Lake Vermillion Trip Report & Video

[Brian Wise]

Lake Ver’ making a Million Casts.

Thinking back on Lake Vermillion... Musky fishing can be equated with an adventure race. In a race there are parts where the course is smooth and comfortable. Then, there are places that hurt! Both happened on Lake V.

For the first two days it was up hill but smooth. We were casting,enjoying the new sites sounds, and smells of the North Woods, it was great. It was amazing to watch the sky full of the mountainous clouds billowing and grand. The loons called lazily over the north woods water and there were dozens of bald eagles. North woods eagles were like buzzards in Ozark County, everywhere.

Yet by day three the hurt broke the surface. Brian manages to impale a giant purple popper in his shoulder. We all know Brian can cast 107’ feet like he was brushing his hair, but this cast made me cringe as a gust of wind crumpled it.

THHWAAACK!

Have you ever taken a 2/0 hook sunk to the bend in yourfriend’s shoulder?

We managed to remove it and what did we do, kept casting.

Thoughts of “Why are we still here?” “God, if I just catchone I’ll end my musky career right now”, “This is starting to get ridiculous”Thoughts that never cross a fly fishing guide’s mind begin to take over. Soonyou cast out of desperation to catch THAT fish, knowing that, the next castwill be “the one”.

And it is! The next cast that you place right in the meatslot, watch it hang slowly, thinking “that is the one”. Then you notice castingslack is in the trolling motor right as big head comes out from under the logand chews your fly like laffy taffy. While your falling out of the boat to setthe hook… That is when IT happens… THAT is when your chance comes, and goes,like THAT!

The high that comes with musky fishing is also in similarityto a race finish. The adrenaline of hooking a fish as long as your leg matchesand perhaps surpasses that jolt of knee buckling energy that hits at the finishline of a long and exciting race.

That’s on your next cast though. Not this one. Try again…

Fish are the excuse to adventure into the wilderness, butthey end up only a sliver of the story. We gain much more than a “grip andgrin” when we set out with friends into unimaginable adventures.

There is nothing in this world with as much value as good friends.

(Report by Kyle Kosovich. Photos by Aaron Scott)

[Justin Spencer]

Love the 3 muskyteers shirts, what's a fishing trip without a theme? Great video, I'm sure there was much more nipple play than was shown!

[sean c]

Brian great stuff all three reports were outstanding and Aaron's photos are top shelf.

[junkman]

Nice to see how to take out a hook. Beats the way it was taken out of my back (razor blade). Or the one stuck in my hand, for it was cut and ran on through and out with pliers. GREAT pain for sure. Looks like you guys had a great time which make me a little envious.

[Trout Commander]

Nice!

You do know you have set a new level of expectation when it comes to your videos, right?

[Brian Wise]

You do know you have set a new level of expectation when it comes to your videos, right?

Uh oh.....

[fishinwrench]

Outstanding !

Were you guys fishing mainlake structure or concentrating moreso on the flats? Flyfishing on a windy lake is a bitch.... flyline everywhere and your feet are your worst enemy. I was waiting for footage of the famous "Jumprope Double-haul".... I know you each did one

[Brian Wise]

A guide showed us around on the first day and everything he showed us was flats/weedbeds. After DAYS of no looks (besides from non-committing Pike) we talked to some other people and started fishing islands.....that was the last day of fishing we had and all 3 of us either got an eat or an explosion by the boat.

Figures, we find them on the last day we were there..........

[Mitch f]

Video was great but I was looking for something a little more "Matrixy" :)