West Vermilion Lake
West Vermilion Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 39272.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 76 ft
- Area
- 39,272 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 30
- Open water
- 212 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Free interactive depth-contour map of West Vermilion Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why West Vermilion Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For West Vermilion Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
West Vermilion Lake is a 39,272-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 76 feet. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for West Vermilion Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near West Vermilion Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Vermilion Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near West Vermilion Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at West Vermilion Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for West Vermilion Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (432,514 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 76 ft |
| Surface Area | 39,272 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 341.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Polley RoadPublic
- Norwegian BayPublic
- Pederson Landing (Wakemup Bay)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Vermilion Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
42 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 42.97 | 1.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 17.64 | 0.2 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.74 | 0.18 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 11.50 | 0.9 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 10.99 | 0.81 lb |
| CIS | 6.25 | 0.71 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2025-06-01 survey
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…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Vermilion Lake. 7 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VermilionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vermilion (1654)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vermilion (1655)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vermilion (1656)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vermilion (1969)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VermilionFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — VermilionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (317 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-28 (2012) | 1950-05-23 (1950) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-06 (1991) | 1998-12-13 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-13
EPA Impairment Status
West Vermilion Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0378-02 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near West Vermilion Lake
West Vermilion Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about West Vermilion Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Vermilion Lake?
- West Vermilion Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 39272.25 acres.
Is West Vermilion Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. West Vermilion Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is West Vermilion Lake?
- West Vermilion Lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet. The lake covers 39272.25 acres.
What fish are in West Vermilion Lake?
- Fish species found in West Vermilion Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. West Vermilion Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does West Vermilion Lake thaw?
- West Vermilion Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 30. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
Does West Vermilion Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for West Vermilion Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (432,514 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on West Vermilion Lake?
- West Vermilion Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Polley Road, Norwegian Bay, Pederson Landing (Wakemup Bay). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore West Vermilion Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
107 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA107 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate