A Legendary Destination for Smallmouth Bass
Jake and I kicked off our adventure on the iconic Lake Vermilion, just outside of Tower, Minnesota. With topwaters and tubes rigged up, we were in search of early summer smallmouth bass—and the lake didn’t disappoint. We quickly doubled up on fish, proving once again why this body of water is a bucket-list destination for bass anglers. Lake Vermilion offers both quality and quantity when it comes to smallmouths, making it one of the premier locations for numbers and consistent action.
Understanding Boulder Structure and Smallmouth Behavior
Lake Vermilion, like many Canadian Shield lakes, is characterized by rocky shorelines. But don’t let the appearance fool you. Although the shoreline is lined with rock, much of the lakebed in deeper water is sand. That said, specific rock formations—particularly rounded boulders—play a pivotal role in smallmouth location.
Boulders offer more than just shelter—they’re magnets for crayfish, a primary forage for smallmouths. Areas featuring boulder spines, high spots, and small rock piles often hold fish. During feeding windows, bass move up on top of these flats to hunt. When inactive, they tend to drop off onto deeper ledges or the edges of these flats, stacking in predictable areas.
Live sonar confirmed what experience already taught us: these fish move frequently. But one thing holds true—smallmouths are rarely loners. Catch one, and you’re likely to catch more in the same spot.
Staying Shallow and Targeting Crawdads
Most of the action early in the summer occurs in shallow water, typically 4 to 7 feet deep. And while Vermilion is a vast, complex lake with offshore humps and deep rock structure, many smallmouths remain shallow throughout the entire open-water season. These fish prefer depth ranges from as little as 2 feet to around 12 or 14 feet.
What keeps them shallow? An abundance of crayfish. With so much prime forage in skinny water, many smallmouths simply don’t need to leave. That makes presentations like tube jigs absolutely deadly.
Tube Tactics for Bouldery Bass
Our go-to technique involved using a tube rigged on a light football head. Rather than hopping it, we simply let it hit bottom and began a slow, steady retrieve. This method kept the bait in constant contact with the lakebed and minimized snagging. When a smallmouth hit, it was rarely subtle—they hammered it.
The preferred setup was a 2-inch Big Bite Baits salt tube in crawdad colors, paired with a small VMC football head. It’s a time-tested presentation that works in almost any smallmouth lake but is especially effective around boulder transitions—those subtle areas where rock meets sand, often adjacent to docks.
Docks, Shade, and Transition Zones
Interestingly, many of Vermilion’s smallmouths also relate to docks throughout the summer. These man-made structures provide abundant shade, which complements the already excellent natural habitat in the form of boulder-strewn shorelines. Pull up to the right dock, and you might pull out five fish without moving the boat.
Transition zones, such as the shift from boulders to sand, are also hotspots. Regardless of depth, these changes in bottom composition often funnel fish and concentrate bites.
Gear That Gets It Done
To fish these areas effectively, Jake used the new St. Croix Mojo Bass Trigon rod—specifically a 7’3” medium power, extra-fast action model. It features an ergonomic triangular handle that provides outstanding comfort over a long day of casting. Paired with a Daiwa Tatula MQ 3000 reel spooled with 10-pound Sufix 832 braid and a 12-pound fluorocarbon leader, the setup allowed for both sensitivity and power when working over rocks.
While we had a boat deck littered with options—jerkbaits, crankbaits, drop shots, Neko rigs, and topwaters—it was the tube that consistently got the job done. That said, smallmouth behavior can shift quickly, so staying versatile is key.
Next, we’ll explore how the fish transition as the summer progresses, what lures come into play, and why boat control is a crucial factor in successful smallmouth fishing on Lake Vermilion.
Reading the Map — and the Fish
As the smallmouth season progresses, the “where” matters just as much as the “what.” I start every outing by setting two Humminbird depth highlights:
| Highlight | Purpose | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Shallow-Water Highlight (red) | Shows ultra-skinny water that’s often too dangerous to run but perfect for sight-fishing. | 0 – 5 ft |
| Depth Highlight | Outlines the primary feeding flat where boulder piles and crayfish intersect. | 6 – 12 ft |
With those bands burned onto the map, side-imaging becomes a searchlight. I idle across the flat, drop waypoints on the biggest boulders, inside corners, and slides, then come back and pepper the spots—a tactic that turns “casting blind” into “casting surgical.”
Buddy Fish & Doubles
Marking waypoints pays off in spades because shallow-water smallmouth are pack hunters. On more than one fish we saw a heavier “buddy” shadowing the hooked bass, pitched a tube to it, and instantly doubled up. Once the school settles under the boat, it’s time to pin down.
Boat Control: Talon Down, Pick ’Em Apart
A shallow-water anchor like the Minn Kota Talon is invaluable on boulder flats. The sequence is simple:
- Idle & Scan – Mark the best rocks.
- Spot & Drop – Hook up, hit the Talon, and stop the boat dead.
- Fan-Cast – Work 360° until the bites fade.
- Lift, Slide, Repeat – Move 50 yards and do it again.
Running this pattern, we covered a mile-long flat in half-a-day and never lost the school.
Why “Bluebird & Flat Calm” Can Be a Good Thing
Unlike many game fish, Vermilion smallmouth often bite better under high sun and mirror-calm conditions. Bright light pushes crayfish onto exposed rock and the bass follow. Polarized lenses—our choice is Wavy Label Eyewear—cut the glare so you can spot subtle transitions, see following fish, and protect your eyes from hooks, bugs, and UV damage. A lifetime warranty doesn’t hurt either.
A Four-Season Fish Factory
Lake Vermilion isn’t a one-note fishery:
- Early Summer (now): Shallow-water smallmouth on tubes, topwaters, and jerkbaits.
- Mid-Summer: Walleyes slide onto mid-lake humps but can still be jigged in 4–6 ft with crawlers and leeches.
- Fall: Muskies roam the same rock spines we’re smallmouth fishing today—bring the big sticks and blades.
The common denominator is food. Vermilion’s vast food shelves and mixed forage (craws, ciscoes, perch) support staggering numbers of quality fish.
Tackle & Presentation Recap
| Technique | Lure | Rod & Reel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow-Roll Tube | 2″ Big Bite Salt Tube on light VMC football head | 7’3″ St. Croix Mojo Bass Trigon, Daiwa Tatula MQ 3000, 10 lb Sufix 832 + 12 lb fluoro leader | Steady reel to minimize hang-ups; bottom contact is key. |
| Follow-Up Pitch | Same tube or ⅛ oz finesse jig | — | Fire at the “buddy” fish that chased but didn’t eat. |
| Topwater/Crankbait Backup | Walkers, poppers, No. 8 Shad Rap | Medium-power spinning or baitcast | Excellent when clouds roll in or wind rips across the flat. |
Thirty- to forty-fish days aren’t unusual when you dial in the pattern.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a place where you can:
- learn precision electronics in shallow water,
- test-drive the latest boat-control tech,
- and catch dozens of brown bass on a single flat,
Lake Vermilion should be at the top of your list. Map the boulders, anchor with intent, and keep a tube in your hand. The rest—walleyes, muskies, maybe even a deeper meaning—will take care of itself.
