively monitored and managed by the Minnesota DNR through long-term annual surveys, periodic creel surveys, stocking programs for Walleye and Muskellunge, ecological monitoring, outreach, and management planning activities.”
“Harvest for most species is regulated using statewide seasons and limits except for Walleye, which has a 4 fish limit with a 20-26-inch protected slot.”
“Northern Pike are managed with the northeast zone regulation that allows a 2 fish limit with a 30-40-inch protected slot.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Vermilion Lake (report). Checked October 2026.
Public water accesses on Vermilion Lake
- Vermilion Lake, Black Duck Bay Access2 ramps, 35 trailer stalls, 2 docks, toilet, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Frazer Bay Access2 ramps, 24 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Hoodoo (N) Access2 ramps, 37 trailer stalls, 2 docks, toilet, City of Tower
- Vermilion Lake, Moccasin Point Access2 ramps, 25 trailer stalls, 5 docks, toilet, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Oak Narrows Access2 ramps, 40 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Pederson Landing (Wakemup Bay) Access2 ramps, 18 trailer stalls, 2 docks, toilet, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Stuntz Bay Access2 ramps, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, Breitung Township
- Vermilion Lake, Cable Bay Access1 ramp, 15 trailer stalls, 2 docks, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Everett Bay Access1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Head o Lakes Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Hoodoo Access1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls, 1 dock, City of Tower
- Vermilion Lake, McKinley Park Access1 ramp, 2 docks, Breitung Township
- Vermilion Lake, Norwegian Bay Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Polley Road Access1 ramp, 1 dock, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Vermilion Lake, Rice Bay Access1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls, 1 dock, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
Shore fishing spots at Vermilion Lake
- Vermilion Lake, Armstrong Bay Fishing Pierfishing pier, DNR Division of Parks and Trails, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
- Vermilion – Hoo Doo Fishing Pierfishing pier, City of Tower
Parts of Vermilion Lake with their own DNR number
- East VermilionDNR 69037801
- Pike BayDNR 69037803
- West VermilionDNR 69037802
Public accesses close to Vermilion Lake
- Vermilion Lake, Birch Point AccessWest Twin, 3 miles southeast
- Lost Lake Access near TowerLost, 5 miles south
- Vermilion River,Shivley Falls AccessVermilion River, 6 miles north
- Pike River (N) AccessPike River Flowage, 7 miles south
- East Two River AccessEast Two River, 8 miles southeast
- Pfeiffer Lake AccessPfeiffer, 9 miles south
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Structure of Vermilion Lake
96 clarity readings on Vermilion Lake date from 2006 onward.
Extremes in the Vermilion Lake ice-out record: March 28, 2012 early, May 23, 1950 late.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
How high Vermilion Lake is running
Readings in the DNR record for Vermilion Lake come from gauge readers, so each one is dated.
DNR lake level record (datum NGVD 29).
Fish swimming in Vermilion Lake
Survey catches from the DNR set this Vermilion Lake species list.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Vermilion Lake rules from the DNR booklet
The DNR posts these special limits on Vermilion Lake.
| Species | Regulation | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | All from 20-26" must be immediately released. One over 26" allowed in possession. Possession limit four. |
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession, all from 30-40" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 northern pike over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 8, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
By location Vermilion Lake belongs to the Northeast Zone; check posted boundaries near the lines.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
Vermilion Lake event dates
The Vermilion Lake tournament page lists permits, dates and winners.
How Vermilion Lake stacks up nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion Lake | 39,272 | 76 | 15 | 18.7 | |
| Wolf Lake near Tower, St. Louis County | 3 miles north | 179 | 10 | 0 | 3.5 |
| Lost Lake near Tower, St. Louis County | 4 miles south | 752 | 20 | 1 | 31.2 |
| Pike River Flowage | 7 miles south | 214 | 23 | 1 | 5 |
| Merritt Lake | 7 miles northeast | 198 | 8 | 0 | |
| Trout Lake, St. Louis County | 8 miles northeast | 7,425 | 98 | 0 | 3.08 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
What sits close to Vermilion Lake
Lakes one stop past Vermilion Lake
- Wolf Lake near Tower, St. Louis County3 miles north
- Lost Lake near Tower, St. Louis County4 miles south
- Pike River Flowage7 miles south
- Merritt Lake7 miles northeast
- Trout Lake, St. Louis County8 miles northeast
Bait shops an easy drive from Vermilion Lake
- Shamrock Resortmarina, Tower, under a mile
- Gruben's Marinamarina, Tower, 3 miles
- Timbuktu Marinamarina, Cook, 3 miles
- Aronson Boat Works Inc.marina, Tower, 7 miles
- Voyageur Tacklebait and tackle shop, St. Louis, 21 miles
- Norman's One Stopfarm and general store with fishing supplies, Orr, 22 miles
Guide services on Vermilion Lake
- Casey's Guide Service – Lake Vermilionfishing guide (season not stated), Lake Vermilion, Tower, (218) 750-4510
- Patriot Guide Service of Lake Vermilionfishing guide (season not stated), Lake Vermilion, Cook, (218) 820-0335
Towns to stay in near Vermilion Lake
- Tower8 miles
- Soudan10 miles
- Cook13 miles
Vermilion Lake and its counties
- St. Louis Countyseat: Duluth
Reels and a weigh grip for Vermilion Lake
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Catches common at Vermilion Lake
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Georg Mittenecker, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Vermilion Lake, asked by anglers
Which Minnesota county is Vermilion Lake in?
Look in St. Louis County, managed from the Tower fisheries office, about 8 miles from Tower.
How does Vermilion Lake rank by size?
LakeFinder lists 39,272 acres, 76 feet at the deepest.
Which access serves Vermilion Lake?
15 public accesses; Vermilion Lake, Stuntz Bay Access is one.
Which fish can I hook in Vermilion Lake?
On file: walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
What did the last survey of Vermilion Lake find?
The newest is a large lake survey from June 1, 2025. walleye ran 18.7 per gill net.
Are the statewide limits in force on Vermilion Lake?
Walleye: All from 20-26" must be immediately released. One over 26" allowed in possession. Possession limit four.
Which Minnesota license do I need on Vermilion Lake?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Is there a level gauge on Vermilion Lake?
Ice usually leaves near April 30; most recently April 28, 2026.
Who sells leeches near Vermilion Lake?
Shamrock Resort, about under a mile away.
Add Vermilion Lake to the summer list
Check the limits, then pick an access above.