Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island
lake in Louisiana
Vermilion Bay and adjacent Marsh Island provide extensive shallow-water habitat and protected channels ideal for sight-casting to reds and trout.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Overcast skies
- 01Overcast skies, 74°F, and a light 7 mph NE wind creating favorable fishing conditions.
- 02Higher fall water levels expected across Vermilion Bay, facilitating access to shallow marsh edges.
- 03Abundant shrimp, baitfish, and crab populations are the primary forage for predatory species.
- 04Focus on shallow marsh edges, grass flats, and deeper guts; Redfish Bayou offers sight-casting opportunities on dropping tides.
- 05Employ slow, deliberate retrieves for subsurface patterns; vary retrieve speeds for topwater flies to entice strikes.
Past reports week by week
6 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
EP Shrimp
Shrimp are a consistent and abundant food source for redfish, sheepshead, and flounder in Vermilion Bay throughout the fall.
Buy at AmazonRedfish Fly (Weedless)
Designed specifically for redfish in shallow, grassy marshes, reducing hang-ups and effectively presenting a common food item.
Buy at AmazonBlue Crab (Saltwater)
Crabs are a significant and consistent food source in the estuaries and grass flats of Vermilion Bay, making this an excellent fall pattern for redfish and sheepshead.
Buy at AmazonGurgler (Saltwater)
This topwater popper creates enticing surface disturbance, prompting aggressive strikes from actively feeding redfish, especially in calmer conditions.
Clouser Minnow (Saltwater)
A highly versatile baitfish imitation that effectively mimics the various forage fish present in Vermilion Bay, appealing to all target species.
Buy at AmazonPuglisi Shrimp
An excellent shrimp imitation that is effective over grass flats and along sand edges, mimicking a primary food source for all target species.
Chartreuse Deceiver
A vibrant baitfish pattern that is highly effective in murky or stained inshore waters, attracting aggressive predatory strikes from redfish, sheepshead, and flounder.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Cypremort Point / Cypremort Point State Park
Point and jetty structure adjacent to Vermilion Bay offering easy access to productive flats and passes.
Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge Edges
Complex marsh edges and tidal passes where fish hold in the shallows — classic sight-fishing terrain.
Rollover Point / East Vermilion Passes
Passes and cuts between islands that funnel bait and attract schooling reds and trout.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Pack and Paddle
Pack & Paddle
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Louisiana season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Quick answers
Common questions about Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island.
What flies work best on Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island?
Our top scored fly patterns for Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island right now are EP Shrimp (80% confidence), Tan Spawning Shrimp (80% confidence), Puglisi Shrimp (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island?
Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island holds Redfish, Sheepshead, Flounder. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Vermilion Bay / Marsh Island each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.