Lake Vermilion Ice Fishing Guide: Access, Species, Rules

Short answer: Lake Vermilion is a big, deep St. Louis County lake. The MN DNR lists it at 39,272 acres, 76 feet deep, with 341 miles of shoreline. It is one of the 10 largest lakes in the DNR's Large Lake Program. The DNR lists public accesses near Tower, Soudan and Cook. Walleye is the main hardwater fish. Perch, crappie, bluegill and northern pike are also in the lake. The walleye season is open through Feb. 28, 2027. Wait for solid, clear ice. The Minnesota DNR guideline is 4 inches for a person on foot and 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV. No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Vermilion has frozen as early as Nov. 6 and as late as Dec. 13 in the DNR ice-in record. The median is Nov. 28. Read when does Lake Vermilion freeze for the full table. An ice-in date is not a thickness report. The DNR does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes.

Quick facts

Limits change. Read the current DNR regulations before you go.

Access and plowed roads

The DNR LakeFinder lists public accesses on the lake. They are built as boat ramps, and the DNR does not say which are open or plowed in winter. A few of its descriptions:

• Tower, off U.S. 169 on the East Two River, and Hoodoo Point 1 mile northwest of Tower on St. Louis Co. 697.
• McKinley Park Campground, 2 miles north of Tower (permit listed).
• Stuntz Bay and Cable Bay, in Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park (permit listed; fees by the Stuntz Bay Boathouse Association noted at Stuntz Bay).
• Everett Bay, Birch Point, Black Duck Bay, Frazer Bay and Rice Bay, on county roads northwest and northeast of Tower.
• Oak Narrows, Wakemup Narrows and Wakemup Bay, northeast of Cook.

We found no official source for plowed ice roads on Vermilion, so we list none. Do not follow a track because someone else drove it. The DNR warns against parking near a launch, where others will park too close. The DNR says to park vehicles at least 50 feet apart and move them every two hours. Do not store shelters or leave them on a public access.

We did not confirm any resort, bait shop or rental house by its own website, so we name none. Ask locally for current road and ice reports. County sheriffs can restrict motor vehicles on dangerous ice.

Walleye

Walleye is the backbone of the lake. The DNR says its 2025 survey showed one of the highest walleye catch rates in over four decades. Fish from 12 to 15 inches were especially abundant, and fish over 20 inches are widely available. The East basin generally has more walleye. The West basin makes a larger average size.

The special rule is a protected slot. All walleye from 20 to 26 inches must be released right away. The possession limit is 4 and only 1 may be over 26 inches. A statewide cut from 6 to 4 walleye is proposed for March 1, 2027. The DNR says it would not change existing special lake rules, so the Vermilion slot rule stands as listed.

Perch, crappie, bluegill

The DNR calls yellow perch numbers below average but the size good, with fish over 10 inches still present. Black crappie are not abundant but run large, averaging about 10 inches with some over 14, and the West basin holds more. Bluegill over 9 inches are found lake-wide. These are the DNR's 2025 survey notes, not a tip on where to drill.

Northern pike

Pike are in low numbers on Vermilion, with more in the West basin. The DNR says mid-sized pike are protected and the survivors run larger. Dark house spearing has separate limits. Read page 81 of the DNR booklet before you spear.

Lake trout

The DNR LakeFinder lists fish from 41 surveys with catch data, dated 1981 to 2025. Lake trout appear in none of them. We found no DNR record of lake trout in Vermilion, so do not plan a trip for them. Muskie season is June 6 to Nov. 30, so it is closed in winter.

Shelter rules (MN DNR)

1. Non-portable shelters need a license. That includes wheeled fish houses. The DNR lists $15 for residents and $37 for non-residents, plus issuing fees.
2. A portable shelter needs a license and ID only when left unattended, meaning every occupant is more than 200 feet away.
3. The exterior must show your name and address, your driver's license number, or your DNR ID number, in characters at least 2 inches high.
4. A shelter left out overnight needs at least 2 square inches of reflective material on each side.
5. Trash and waste must go in a container secured to the shelter or vehicle. Never put it on the ice.
6. Removal deadlines split on an east-west line along U.S. 10, Hwy. 34, Hwy. 200 and U.S. 2. In 2026 the deadline north of the line was March 16. Vermilion is north of U.S. 2, so that line applies by our reading of the map. We did not find the 2027 date. Check the DNR page before you leave a house out.

A fishing license is required at age 16 and older.

Ice thickness minimums

The Minnesota DNR guideline for new, clear ice only:

• Under 4 inches: stay off.
• 4 inches: on foot.
• 5 to 7 inches: snowmobile or small ATV.
• 7 to 8 inches: side-by-side ATV.
• 9 to 10 inches: small car or SUV.
• 11 to 12 inches: medium SUV or small truck.
• 13 inches: medium truck.

Source: MN DNR ice thickness guidelines. The DNR says to double these numbers on white ice. For parked loads it asks for much more. See our ice thickness chart guide.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Vermilion hazards

Vermilion is huge, and the ice changes from bay to bay. The DNR says ice can be a foot thick in one place and an inch or two a few feet away. It lists streams, narrow areas, bottlenecks, wind, snow, and sun and shade among the things that change strength. It also says ice over flowing water and currents is often dangerous.

Vermilion has named narrows, including Oak Narrows and Wakemup Narrows. We found no DNR notice naming a thin spot on the lake. Treat any narrows, stream mouth or point as suspect and measure.

Snowmobiles have gone through. In late December 2025 the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office reported six snowmobilers through the ice on Lake Vermilion at Tower. Five were taken to a hospital, the report says. The DNR recommends at least 5 inches for snowmobiles. Do not ride unknown ice.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Safety kit

• Check thickness at least every 150 feet, the DNR says. Drill and measure clear ice, not slush.
• Carry a spud bar and ice picks around your neck.
• Wear a flotation device and carry a rope.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
• Stay off pressure ridges, cracks and open water.

FAQ

What ice do I wait for on Lake Vermilion?

The Minnesota DNR guideline is 4 inches of new, clear ice for a person on foot and 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV. Double it for white ice. Check it yourself.

Can I keep walleye from 20 to 26 inches?

No. The DNR requires immediate release of all walleye from 20 to 26 inches on Vermilion. The possession limit is 4, with only 1 over 26 inches.

Are there lake trout in Vermilion?

None appear in the 41 DNR survey catch records we read, dated 1981 to 2025. We found no DNR record of them.

Do I need a license for my fish house?

Non-portable houses and wheeled houses do. A portable shelter needs one only when left unattended. Check the DNR shelter page for the current price and rules.

Are there plowed roads on the lake?

We found no official list, so we cannot say. Ask locally and measure the ice yourself.