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Water · Arrowhead / Iron Range

Lake Vermilion

Canadian Shield water between Tower and Cook. Islands, pines, and a sunset that made people name the lake after red light on the water.

Boat kit

Usual tray for this water

Picks from the species that actually live here, already on the gear guides. Click a card if you want it in the boat. We still will not invent a bite.

Rapala Original Floater F03 product photo from Amazon

Rapala Original Floater F03

Rapala

The wounded-minnow that started arguments in more Minnesota tackle boxes than we can count. Twitch it, drown it, or just believe in it.

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Storm WildEye Swim Shad 03, Fire Tiger product photo from Amazon

Storm WildEye Swim Shad 03, Fire Tiger

Storm

Pre-rigged soft shad with holographic flash and that WildEye stare that looks slightly judgmental. Cast it along weed edges and riprap when Minnesota bass want a baitfish without the drama of live bait.

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Mepps Musky Killer Inline Spinner Bucktail, Hot White product photo from Amazon

Mepps Musky Killer Inline Spinner Bucktail, Hot White

Mepps

The classic inline that muskie anglers argue about the way people argue about pizza toppings. Slow-roll early, burn it later — the blade starts spinning without needing a TED Talk.

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Johnson Standard Minnow Spoon, Gold, 2-3/4 inch, 3/4 oz product photo from Amazon

Johnson Standard Minnow Spoon, Gold, 2-3/4 inch, 3/4 oz

Johnson

The original weedless wonder still earns a seat in Minnesota pike boats. Cast it through pads and cabbage, keep a steady wobble, and tip it with a trailer if the fish want a little more meal. Gold 3/4 is the listing we can actually buy today.

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Rapala Shad Rap 07 product photo from Amazon

Rapala Shad Rap 07

Rapala

Balsa with a job. The Shad Rap is the crankbait people name the way they name a truck.

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Rapala CrushCity Mayor Soft Plastic Paddle Tail Swimbait, 3 inch product photo from Amazon

Rapala CrushCity Mayor Soft Plastic Paddle Tail Swimbait, 3 inch

Rapala

Paddle-tail kick for swim jigs, underspins, or a plain jighead. The Mayor is the soft plastic you throw when the lake is pressured and you still want a clean baitfish profile.

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Fish notes WalleyeBassMuskieNorthern pike

Gear guides MN weekend rod & reel — wallet setupsMinnesota walleye classicsSpinners and cast daysWalleye spinning & jigging setups

mnFISHON is an Amazon Associate. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. See the affiliate disclosure.

Usual suspects: Walleye, Smallmouth bass, Muskie, Northern pike

Vermilion is the Arrowhead lake people mention when they want you to know they drove past Duluth on purpose. Tower sits on one end, Cook on the other, and a pile of islands in the middle like the glacier left a group project.

Usual suspects are walleye, smallmouth, muskie, and pike that treat a lure like a conversation. This is a short lake page — place vibe, no invented bite. If a real report lands, it lives in Reports.

What’s happening

We are watching the calendar. Nothing on the books for this water that we can stand behind. When a real lake day shows up, it will land here — not a daydream with a date slapped on it. See all of Events.

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