Lake Vermilion
A rocky, island-studded northern lake near Tower with more than 300 miles of shoreline. It's known for muskie, walleye and smallmouth bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Muskellunge
Big baits along weed edges and rock bars, best in fall.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the MN DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Vermilion are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- MoosebirdsNearby3068 Vermilion Drive, Cook(218) 666-2627Directions ↗
Local tips
- Lake Vermilion–Soudan Underground Mine State Park is on the shore.
- Hundreds of islands. Use a map or GPS.
- The east and west ends fish differently. The east end is deeper and clearer.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Minnesota lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.