JULY 26TH

Hey Sportsfans,

It’s been a busy week here on Lake of the Woods!

The guests have been playing pranks and sharing plenty of laughs at the bar. Great times and even better memories! 

The bite has been a little slower than usual, but anglers who have stayed patient have been coming back with some nice eater walleyes.

Most of our boats have been traveling to Little Traverse Bay to fish the sandbars and rubble flats. Slowing down, staying patient, and keeping your weight and spinner out of the rocks has been the key to success.

Some boats have also been targeting the deep mud in Big Traverse Bay, where they’re finding a good mix of keeper-sized fish, slot fish, and the occasional trophy walleye.

For the most part, shore lunches have been at Garden Island, which is always a favorite.

Fishing north of Garden Island has also been producing, along with the mud flats on the west side.

We’ve also been reeling in a few perch here and there to add to the day’s catch.

If you’re packing your bags and getting ready to head north, be prepared—the weather has been extra Minnesota lately. One minute it’s raining, the next it’s hot, then it turns cold. Pack for it all!  

Set the Hook!

JULY 19th

Hey Sportsfans

P.S.A. Neck fans and sunscreen should be at the top of your packing list!

It has been a hot couple of weeks, so be sure to pack something to help keep you cool on the boat.

The fish are on the move as they continue to transition to the deeper rock reefs. If you’re targeting these areas with spinners, focus on rocks in 10–15 feet of water. Worms and minnows will still catch fish, but the bite has been a bit of a grind.

If you prefer drifting the shallow rocks and gravel, concentrate on 10–14 feet of water while running spinners. Leeches and night crawlers have been the most productive baits in these areas.

Garden Island has been a hot spot over the past few days, with anglers finding success using spinners as their go-to presentation. We’ve also been seeing more trophy-sized fish showing up in the basin of Big Traverse.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and good luck on the water!

SET THE HOOK!

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!