JULY 5th

Hey Sportsfans,

250 years of Independence was well spent this weekend at Ballard’s!

Note to self: Pack any time of bug spray, the flies are bad and there has been a bug hatch.

Our seasonal campers across the street brought all the fun with their decked-out golf carts, while staff and even some of our returning guests joined in by sporting patriotic tutus. There was plenty of laughter, great memories, and all-around good times here at Ballard’s Resort.

As for the fishing, the walleyes seem to be playing hard to get. They’ve been a little tougher to track down lately, keeping our guides on their toes as they search for the next active school.

Most of our guides have transitioned away from jigging and are primarily pulling spinners. Every now and then, though, a jig still produces a few nice eaters. If you’re fishing the mud, we’ve been finding success in about 34 feet of water while pulling spinners.

We’ve been marking plenty of fish, but getting them to commit has been the real challenge. Staying on the move and chasing the active fish has been the key to putting together a productive day on the water.

We’re looking forward to seeing what this next week brings. As always, our guides are working hard to stay on the fish and make every trip a memorable one. We can’t wait to see you on the water!

Set the Hook!

JUNE 28

Hey Sportsfans, 

“We are out here looking for a woppourtunity.”

You might be wondering where that came from… and honestly, we were too. That line came straight from Captain Tim’s boat. With very little context behind it, but a good enough saying that it absolutely needed to make it into this week’s report. Sometimes the best moments on the water are the ones you don’t plan for.

Our boats have been covering a lot of ground across the lake, trying different areas and techniques as we continue to chase the bite. The crews have been working both spinners and jigs, letting the fish tell us what they are looking for each day.

Just like last week, we have continued spending time around the bridges area. The fish have been showing some consistency, but with changing conditions each day, our guides are continuing to move around and adjust to find the best opportunities.

The weather has stayed pretty consistent, bringing in plenty of rain and a lot of cloudy days. While it may not feel like the classic sunny summer weather everyone dreams about, these conditions can make for some great days on the water.

If you are planning to spend some time on the patio, we recommend bringing along a jacket. The evenings have been cool, and the breeze off the lake can definitely remind you that we are still surrounded by a big body of water.

Rain or shine, the boats are still heading out, the stories are still being made, and we are still out here looking for that next woppourtunity.

Set the Hook!

  

JUNE 22

Hey Sportsfans,

This past week was a bit of a messy one. The wind seemed to be coming from every direction, and the rain wasn’t far behind, making for some pretty dramatic scenery out on the boat.

Note to self: order more Dramamine.

One of the ongoing debates around camp has been who managed to catch their limit the earliest each day. It’s always fun hearing the stories and friendly competition.

If we haven’t mentioned it already, we’re finally bringing back the classic shore lunch on Garden Island. It’s a favorite tradition and something many of our guests always look forward to.

The fishing report remains solid. Little Traverse has been producing well if you’re working the 27-foot range. If you’re fishing Big Traverse, move out to about 33 feet.

Our guides have been mixing it up lately. Some are finding success with spinners, while others are sticking with jigs. We’re slowly starting to transition from the spring bite into more consistent summer patterns.

Good luck out there, and we’ll see you on the water!

JUNE 14

Hey Sportsfans,

“It’s cold and wavy.” — Hunter
“It is not warm today.” — Tilden

The weather this week started off strong with beautiful sunshine, but conditions gradually shifted to a more spring-like pattern, bringing rain, clouds, wind, and temperatures in the 60s.

On Friday, we even had customers coming into the shop looking for gloves and additional layers because they were so cold. The upcoming week is expected to be much of the same, so make sure you’re dressing appropriately for the weather. Remember, it’s always colder on the water than it is on land.

The fish are still biting in the Northwest Angle. We are seeing success with both jigging and pulling spinners. Most fish are being caught in the deep mud and rubble south of Garden Island in 30–40 feet of water. We will continue anchoring and jigging through June.

A strong cold front and heavy winds have created some unfavorable fishing conditions, making it a little more challenging to put together a shore lunch. Even so, anglers who adapt to the conditions are still finding success.

Set the Hook!