2025 Minnesota Walleye Season Opener

As we get closer to the May 10th Minnesota walleye opener the question I hear most is “Will the ice be gone?” Some of the resorts have a live camera feed on their Facebook pages with pics going back 10+ years and with the combination of the early opener and current weather patterns it looks like ice out will be very close to opening day. It depends on how much sun, wind, and rain we get before then. Pike Bay on the east end should be open and the bite in there should be HOT. Finding the warmest water will be the key to finding biting fish. The normal early spring technique of casting a jig and minnow to shallow rocks should work well. Slip bobbers or trolling stick baits also catch quite a few fish especially with a late ice out and a bay full of post spawn males. Everyone better be praying for some warm rainy weather between now and May 10th!

Take a Vet Fishing 2025

Registration is by the tent at Fortune Bay: August 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM

Estimated fishing time: 9:00AM – 1:00 PM

Use the following Form to sign up for the Take a Vet Fishing

Here is the 2025 Take a Vet Fishing Form

Please be sure to list your phone number, home address and also email address so information can be sent to you by email or by US Postal Service

Full Name (required)

Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Zip Code (required)

Phone Number (required)

Your Email (required)

Fishing Partner Requested

Your Age (required)

Branch of Service

What Did You Do During Your Service

Preferred Transportation Method
No PreferenceBoatPontoon

Health Issues, wheelchair, pontoon required, Special Requests or Special Needs?

Any additional comments

If you submitted this for someone else, what is your name

By submitting this form, I have read the rules set forth agree to them. By signing this form, I hereby waive and release the event committee, participants, hosts, sponsors and all other officials or parties involved in the event from any and all claims and/or damages incurred in connection with this event. I also hereby grant the unconditional right to use the name, voice and photographs taken in connection with any of the articles, press releases, official event website, event Facebook page, guide websites, and audio/video productions.

Take a Kid Fishing 2025

New start times

July 16, 2025
Boat Operator Breakfast 7:30 AM
Registration: 7:00 AM
Estimated start time: 9:30AM-1:30PM with lunch after
Volunteer
Sign Up for Take A Kid Fishing

Membership in the Lake Vermilion Guides League

Membership in the Lake Vermilion Guides League is a huge commitment! We demand a great deal from one another on, and off the water. Each year we spend countless hours organizing and participating in what we feel are two highly worthwhile and deserving endeavors. The “Lets Take a Kid Fishing Event” and our “Military Veterans Fishing Day”.

DNR statistics from across the country show that youth participation in fishing is at a downward trend. Even in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, fewer and fewer young people are being introduced to this awesome outdoor experience. The LVGL and other area stakeholders strive to be part of the solution by offering a summer take a kid fishing event. For many of these kids it is their only opportunity to experience the joys of fishing, and is a highly anticipated event! Our goals are to expand these experiences by becoming more involved in the classroom, and reestablishing our winter kids fishing event. With your help we can make this happen!

Here at the Lake Vermilion Guides League we understand that freedom isn’t free and appreciate the sacrifices the men and women of our Armed services have made for our country. Each year we host a military veterans fishing day to honor these fine individuals. A day of fishing and camaraderie is followed by an award ceremony, live music, and a tasty shore lunch. We would dearly like to be able to reach out to more and more of these most deserving military veterans.

Of course it takes funding to support these fine endeavors which has been a continued challenge. We live in a generous but small community where funding through raffles has become increasingly more difficult. Simply put, we are having to go back to the same well, way too often.

As a 501–3 C nonprofit we cannot accept advertising dollars. What we can do, is recognize businesses and individuals that donate to either of our events with a partnership donation level on our webpage. The levels are based on cash and “in-kind” donations and purely volunteer. Your company logo and contact information will be displayed at your particular level and your cash donations are tax deductible. At the end of the year we will send documentation acknowledging your contribution. Please donate online or send checks to:

LVGL
PO Box 748
Tower, MN. 55790

On the memo portion on your check please designate between “Kid Event” “Vets Event” or “Area of Most Need”.

The Lake Vermilion Guides League sincerely hopes that our partnership donation program allows us to continue mentor future anglers of our community and honor those military veterans that have given so much to us in the past! Please get involved today!

Thanks! Lake Vermilion Fishing Guides League.

The Lake Vermilion Guides League

The Lake Vermilion Guides League (LVGL) was formed in 2006 and was registered with the State of Minnesota as a corporation. In January 2015 the Internal Revenue Service issued a letter designating the LVGL as a tax exempt charitable 501 (c) (3) organization. The LVGL is organized under a set of bylaws, articles of incorporation and a code of ethics. Our mission is: “To foster the development and promotion of fishing and associated activities by providing the means for education, preservation and conservation of those natural resources that are important to fishing and to the enhancement of fellowship and camaraderie among fishermen and women.” Shortly after its formation the VGL recognized that fishing in Minnesota is a core value. The LVGL decided that they could provide an opportunity to expose youth to the outdoor activity of angling as well somehow show our Veterans a new venue of appreciation. The Take a Kid Fishing days summer event has entertained and educated over 1000 youth in its first ten years. At the same time over 600 Veterans have enjoyed a day on the water catching a few fish and sharing stories with comrades. The LVGL has also assisted local schools with an Ice fishing event that has become another enjoyable day.

These events, not only provide wonderful experiences for our youth and veterans but also showcases the beauty of Lake Vermilion. The LVGL also demonstrates how important this resource is to our area and to all of Minnesota by educating event goers about invasive species and the importance of preserving the lake and the resources that abound in Lake Vermilion. These important and fun days are only made possible by the generous donations of both time and money by businesses and individuals. All of these events take many hours of preparation and organization. If you would like to volunteer or make a tax deductible donation to help with these events: You can contact us by mail, email or phone.

Address:
Lake Vermilion Guides League
PO Box 748
Tower, MN 55790
Email: info@lakevermilionguidesleague.com
Phone: 218-666-6054
Thank you and we will “see you on the water”