Balards Resort

[huntnfish]

Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about this place? I am thinking about going with some friends and they are going to be using one of these houses. If you don't want to post anything on here, you can e-mail me at [email protected]. Any help would be appreciated.

[Scoot]

I've been doing business there for about 20 years and have been really happy with them. Before that we did all of our business at another resort on that end of the river and switched because we were dissatisfied with the service. The folks at Ballards have been really good to us.<BR>Scoot

[huntnfish]

Thanks for the quick reply, Scoot. My friends will be renting a sleeper from them, but I am not sure that I want to go along with all the things that are being said about renting sleeper houses. I have never been to Lake of the Woods and want the first trip to be good. By that I don't meen just catching a lot of fish, just looking to have a good time. <p>[This message has been edited by huntnfish (edited 03-05-2003).]

[TeeDee]

Scoot,<BR>know anything about Riverview?<BR>TD

[Scoot]

I don't know much about Riverview. I've not heard bad things, which is good, but I don't know much. That's about the only one down on that end I have virtually no experience with.<BR>Scoot

[HOGEYE]

I know Riverview pretty well as it's just a stones throw away from me. Nice bar and nice cabins! Mark and Andy are the guides and they're really good guys. Hot pike action in the spring right in front of the resort (I'm talkin 30 yards out. 3 feet of ice and 6 inches of water!).<p>[This message has been edited by HOGEYE (edited 03-05-2003).]

[TeeDee]

Thanks Hogeye!<BR>When we are up there next week, should we fish by their houses are go out further?<BR>TD

[HOGEYE]

I haven't fished the pine island area for a couple months so I'm not sure. I was talking about fishing the bay directly in front of riverview.

[bart simpson]

I agree...Riverview was really a good choice for us. We were up there last weekend and had pretty slow fishing the first day, so the guide moved us for the second day and the 2 of us caught 8 really nice walleyes. Saugers weren't biting though. Still - way fun. Nice bar too, but the bartender there, Eric?, makes the drinks waaaaaaaayyyyyy too strong! <P>Bart<P>------------------<BR>"Back home we got a taxidermy man. He's gonna have a heart attack when he sees what I brung him!"<BR>-Captain Quint (Jaws)

[Guest]

stayed there two years ago. We did not get much for fish on that trip but it was not for lack of effort on there part. Very friendly people and I would go there again.

[HOGEYE]

Hey BART SIMPSON,<P>I prob saw you in the bar or the fish cleaning house. I think I remember you telling me about your big one.

[Sabaskong]

hmmm, young Bendickson mixing some stiff drinks you say? waaaay to strong, I might have to find out for myself.

[cliffy]

huntnfish:<P>I have stayed at ballards twice this winter and have nothing but good things to say about the people and service. However, I have never used one of the sleepers. My soon-to-be wife and I are going back this weekend...a late valentines gift to her (and me). I stayed at sportsman lodge two weekends ago and also thought they did a very nice job. The sportsman is right next door to ballards...good people in both camps. In both cases, the guides were very helpful in given us suggestions concerning lure color, depth and presentation. I have had very good luck this winter using anything colored gold. I have also noticed that the fish seem to be more active on a jig stick rather than a dead stick presentation. Also, we found most of the eyes to be about 10 to 12 feet off of the bottom....strange but true. I dont know if this holds true but I thought I would pass it along. Good luck on your trip.

[MG - Fishin']

I'm leaving the cities for LOTW this afternoon and I'll be in one of Ballard's sleepers through Sunday. It's looking like the weather might be on our side this weekend. When I get back to reality (work) on Monday I'll post how we did. It'll be a good trip. Anytime we go up to the big pond it's always a blast.

[huntnfish]

Thanks for the info. You'll have to let me know how you did this weekend when you get back, MG. How much room are they going to have to carry our things? I think that it will be a good time, but am still a little skeptical about this whole sleeper rental with all the things that get said here.

[bart simpson]

Hi back HOGEYE...<P>It must have been in the bar, I let Andy handle the fish cleaning duties. You weren't being a substitute guide last weekend were you? Or were you the guy I was talking NASCAR with while watching the Gophers rally from 3 goals down? We pretty much closed the bar down both nights so I must have seen you.<P>Note to Stiffrod: If you see Eric, make sure he was able to get that new shipment of Tangeray in. Wouldn't want to head up there again and have to drink something inferior.<P>Bart

[huntnfish]

That is the best news that I have heard since I reserved a sleeper with them. I don't know how I will get through the next two weeks knowing that is how the fishing is up there. Hopefully, we will have the same luck that you did. Is there anything that I should bring that they did not provide for you? i.e., fry pans, extra minnows. E-mail me at [email protected]

[TRITC]

MG,<BR>What area were you in? How about depth? We were out by 16 mile on Saturday morning and had a hard time getting any takers. Marked plenty of fish and changed presentations a lot, but didn't pick up too many.<P>Thanks for any info.<BR>

[cliffy]

MG:<P>Glad to hear you had such a good time. I am curious, were you one of the two young guys that got a ride back to the lodge with <BR>Walley in the blue bombardier on Sunday @ noon? If so, I rode back with you guys...I was with my fiance...the red head.

[MJCatfish]

Ballard's has treated me very well in the years I've been going there. Service is always great, summer or winter. Food is great. The cabins are clean and comfy. We'll be staying with them this weekend and fishing with them. Gary and his crew will surely bust their humps to satisfy the customer.

[MG - Fishin']

Well back to work after a long weekend of fishing in one of Ballard's sleepers. What a weekend it was. Probably the best fishing I've had through the ice in my life so far. Between two guys well over 100 walleyes (I lost count because it was non-stop action on Saturday). We limited out with the biggest being 25.5" and extremely fat. I was 110% satisfied with Ballard's service, the house, and of course the fishing. I will definitely be back there in the future for years to come. I'd highly recommend this resort if anyone is looking for a memorable experience on LOTW. Hope everyone else's weekend was a good one!

[MG - Fishin']

huntnfish- They pretty much have it all out there for you. We stopped in town and bought some shiners to bring along, but they will provide all the fatheads you need. You might just want to bring a few extra fry pans or cookware. They have some up there but a couple of them were a little old and dirty looking. I'd just assume cooking on my own pans. <BR>TRITC- I believe they just moved their houses about 8 miles out in about 34 feet of water. <BR>Cliffy- That was us that rode back in with you and your fiance as well as the other three guys in the bomber on Sunday. I had the Tahoe parked next to your truck in the lot. It sure was a good weekend of fishing. Maybe we'll run into you again sometime.

[ibwhnt]

Yes Ballard's is a great place travel to. You seem to always be treated like freinds not numbers like some other places. This is a clean and great place to take a family fishing either in the summer or in the winter.

[huntnfish]

Did you have a vexilar or camera with you? If you did, how did you charge the batteries? Did you drive yourself out to the house or did you just catch a ride from the resort? We will have a couple of batteries that will need to be charged sometime while we are out there. Can you ride with the driver back to the resort to take a shower, get some things that you need?

[MG - Fishin']

huntnfish - If you're looking to take a shower when you're up there, I would not stay in a sleeper. Once your out there, you pretty much stay put until the trips over. If you need anything from the resort they will bring it out to you. I used a vexilar during daylight hours and turned it on periodically at night to see if anything was down there. We only caught 3 fish after dark so no sense wasting the vex. batteries at night time by leaving it on all night. I didn't need to charge mine until I got home. It was getting a little low on juice after 3 days though. I'm sure if you need a charge they'll bring your vex. in at night and charge it up for you and bring it back out to you in the morning. Occasionally they'll come through at night, but its usually pretty slow. Your underwater camera might not be too useful just because of the water clarity. You have all you can do to see the bottom of the ice through the water. We rode out with them in the bomber too. I have no need for my truck to be out there if I have a ride provided. You'll have a good time with Ballard's!