Our Fish
Little Vermilion Lake System Fish Species
Little Vermilion Lake System has some of the best fishing for Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, and Tiger Musky that Canada has to offer. Fireside Lodge guests will have the opportunity to fish for Northern Pike on eight different lakes, Smallmouth Bass fishing on five lakes, Muskie and Tiger Musky fishing on five lakes. Little Vermilion Lake System provides a fabulous fish habitat having many rock shoals, points, creeks, bays, and also harbors a wide variety of baitfish including many species of minnows, white sucker, yellow perch, leeches, and crayfish. In addition to this we have cold-water baitfish of cisco and whitefish. Cisco and white-fish are fatty based fish which is one reason why our Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, & Tiger Musky grow fast and to very large size. Open fishing season for Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass is from the third Saturday in May to the second Saturday in September with Muskie and Tiger Muskie opening starting from the third Saturday in June. (For specific seasons and dates refer to the information at the bottom of this page.) Fishing is great throughout the open season for all species, however to achieve consistent success we do fish in different locations, and apply a variety of techniques and presentations depending on the current fishing stage. The fishing stages during our open season are designated as Pre-Spawn, Spawn, Post Spawn, Early Summer, Summer, and Late Summer/Fall stages. In another section I discuss these fishing stages in detail, and what you can expect in fishing for each fish species of Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, and Tiger Musky during each specific stage. These pages are very helpful in giving fisher’s good information during our different fishing stages of our open season, which will assist Fireside Lodge guests in either selecting the time they would prefer to fish with us, or help them prepare a fishing strategy for the time they will be fishing with us at Fireside Lodge. Below you will find general fish species information on Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, & Tiger Musky. If you want to read the more specific detailed information for each fish species during each fishing stage look for the information pages specific for each species of Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, and Tiger Musky in the drop down menu, or simply click on the highlighted name of each species below. Enjoy the information and please email or call me directly with any questions. Thanks Alan (see our contact us page). 800-545-0815
If you have any questions please contact us anytime.
Northern Pike
Northern Pike are available on eight different lakes. Four of the lakes are available by boat and the other four are portage lakes. Fireside Lodge guests experience both fast action and trophy fishing for Northern Pike, having had days catching over 200 Pike in one day between 2 people. Many trophy size Northern Pike over 40-inches up to 48-inches are caught, and you can expect to catch many Northern Pike in the 28 to 38-inch range. Because of our productive lake system and abundant baitfish our fish are very heavy weighing much more than an average Northern Pike. To read more details about Northern Pike fishing throughout different seasonal stages on Little Vermillion Lake System go to our “Northern Pike Information” Page. Enjoy
Smallmouth Bass
Described in one word the fishing for Smallmouth Bass is “FABULOUS”. On Little Vermilion Lake system you will have five Smallmouth Bass Lakes to choose from and can expect to catch numbers of Smallmouth Bass up to 18-inches. Trophy Smallmouth Bass Fishing Lodge in CanadaCommonly, Fireside Lodge guests catch huge trophy Smallmouth Bass between 18-20-inches. Trophy Smallmouth Bass over 20-inches are caught every year, and the largest catches have been 24,24.5 and 25-inches. WOW! That’s terrific Smallmouth Bass fishing hard to match anywhere in North America. We have had two fishers catch as many as 200 Smallmouth Bass in one day, and catch as many as 12 trophy Smallmouth Bass in one day. To read more details about Smallmouth Bass fishing throughout different seasonal stages on Little Vermillion Lake System go to our “Smallmouth Bass Information” Page. Enjoy
Muskie and Tiger Muskie
Fireside Lodge guests can find this fierce freshwater predator in five different lakes. Muskie & Tiger Musky have become known as the fish of 10,000 casts, but not so on Little Vermilion Lake system. Many Fireside Lodge guests have landed their first Muskie ever, many catching multiple Musky, and a good number of guests have caught BIG Muskie in the 38-inch to over 40-inch category. At Fireside Lodge guests have landed as many as 14 Muskie between two people in ones days effort, and catch Muskie regularly between 32 and 42-inches. It is common for guests to see Musky between 43 to over 50-inches, and some guests land or have the opportunity to land Musky in this size class every year. Even though it is fun to have all the specialized Muskie tackle, no special equipment is necessary to pursue Musky on Little Vermilion Lake System. Many guests use the same tackle they use for Northern Pike. Success comes with being on the water and having a line wet. Come and enjoy this fun challenge. To read more details about Muskie and Tiger Musky fishing throughout different seasonal stages on Little Vermillion Lake System go to our “Muskie / Tiger Musky Information” Page. Enjoy
Come and enjoy the great fishing we have at Fireside Lodge for Northern Pike
If you have any questions please contact us anytime.
Fishing Season & Special Regulations
Fishing Opens the 3rd Saturday in May until the 2nd Saturday in September
Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass Opens the 3rd Saturday in May until the 2nd Saturday in September
Muskie & Tiger Musky Opens the 3rd Saturday in June until the 2nd Saturday in September
Maskinonge, Hooch, & Closs Lake Open the 3rd Saturday in June until the 2nd Saturday in September
Maskinonge & Hooch Lakes
Use of Artificial Lures Only
While fishing in these lakes the use of one barbless hook is mandatory, this can be a treble or single hook.
This one hook has to be made barbless. This can be simply done by pinching every barb down with a pair of pliers.
You can have all of your tackle in the boat with you. All you have to do is make sure that all lures on any of your rods only have one hook and are barbless.
“The Future Of Fishing Is In Our Hands and Depends on all Fisher’s Responsible Release Efforts”
Little Vermilion Lake System is all catch & release.
All Fish Photos were of fish caught and released by a Fireside Lodge Guest.