Vermilion Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69037800
DNR records show 20 stocking entries at Vermilion Lake since 2016, most recently muskellunge fingerlings in 2025 (754 fish).
- Vermilion Lake has 20 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2025): muskellunge (11), walleye (9).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 56,705,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 76 ft; surface area 39,272 acres, 15,006 littoral acres, 341.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 7.6 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, and 5 more.
- 17 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Tower; DNR lake number (DOW) 69037800.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge1 | fingerlings | 754 | 188.5 |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 3,007 | 582.3 |
| 2025 | Walleye | fry | 7,500,000 | 83.2 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 3,017 | 366.4 |
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 9,100,000 | 79.6 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 3,014 | 251.3 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 5,000,000 | 45.4 |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 3,006 | 202.3 |
| 2022 | Muskellunge1 | fingerlings | 506 | 126.5 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fry | 5,000,000 | 50.6 |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 529 | 76.7 |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 2,519 | 456.2 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 5,500,000 | 55.2 |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 5,026 | 871.1 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fry | 5,000,000 | 50.7 |
| 2018 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 2,995 | 489.8 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 6,200,000 | 71.0 |
| 2017 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 4,040 | 821.0 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 5,905,000 | 55.8 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fry | 7,500,000 | 75.0 |
1 fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | city | Located in Tower off U.S. 169 on the East Two River. |
| concrete ramp | city | Located 1 mile northwest of Tower on St. Louis Co. 697 on the north side of Hoodoo Point. - Double ramp. Administered by the city of Tower. |
| concrete ramp | TOW | Located 2 miles north of Tower on St. Louis Co. 697 on the south shore of McKinley Bay at McKinley Park Campground. - Administered by Breitung Township. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 0.75 miles north of Soudan on Twp. Rd. 4598 in Lake Vermilion - Soudan Underground Mine State Park on the south shore of Stuntz Bay. - Double ramp. Limited parking. Fees required by the Stuntz Bay Boathouse Association. |
| concrete ramp | USF | Located 7 miles northeast of Tower on St. Louis Co. 408 on the north shore of Rice Bay. - Administered by DNR Parks and Trails. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 4 miles northwest of Tower at the end of St. Louis Co. 414 on the north shore of Everett Bay. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 6 miles northwest of Tower at the end of St. Louis Co. 651 on the north side of Birch Point. - Limited parking. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 7.5 miles northwest of Tower at the end of St. Louis County Road 77/Moccasin Point Road. - Double ramp. Large concrete platform. Used by barges and contractors. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 8 miles northwest of Tower on St. Louis Co. 949 on the south shore of Black Duck Bay next to Shamrock Landing Marina. - Double ramp. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 10 miles northwest of Tower on St. Louis Co. 418 on the south shore of Frazer Bay. - Double ramp. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 11 miles northeast of Cook at the end of St. Louis Co. 540 on the west shore of Oak Narrows next to Timbuktu Marina. - Double ramp. |
| concrete ramp | city | Located 1 mile northwest of Tower on St. Louis Co. 697 on the south side of Hoodoo Point. - Administered by the city of Tower. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 7 miles northeast of Cook at the end of Polley Rd. off St. Louis Co. 540 on the south shore of Wakemup Narrows. - Limited parking. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 6 miles northeast of Cook off of Center Island Rd off of St. Louis Co. 478 on the southeast shore of Wakemup Bay. Near Wakemup Bay Campground and Day-Use Area. - Double ramp. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 10 miles northeast of Cook at the end of St. Louis Co. 595 on the north shore of Norwegian Bay. - Limited parking. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 7 miles north of Cook on St. Louis Co. 24 on the west shore of Head of the Lakes Bay. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Located 2.5 miles northeast of Soudan off of Vermilion Ridge Rd within Lake Vermilion - Soudan Underground Mine State Park on the south shore of Cable Bay. - Double ramp. |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Fall electrofishing | 177.00 | 531 | 0.00 |
| Smallmouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 90.00 | 270 | 0.86 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 0.67 | 2 | 1.40 |
| Muskellunge | Standard electrofishing | 0.33 | 1 | 3.72 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 18.70 | 374 | 1.04 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 15.65 | 313 | 0.29 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 9.00 | 180 | 1.22 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 3.40 | 68 | 1.96 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 1.30 | 26 | 0.30 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 1.05 | 21 | 4.54 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.05 | 21 | 0.35 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.20 | 4 | 0.46 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Management Summary 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. Like many large lakes, Vermilion is dealing with aquatic invasive species. Zebra mussels are now considered established, based on the presence of larvae, even though adult mussels have not been documented. Rusty crayfish are also well established, particularly in East Vermilion, where they have altered habitat by reducing aquatic vegetation. Finally, spiny waterfleas may be encountered especially when trolling. For anglers, this means potential changes in fish location and an increased responsibility to prevent further spread. Cleaning boats and gear is not just a rule-it's part of protecting the fishery. 2026 Angling Outlook Lake Vermilion stands out as a destination where anglers can target multiple species in one trip-and realistically succeed at several. Whether you're after a meal of Walleyes, a trophy Muskie, or steady bass action, the lake offers a wide range of experiences. Lake Vermilion is composed of two major basins, East Vermilion (east of Oak Narrows) and West Vermilion (west of Oak Narrows). Each basin is slightly different in terms of habitat and fish communities. Lake Vermilion's two basins can create distinct fishing experiences. West Vermilion generally offers higher fish numbers across several species, making it a strong choice for action and consistency. East Vermilion, on the other hand, often produces larger fish on average, appealing to anglers focused on size. The opposite is generally true when it comes to Walleyes, as East Vermilion generally has higher numbers, but West Vermilion produces a larger average size. Understanding this split can help anglers tailor their approach depending on whether they want numbers, size, or a mix of both. Walleye: Walleye fishing remains the backbone of the Vermilion experience. Survey data from 2025 showed one of the highest catch rates in over four decades. The 2026 season should be especially rewarding for anglers looking to…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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