Last shot at musky fishing produces another 55 incher

November 24,2009

Two days ago we had to break through 200 yards of thin ice to get out of the Bay into the main lake to check a neighbor’s cabin.  At that point we were ready to hang up the musky fishing for the year…then the weather warmed with wind and rain..the lake opened up again. Today after working around the resort doing some final closing and winter prep … . Marty and I decided to go out for a couple hours of trolling.  Water temp was 39 degrees, light rain, little wind and fog. Marty had commented that we will more than likely be the last guys for the year on this end of the lake musky fishing. We trolled for about an hour and seen no signs of baitfish on our usual spots..so we focused on the deepest water just inside Niles Bay…we came out of 30 ft of water up on a deep point in 18 ft of water and one of the rods ripped…for a few moments the rod went limp..I commented that the line had broke..Marty took the rod out of the holder and started bringing in the slack line..then the rod doubled over.(.the fish after getting hooked swam right at us for some distance)…after a nice battle with the fish taking some strong runs we boated it. …55 inches with a 25.5 inch girth. That is Marty’s second 55 inch fish this month and for the resort the fifth musky this season 55 inches or over..can’t imagine what the fishing will be like in a few years with all of these giants swimming around.

Two 55 inch Musky caught at VDL over weekend

The mild weather so far in November has helped prolong the Whitefish and Cisco Spawn. That means more time to catch a monster sized musky ..given they target the Whitefish and Cisco when they  move up to spawn. . Water temps today were 40 degrees. The Whitefish Spawn has ended and now the Cisco are spawning. Marty and I took off this morning before dark and headed down to the west end of lake..along the way we drove through a 1/8 mile stretch of thin ice..outside temps were around 24 degrees..I would have to guess anyone seeing us go out this morning fishing would think we are absolutely nuts…sometimes we ask ourselves the same..but one of the first spots we fished we had Cisco breaking the surface all around us …then we seen a fish well over 50 inches slide up above the surface chasing a cisco… that makes it all worth it…we put in a about two hours and seen three fish..no takers..went back out tonight and did a little trolling..caught two fish 41 and 43 inches.

Over the last weekend two huge fish were boated by VDL guests/staff. Marty( Who has worked for the resort for the last 9 years…boated a 55 incher on Saturday ..see photo…then on Monday…Matt Seirfert ( die hard musky guy) caught a 55 inch Fish…Matt was fishing with Bob Benson..the same day they caught a 46 inch fish and reported a follow from another fish as big or bigger than the 55 incher..

Marty and Ken with a 55 incher

Matt Seifert with heavy 55 incher

So far this year Vermilion Dam Lodge guests have boated three 55 inch fish and one 59 inch fish. Not to mention numerous fish from 50 to 53 inches. In addition to the huge musky showing up for the Whitefish/Cisco spawn are trophy sized Northern Pike…so far this year we have boated 4 Northern Pike 40 inches or over…attached is picture Carl Brandt with A very nice 41 inch Northern.

Carl Brandt with a 41 inch /20 pound Pike

Deer season is now open..several nice Bucks were taken by VDL guests over the weekend. This weekend we have a few more musky fisherman and more deer hunters coming in…then next week we will finish closing down cabins for the winter.