Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 1, 2025
West Vermilion Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at West Vermilion Lake average 42.97 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 42 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 1, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–25 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, West Vermilion Lake has no letter grade — 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. Water clarity averages 8.0 feet of visibility, and there are 6 public boat landings. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at West Vermilion Lake
17 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at West Vermilion Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
6 public boat landings are recorded on West Vermilion Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at West Vermilion Lake average 42.97 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 42 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 1, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–25 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on West Vermilion Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 catch rate (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 |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
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
Common questions
What fish are in West Vermilion Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at West Vermilion Lake average 42.97 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 42 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 1, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–25 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was West Vermilion Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for West Vermilion Lake is dated June 1, 2025. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is West Vermilion Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for West Vermilion Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how West Vermilion Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on West Vermilion Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near West Vermilion Lake
Top-rated places to stay near West Vermilion Lake
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