Night Trolling For Big Fish video: Jeremy Smith and Luke Ronnestrand team up on Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, to target trophy walleyes night trolling for big fish and spend the daylight hours searching for the elusive musky.
Fall Walleye Frenzy: Trolling Big Baits for Nighttime Giants on Lake Vermilion
Seasonal Highs: Why Fall is Prime Time for Trophy Walleye
Across North America, anglers can find windows of incredible opportunity throughout the year, but few match the productivity and excitement of fall. While spring brings shallow concentrations of feeding fish before the spawn and summer peak offers classic main-lake patterns, it’s the fall cold-water period—especially after lake turnover—that presents one of the most thrilling bites for species like walleye, musky, crappie, catfish, and bass. 
One destination that comes alive during this time is Lake Vermilion in northeast Minnesota. In this blog, we join Jeremy Smith and local guide Luke Ronestrand as they tap into a unique cold-water pattern that produces trophy-class walleyes, particularly under the cover of night.
Night Moves: Targeting Shallow Giants
As the temperature drops into mid-October, a significant push of fish makes its way into the shallows. On Lake Vermilion, this transition sparks a bite so good that anglers are willing to stay out into the middle of the night. While daytime action is solid, the real magic happens after dark. The excitement is palpable—hooksets, doubled rods, and the unmistakable head shakes of trophy walleyes.
Using large jerkbaits—even up to 10 inches—may seem counterintuitive to some walleye anglers, but it’s a tactic that flat-out works. The fish in these shallow waters are hunting perch, and the size of their prey makes the use of large baits not only acceptable but ideal.
A Lake With a Bright Future
As they fish, Jeremy and Luke discuss the resurgence of musky and walleye populations in Vermilion, noting the successful stocking efforts that ramped up around 2017. Those efforts are now paying off with a healthy class of younger muskies and walleyes showing up regularly. These fish are vibrant, strong, and an encouraging sign of the lake’s continued productivity.
Luke highlights that many of these muskies are now part of what he calls the “second phase of management” for Vermilion—proof that thoughtful stocking and habitat efforts are yielding results.
Location and Presentation: Mud Flats, Perch, and Precision Trolling
The duo targets fish in neck-down areas of the lake with soft bottom composition—ideal holding zones for perch and bug life. These zones serve as feeding grounds for big walleyes pushing in during the evening hours. Boat control is crucial, and the trolling passes are calculated and deliberate.
Luke and Jeremy employ trolling techniques using specific crankbaits designed to mimic perch—the primary forage. Even at night, bait color makes a difference. Despite limited light, options like perch pattern and olive ghost continue to trigger more bites, likely because of the moonlight and the walleyes’ exceptional visual acuity.
Technology: Uncovering Hidden Details in the Darkness
The advent of advanced mapping and sonar technology is changing the game for night anglers. Jeremy and Luke use depth shading to zero in on subtle bottom contours that previously would’ve gone unnoticed. What appears to be a uniform mud flat on traditional maps now reveals slight depressions and grass clumps—key areas where fish congregate.
Using down imaging, side imaging, and live sonar, the anglers mark waypoints on these features, allowing them to return for multiple productive trolling passes. It’s a tactical advantage that turns once-blank spots into bonafide fish magnets.
The Gear That Makes It Happen
The tools used are just as critical as the tactics. Jeremy and Luke rely on trolling rods designed for control and sensitivity. One standout is the Bouncing Troll rod, which performs beautifully in these situations. And while it may not be freezing cold, the water temps hovering in the 50s make trolling crankbaits a smart and productive approach.
The bait of choice, such as the BX Swimmer or Glass Shad Rap, brings the perfect profile to the presentation. These lures dive to the right depth, provide consistent vibration, and flash just enough to trigger bites in low-light conditions. For fall fishing, they’re often overlooked gems in the walleye world.
Lake Vermilion: A Northern Gem
Lake Vermilion is often described as a miniature Lake of the Woods, offering that same Canadian Shield fishing experience without leaving Minnesota. Spanning over 40,000 acres, with 365 islands and nearly 300 miles of shoreline, it’s a haven for multispecies anglers.
In early fall, as water temperatures dip below 70°F, Vermilion sees a natural influx of perch and even tulibee or whitefish pushing into the shallows. Whether it’s bugs, minnows, or something in between drawing them in, the result is the same: predator fish like walleye follow.
Bait Size, Boat Control, and Nighttime Nuance
By this point in their outing, Luke and Jeremy have already hooked into multiple quality walleyes. Their trolling pass locations are precise—between key points with subtle underwater differences revealed only through modern sonar. And while many anglers wouldn’t think to focus on lure color at night, the perch patterns and subtle natural hues continue to outproduce.
The success of this trip is a testament to how boat control, proper bait presentation, and intimate knowledge of the lake’s seasonal behavior can combine to produce a legendary fall bite.
Boat Control, Big Baits, and Big Rewards
One of the critical components of their success was boat control. Thanks to today’s wireless technology, Jeremy used a micro remote clipped to his hip to control the trolling motor. With the unit set to autopilot and cruise control locked at 1.8 mph, they could precisely maintain trolling speed—regardless of wind direction. This speed proved to be the magic number, and being able to predict and hold a tight course allowed them to stay on fish consistently throughout the night.
That kind of efficiency became especially important as they discovered that larger baits were triggering bigger bites. Jeremy noted that after switching from a smaller lure to the massive No. 18 Rapala Original Floater, it took less than a minute to hook up. Luke and Jeremy weren’t just catching fish—they were hammering giant walleyes with stunning regularity. “It’s like going to the Great Lakes,” they said, referring to the caliber of fish in terms of size and aggression.
Rods, Reels, and Lure Variety
Rod selection played a big role in landing these trophy fish. Whether using spinning or baitcasting setups, both anglers favored rods with moderate actions that flex through the midsection. This flexibility is critical when fishing crankbaits, allowing the rod to absorb violent headshakes and prevent the hooks from tearing out during the fight.
Jeremy used a slip-bobber style spinning rod, while Luke worked a casting setup balanced for crankbait trolling. Both methods were equally productive, as long as the rods weren’t too stiff.
Throughout the evening, several crankbaits stood out:
- BX Swimmer: A mid-column bait running perfectly on the 10–14 foot flats they were targeting. It quickly became the standout lure of the trip.
- Rapala Original Floater (#18): Despite its large size, walleyes crushed it, even coming up from depth to strike.
- Glass Shad Rap: Ideal for fish tight to bottom thanks to its sound and tight action.
- Other Must-Haves: Shadow Raps, Shad Raps, Husky Jerks, X-Raps, Deep Shadow Raps, and Rippin’ Raps are all worth bringing along.
Each bait offers a different depth, action, or vibration profile. The key is to match the bait to the fish’s position in the water column and adjust according to their mood.
Precision Trolling for Replicable Success
Jeremy emphasized how vital repeatability is in trolling. Luke had dialed in the exact setup: 65 feet of 10 lb Sufix 832 braid with a 10 lb Sufix InvisiLine fluorocarbon leader, towing a BX Swimmer. That configuration repeatedly produced bites, with nearly every pass producing a fish.
And these weren’t small fish. These were bruiser walleyes, thick-bodied and hard-fighting. Jeremy praised Vermilion’s fish for their tenacity and sheer power. As he brought in another heavy specimen, the excitement in the boat was palpable—“That is a tank.”
Lake Vermilion: Fall’s Trophy Walleye Capital
This trip to Lake Vermilion confirmed what many seasoned anglers already know: fall is trophy time, and Vermilion is the place to be. With heavy bait migration into the shallows, precise trolling setups, and the right combination of speed, presentation, and location, anglers can tap into one of the hottest bites of the season.
As Jeremy put it, “You don’t have to stay out after dark, but if you want to get on a hot walleye bite—man, this is something really, really special.”
It was a heartfelt reminder that as much as fishing teaches us about nature, patience, and discovery, it can also lead us to deeper moments of purpose, gratitude, and connection.
Fishing is an activity that is always full of surprises and learning opportunities. On a recent trip to Lake Vermilion in Northeast Minnesota, Luke and I experienced just that.
We were out night trolling for walleyes and were amazed by the subtle differences in the lake that the technology was able to pick up. We were able to pinpoint the exact areas where the fish were located and were able to catch them with ease.
The key to success on this trip was the selection of baits for summer night fishing. We found that the walleyes preferred the bigger baits, such as the BX Swimmer and the Rapala Original Floater. We also had success with Shad Raps, Glass Shad Rap, Deep Shadow Raps, Husky Jerks, X-Raps, and Rippin Raps. It was important to find the right depth and speed that the fish preferred in order to get the most out of our trolling.
We were also able to catch some really big fish. We were able to catch some really nice fish with the BX Swimmer, and the Original Floater was a classic night trolling bait. We also had success with the Shadow Rap, Glass Shad Rap, and the big Original Floater.
The experience was made even more special by the fact that we were able to stay out until the middle of the night to catch them. Overall, our night trolling experience on Lake Vermilion was a great success. We were able to catch some really big fish and learned a lot about the subtle differences in the lake. We also had a great reminder of how much.
Fishing Gear
In order to have a successful night trolling experience, it is important to have essential night fishing gear. We used a 10-pound Sufix 832 line and a 10-pound Sufix Fluorocarbon. We also used a spinning rod with a lot of flex in the midsection to hold onto the fish. We also used a micro remote attached to our hip to set the cruise control and keep the boat at the right speed.
Crankbaits
The key to success on this trip was the selection of crankbaits. We found that the walleyes preferred the bigger baits, such as the BX Swimmer and the Original Floating Rapala — one of the all time night fishing baits ever. We also had success night fishing baits for big fish with Shad Raps, Glass Shad Raps, deep Shadow Raps, Husky Jerks, X-Raps, and Ripping Raps. It was important to find the right depth and speed that the fish preferred in order to get the most out of our trolling.
Conclusion
Our night trolling experience on Lake Vermilion was a great success. We were able to catch some really big fish and learned a lot about the subtle differences in the lake. We also had a great reminder of how much God loves us and how he has a unique plan for each of us. Fishing is always full of surprises and learning opportunities, and this trip was no exception.
Rapala Original Floater
The lure that started it all is still the number one go-to lure — the Rapala Original Floater. Whether twitched on top as a surface bait, retrieved as a shallow runner, weighted with a split shot for medium depth or bottom walked off a three-way swivel or bottom bouncer, the wounded minnow action continues to be irresistible to fish everywhere. Featuring premium black nickel VMC hooks, hand-tuned, and tank-tested to ensure its world-renowned action straight from the box, the Rapala Original Floater is regarded as one of the most fish-catching lures ever invented and is effective for nearly all species in both fresh and saltwater.
