Vermilion fishing

Vermilion fishing is stocked with Muskellunge, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike on a natural lake. It is stocked about 2.5 times a year since 2022, most often in January. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, and dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike.

Illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
January 1, 2025
637 days ago · Walleye
Plants on record
10
Since 2022
Species recorded
2

Fish at Vermilion

2 stocked · 3 confirmed present

Muskellunge Stocked · 6 plants · last January 1, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked January 1, 2025 · 6 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Muskellunge species guide
Walleye Stocked · 4 plants · last January 1, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked January 1, 2025 · 4 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for this lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake. (maps.dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 29, 2026)

Largemouth Bass species guide
Smallmouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for this lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake. (maps.dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 29, 2026)

Smallmouth Bass species guide
Northern Pike Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for this lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake. (maps.dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 29, 2026)

Northern Pike species guide

How Vermilion is stocked

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2025 it was January 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

Fish stocked in 2022

5,003,512

Fish stocked in 2023

5,003,014

Fish stocked in 2024

9,103,017

Fish stocked in 2025

7,503,761

Stocking history

Showing 5 of 10 plants Showing 10 plants

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 1, 2025 Walleye 7,500,000 – report
January 1, 2025 Muskellunge 3,007 – report
January 1, 2025 Muskellunge 754 – report
January 1, 2024 Walleye 9,100,000 – report
January 1, 2024 Muskellunge 3,017 – report
January 1, 2023 Walleye 5,000,000 – report
January 1, 2023 Muskellunge 3,014 – report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 5,000,000 – report
January 1, 2022 Muskellunge 506 – report
January 1, 2022 Muskellunge 3,006 – report
Show all 10 plants + Show less

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Tower, MN
Boat ramp
Yes

MN DNR LakeFinder survey access records list open public boat access on Vermilion (DOW 69037800): Multiple open public boat ramps around the lake, including city of Tower launches at East Two River and Hoodoo Point; additional DNR and park accesses near Tower and Soudan. Nearest town on the DNR r...

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Nearest lakes

Elbow 14 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Ban 15.7 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Astrid 16.5 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Cub 16.9 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Norberg 17.5 mi last stocked January 1, 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Vermilion?

Fishing Vermilion usually means Muskellunge: Muskellunge accounts for 6 of 10 plants on record, ahead of Walleye. Muskellunge was last stocked January 1, 2025. Walleye was last stocked January 1, 2025. Largemouth Bass (Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for this lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake), Smallmouth Bass (Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for this lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake), and Northern Pike (Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for this lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake) are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Vermilion stocked?

Last stocked January 1, 2025. It is stocked about 2.5 times a year since 2022, most often in January. The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2025 it was January 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

How do you get on Vermilion?

There is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Tower, MN. MN DNR LakeFinder survey access records list open public boat access on Vermilion (DOW 69037800): Multiple open public boat ramps around the lake, including city of Tower launches at East Two River and Hoodoo Point; additional DNR and park accesses near Tower and Soudan. Nearest town on the DNR r...

Sources (2) +