Will be up on the west end starting Saturday July 26th. Staying at Spring Bay.
I am looking for general reports of walleye's and smallie's.
I am so looking forward to my first time on the big V.
I have a few idea's and more then a few spots picked out to hit. I would like to get my Girlfriend into some good smallie action and it has been a few years for me chasing them as well.
I am primarily a walleye and panfish guy so any help would be appreciated.
So what is the hot smallie bait? Are they deep on the rocks or shallow? I am really just trying to eliminate some dead water and get a little quicker start to the searching for some fun fishing.
If you see a 16' grey Lund explorer with a 40 merc, stop by and say hi. I'll be the guy in my avatar.

walleyewild,
For smallies, get a brownish or greenish colored Senko, fish it wacky-style with no weight, and during the day fish the docks, shady shorelines, and points in each of the bays around and including Spring Bay. You can do the same around islands as well (shady side is better). Just let them all go, so I can catch the same ones when I'm up at White Eagle in August!

If you're going to eat a lot of them, then my advice is to troll rattletraps in the open big water and look for bait pods

Have a buddy out at Spring bay right now, if he gives the report mid-week I'll pass it on....

Smallmouth action on the Tower end is not what it should be for this time of year. Hopefully it picks up by next weekend. 2 more weeks and for sure it will be good.

Thanks guys,
I'm going to be fishing for eye's morning and evening, and fishing smallies the rest of the time.
Der I don't normally eat bass LM or SM. I hav eaten both species in the past and might keep a couple of the smaller SM so my girlfriend can try them.
Please keep the responses coming, I am a novice to Vermilion and with that much water to cover just on the west end it is a little intimidating to say the least. My plan the first couple of days is to keep moving and eliminate water as I go.
I have a lcx-25c in the boat with both the LM and Nav chips available, the Aqua Vu will be with too. Bringing my 337 ice pack with also. So electronics are not an issue,( I know it is a weakness of mine, fishing electronics). But we all need a couple of bad habits right?
WW

Definitely give a good report when you get back. My wife and I and another couple are driving up to spring bay resort the last week in august from southern michigan. This will be our first time up there the only difference is we will be fishing for pike and musky. I fish lake erie and lake st clair for smallmouth and you can't beat a green pumpkin/purple flake tube or snack daddy worm, in the same color.Good luck

Musky,
I am going to post a report, before I get back. Spring bay has internet access and the digital camera will be in the boat.
It is hard to think about work this week with the trip coming up.

Sled,
I'm going to be on the Cook end of the lake, with my 16' lund to get to the east end I would be better off pulling the boat and driving to Tower.

WW

Your boat would have to be really slow for you to have to trailer it.

JUST GOT BACK FROM THE V CAUGHT ALOT OF PIKE BIGGEST 33" DID SOME SMALLMOUTH FISHING BUT DIDNT DO VERY WELL DID BETTER LAST YEAR.

PACKRAT

yep bass are a few weeks late this year

When are you at White Eagle in August? We're up there the week of the 16th of Aug.

Like Walleyewild, I'm a fan of electronics - Humminbird 987 / Navionics and Pinpoint are in my boat.

All Catch and release after pictures when needed.

Sled,
My boat will do 30+ with the 40, I'm thinking trailering it more for efficiency and gas savings. Don't know if I'll make it to the east end or not. Might take the mine tour one day.

I am planning to have both the digital camera and Aqua Vu in the boat at all times, have the DVR for the Vu as well.
If I could find some slab crappies I would be just as happy as getting into the eye's.

It is getting so close that all I can think about is Launching the boat at the resort and wetting a line, popping a cold adult beverage and feeling that first little tug on the line. Woo Hoo!!

The only thing that I am going to miss is the 14 month old lab that I am leaving at home, she has really started to come into her own as of late, Still puppy stoopid but things are starting to click with her now.

WW

srode,
I'll miss you by one week - we're up Aug 9. It looks like the fish are behind this year with the cooler weather, which I hope means the musky bite will be good when I'm up there for once. I'm coming all the way from New York City, I deserve a friggin' musky!!! Good luck...I always post a report the night I get back, which would be Aug 16 night.

Good luck Der Vasservolf, I'll look for your report when I get up there - I think there's Wifi in the lodge so will pull up your report on the laptop.

I went from Pike bay to Muskeego in a pontoon with a 50hp cruised about 15-18mph and it took about 45 min. The motor was a four stroke so it did not use as much fule as I thought it would. I can make the same run in my Ranger in about 15 minutes. My vote is to take the boat. I do not think the fule diff will be all that much and much less hassel. Plus it is a very beautiful ride with far more to see then the road. Heck you might even find some new fishing spots. Either way enjoy your trip. Good Fishing!!