Walleye fishing on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota. Jigging Rapalas are classic ice fishing lures applied to open water.
A Revival of Proven Tactics
Fishing, like fashion, tends to recycle its best ideas. Techniques and tools from years past often reemerge with a modern twist, proving their value all over again. Al Lindner and seasoned Northwoods guide Billy Rosner take us to the pristine waters of Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota for a lesson in vertical jigging—a time-tested ice fishing tactic now unleashed on open water with exceptional results.
“Some lure styles seem to spontaneously rekindle in popularity every few years,” Al notes. “Others never go out of style. The one thing they have in common? They still catch fish.” This philosophy guides their day on the lake, where tried-and-true lures like heavy Jigging Raps are once again front and center. 
Exploring Lake Vermilion’s Walleye Potential
It’s early October, a month Al calls the best of the year for fishing in Minnesota. “Big fish and a lot of them,” he promises, and few places deliver like Lake Vermilion. With nearly 40,000 acres of water, over 365 islands, and 1,200 miles of shoreline, Vermilion is a multi-species haven nestled in the Arrowhead region. Walleye, smallmouth, musky, pike, panfish—you name it, this lake has it.
Al is reunited with Billy Rosner of Vermilion Dam Lodge, who he fished with the year prior below the dam. This time, they’re exploring the big lake itself. “He gave me a call last week and said, ‘I’ve got a few days off. Weather’s going to be great. Come on up and poke around.’ So here I am,” Al shares.
Modern Tools, Timeless Success
Fishing may not offer anything truly new, but the integration of technologies like Minn Kota trolling motors and Humminbird electronics has undoubtedly improved how anglers interact with the water. “It’s all linked together,” Al says, marveling at the seamless connection between trolling motor, mapping, and sonar. “What amazes me about the Ulterra is how fast and easy it is. You’re down. You’re in. You’re fishing.”
These advancements allow for more time with lines in the water—where the fish are.
The Bite Turns On
The duo quickly marks a big school of perch—often a good sign for predator fish nearby. “That’s probably the eyeballs,” Billy remarks, referring to walleyes. Within moments, both anglers are hooked up. “I got one too,” Al exclaims. “You got a double!”
Laughter and excitement follow as they land a pair of solid walleyes—a textbook welcome to Lake Vermilion. “This is like, welcome back, Al!” Billy says. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen you up here.”
As the wind pushes the boat, the fish keep biting. Al flips his jigging rap back into the school, hooks another, and the action continues. “These are the kind of fish that make Minnesota’s walleye fishery famous,” Al says as he releases a healthy eater-sized fish. “It’s not just about the 28-inchers. It’s fish like these that fill the livewells.”
Tackle and Presentation Choices
The team rotates through a few key presentations. Al favors a jigging rap—a longtime favorite—and Billy starts with a Muni jig paired with a 4-inch Big Bite Boot Tail Jerk Minnow. “These are the two baits I’ll be using all day long,” says Al. Billy, ever-prepared, also has another St. Croix rod rigged with a live bait rig to keep their options open.
Working cabbage edges with a mix of aggressive jigging and methodical rigging proves productive. “Pretty active over here,” Billy reports. “Between baitfish and a few marks, we’re seeing some real good action.”
Classic Meets Contemporary
What’s clear throughout the trip is how a blend of old-school tactics and new-school tools creates a potent formula for fall walleyes. Vertical jigging with ice-style lures in open water may not be revolutionary, but when deployed with precision, it delivers undeniable results.
More to come as the duo continues their day on one of Minnesota’s most revered walleye lakes…
Minnesota’s Walleye Legacy and the Glory of Lake Vermilion
Minnesota isn’t just a great place to fish—it’s arguably the place to fish for walleye. Al Lindner puts it plainly: “The walleye is the money fish in my home state of Minnesota.” From Mille Lacs to Leech, Cass, Winnie, Red Lake, and Vermilion, the state is surrounded by legendary waters. Even the border lakes, like Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods, which stretch into northwest Ontario, boast world-class populations of walleyes.
Lake Vermilion is a standout not only for its beauty and diversity of species, but for how well it’s managed. Al and Billy Rosner give credit to the Minnesota DNR and their hatchery efforts on the lake’s east end. Year after year, fry and fingerlings are stocked to ensure a thriving population. “They really take care of Vermilion well,” Billy notes.
More Big Bites and a Closer Look at Gear
The action continues as the wind drifts them along, and another big walleye smashes Al’s jigging rap. Billy hits the Minn Kota Spot-Lock to pin them in place. “That Spot-Lock is an amazing tool,” Al says, underlining the value of modern trolling motor tech for precise boat control and efficient fishing.
After landing another impressive fish, Al turns the conversation toward gear. The focus isn’t just on lures—though the jigging rap and boot tail jig remain top choices—it’s on fine-tuning the entire setup. Rods, reels, and especially line selection all matter when working this style of presentation.
Al fishes the jigging rap with a St. Croix Icon Walleye Series rod, a 6’6″ medium light. The key, he explains, is having a soft tip with enough backbone to control the fish without tearing out the small treble hooks. “These hooks are like needles—they hook good, but you can’t horse the fish in,” he explains.
He emphasizes monofilament line—specifically 10-pound test—as critical. While braid and fluorocarbon have their place, mono’s stretch adds forgiveness, especially when a big walleye starts thrashing. “If you’ve got braid and you’re fishing a jigging rap, you’re going to lose a lot of fish,” Al warns.
For weed-bound walleyes, Al switches to a medium-action Icon rod paired with a mooneye jig and a 4-inch Big Bite Boot Tail minnow. That extra backbone helps rip through cover without compromising hooksets. Both setups are balanced with a Quantum Throttle 20 spinning reel, a size ideal for light presentations with enough capacity and drag to handle strong fish.
Trophy Walleyes and the Afternoon Bite
Back on the water, the afternoon bite heats up. Billy hooks another Vermilion trophy. “That’s a beauty there, Al. Look at that baby, huh?” he beams. The bite may have slowed in the late morning, but by afternoon, the fish are back on the feed.
With big walleyes coming boat-side, they reflect on just how healthy Vermilion is today. “Man, there’s some nice fish out here now,” Al says. “The lake is really, really healthy.”
Patterns, Presentations, and Location Versatility
The beauty of fall walleye fishing—especially on a complex body of water like Lake Vermilion—is the diversity in fish behavior. Al breaks it down: “You’ve got fish doing a number of different things.” Some are up shallow on weed lines, some are deep on mid-lake structure, and others suspend in the water column.
Earlier in the day, they doubled up on big fish in just 8 to 11 feet of water. Later, they worked a slot around 21–22 feet deep, bordered by 15-foot rock ledges, leading into a shallow bay. The area was a textbook filter point for fish moving in and out of different depth zones. This variety is key to consistent success.
And while most anglers associate jigging raps with deep, open-water presentations, Al and Billy prove otherwise. “We’ve caught walleyes in as little as 5 feet of water,” Al says. “If the walleyes are moving up, don’t put that jigging rap down.”
Maximizing the Jigging Rap’s Movement
Al shares a final tip that separates casual jigging from productive power fishing. He’s slip-drifting with the wind, casting the jigging rap out at a good angle to get it away from the boat. The presentation matters. “When you snap that rod, it’ll jump off the bottom and glide to one side,” he explains. Because of the top-mounted eyelet, the bait darts in a zigzag, walking-the-dog underwater.
“That’s what triggers those fish,” he says. It’s an erratic, side-to-side movement that few other baits can replicate—and when executed properly, it’s absolutely deadly.
Mastering the Jigging Rap: Precision and Patience
As the day progressed, Al and Billy continued to show why the jigging rap is such a powerful tool for walleye fishing—not just in deep water, but anywhere fish are holding. “It’s an amazing difference what that thing will do on a bite,” Al notes. “There are days it’s like a miracle bite compared to any other presentation.”
The secret is in the snap. Al emphasizes that anglers should give the rod a hard, crisp jerk to trigger the bait’s darting action. “You want that bait to really jump,” he explains. It’s a simple but highly effective cadence: snap, let it settle, and repeat. And when the bite comes, it’s unmistakable. “You feel that rod go thunk-thunk-thunk—that’s the good one,” Al says with a grin.
Once again, a giant walleye slides boat-side. The little treble hooks hold firm, thanks to the forgiving setup Al described earlier: soft rod tip, monofilament line, and patience during the fight. “That’s a beauty. What a fish,” Al says, holding up the golden prize.
Why Fall on Lake Vermilion Is the Walleye Angler’s Dream
With another big walleye released back into the depths, Al delivers a compelling invitation: “If you’ve never been up here in the fall on one of these lakes like Lake Vermilion, you’re missing the boat.”
Fall offers a perfect combination of cooling water temperatures, active fish, and reduced angling pressure. The timing is prime, the scenery is stunning, and the chance of catching trophy-sized walleyes is at its peak. “Plan a trip up here in the fall and cash in on what could be the best walleye fishing you’ll ever experience,” Al encourages.
Billy Rosner, guiding out of Vermilion Dam Resort, offers not just expert local knowledge, but access to one of the most productive sections of the lake. The resort is surrounded by proven spots and top-tier amenities, making it a perfect home base for anglers targeting trophy fish.
