IDO Get Together on Lake of the Woods + Win a Chance to Film with James & Joel

  • In-Depth Webstaff
    Keymaster
    Posts: 2756
    #1489178

    ballards-logo

    One of the top requests we get here at In-Depth Outdoors is for us to organize “get together” style events where anglers that frequent our website or follow our TV show can converge on a great body of water at a time of year known to produce a good bite, fish together, swap tips and tell fish stories.

    We’re happy to announce our first Get Together for 2015 – we’re headed to Lake of the Woods where Ballard’s Resort will be our host. The dates are set and this event will take place on March 19, 20, 21 and 22!

    According to James Holst these dates were picked as they should offer a great chance to get in a good late season walleye bite. When asked to comment on the timing of this event James offered “the walleye will either be on the reefs near Knights and Bridges or they’ll be headed for the south shore where they’ll group outside 4 Mile Bay waiting to make the run up into the Rainy River depending on the severity of the winter. Either way that third week in March offers an excellent shot at some fantastic fishing with a legit shot at numbers of big walleye. Giant northern will also be an option for those that are looking for a shot at the pike of a lifetime.”

    One of the othertop requests” we receive here at In-Depth Outdoors is for the chance for members of the website and fans of the fishing show to fish with, or even film a show with, members of the In-Depth Outdoors Pro Staff. Well, that’s going to happen too!

    Two lucky anglers attending the 2015 Get Together out of Ballard’s Resort will be selected after dinner on Thursday – March 19 to fish with James Holst and Joel Nelson. Their time on the ice with Holst and Nelson will be filmed and edited to air as the following week’s episode of In-Depth Outdoors TV.

    “Joel and I have talked this through and we plan to treat the anglers drawn to fish with us like any other fishing buddies we’d hit the ice with. We’ll share our gear, our knowledge and the hole punching duties!” said James Holst when asked about his approach to fishing with the pair of lucky anglers. “The plan will be to hit it hard for two days and see how much fun we can have and how many big fish we can get on the ice,” added Nelson. “We’ve never done anything like this before but it sounds like a ton of fun and an awesome challenge!”

    So here’s the dates and break down of the available packages. There’s a package available for those that want to fish out of Ballard’s Ice Houses as well as a separate package for those that want to stay with Ballard’s and have all the meals provided but prefer to fish out of their own portable houses.


    Winter Ice Fishing Get Together – 2015

  • Thursday March 19
    — Arrival of anglers with check in after 2:00 PM. Anglers check in to their rooms. The evening dinner in the dining room will be served 6:00 PM to 9:00PM with anglers drawn to fish with James and Joel after 9:00 PM.
  • Friday March 20 — Breakfast is served before anglers head out to the lake, ice fishing, sack lunch provided for the lake, pack your own beverage for the day, evening meal is provided at the resort, lodging provided for second night.
  • Saturday March 21 — Breakfast is served before anglers head out to the lake, ice fishing, sack lunch provided on the lake, pack your own beverage for the day, evening meal is provided at the resort, lodging provided for third night.
  • Sunday March 22 — Breakfast is served before anglers head out to the lake. Check out is prior to 11:00 AM. Anglers fishing out of their own portable ice houses can hit the lake after checking out of their rooms. Anglers fishing out of Ballard’s ice houses will depart after checking out.
  • Lodging – Anglers in attendance will be lodged in our cabins. Each unit is complete with living room, two single beds per bedroom, bathroom, TV, towels, bedding, & daily maid service. Based on lodging preference and availability, there are one, two, and three bedroom cabins at hand for reservations. More info on our cabins can be found online here http://www.ballardsresort.com/facilities/cabins/

    Ice fishing – For those on the “Fish With Us” package, you will be angling in spacious, well heated, winter fish houses, outfitted with two holes per person ( 2 to 6 person houses available ). Jig sticks, bait, tackle, and fish processing are provided. Guided transit to and from winter angling houses is included via heated (snow track vehicle) Bombardiers. It is approximately a nine hour day from Bombardier departure time to return.

    For those on the “Fish On Your Own” package, you are encouraged to bring up your own equipment and venture on to Lake of the Woods using one of the local pay to access plowed road locations, or pending mode of travel, the grant in aid snowmobile trails.

    American Plan Meals – Dinner night of arrival, breakfast, lunch, dinner on fishing days, breakfast morning of departure. Total of eight meals for the trip.

    Beverages – Other than at breakfast, you are responsible for your own beverage during the day & dinner. Do not bring personal beverages from your cabin into the lodge, bar, or dining room. The full service bar offers a complete list of beers, liquors, and non-alcoholic beverages. The gift shop also offers the sale of similar items along with various snacks and souvenirs.

    Fishing License – A MN fishing license required. – You can purchase a MN angling license at Ballard’s Resort.

    Gratuities – Tips for the crew (guides, wait-staff, housekeeping, bartenders) are not included in the package price. For guidelines on suggested gratuities, please ask one of our reservation coordinators.

    “Fish With Us” Package Includes:

    Three nights lodging. Two days guided walleye ice fishing. All meals.
    Angling equipment is provided and includes bait, tackle, & fish processing. Sales & lodging tax is included.
    Special Rate = $450.00 per person


    “Fish On Your Own” Package Includes:

    Three nights lodging. All meals. Sales & lodging tax is included.
    Special Rate = $350.00 per person

    Note – To receive these special rates you must register your group by January 30, 20015. Rates increase by $75.00 per person if you sign up after the January 30 registration deadline.

    Advance deposit of $200 per person is required to hold your spot. Balance is due on arrival.

    To make your reservation or for additional information contact Ballard’s Resort. And don’t delay. Space is limited!

    Contact Information

    Address:
    3314 Bur Oak Rd NW
    Baudette, MN – 56623

    Phone:
    218-634-1849 or 800-776-2675

    Email:
    [email protected]

    castle-rock-clown
    Posts: 2596
    #1489210

    So, to be in on this do you have to purchase one of the packages? Or can one be part of the GTG while being all on their own.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    #1489271

    Perfect timing on the perfect ice!

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489364

    So, to be in on this do you have to purchase one of the packages? Or can one be part of the GTG while being all on their own.

    The more the merrier! We’ll draw the two anglers from the names of those staying at Ballard’s as a way to get people to stay with the hosts for the event but we’d love to see more faces in the restaurant / bar at the end of the day or out on the ice when fishing.

    I’ll be going up to Lake of the Woods 2 – 3 days in advance of the event so I can scout spots and pull together the latest intel which I’ll share as part of a de-brief with those in attendance on Thursday night before we draw the names of the guys that will fish with Joel and me. Everyone will get on good spots and have the chance at some good fishing whether they fish out of Ballard’s houses or out of their own portables.

    FYI – I’m going to leave this announcement to simmer here for a couple days to a week before I promote it over on Facebook to give IDO’ers the first crack at the available slots.

    We hope to see old friends and new faces at this Get Together! If anyone has any questions, just holler.

    JD Winston
    Inactive
    Chanhassen, MN
    Posts: 899
    #1489377

    To receive these special rates you must register your group by January 30, 20015.

    So awesome I don’t have to worry about registering for another 20,000 years and a month. I can be slow to commit sometimes. Hah! Pretty sure I’m in if I can cajole my fishing buddy into coming.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489378

    To receive these special rates you must register your group by January 30, 20015.

    So awesome I don’t have to worry about registering for another 20,000 years and a month. I can be slow to commit sometimes. Hah! Pretty sure I’m in if I can cajole my fishing buddy into coming.

    That’s so funny I’m not even going to correct the typo. rotflol

    I’d love to see you there JD. With your sense of humor you’d fit right in. waytogo

    steuben1
    Indiana
    Posts: 177
    #1489380

    14 hours 13 minutes one way say’s Google Maps for me James. Maybe one day I will get to catch up and fish with you boys.

    Certainly a great opportunity for the folks that live closer. I hope they take advantage of the opportunity! Sounds like a great time.

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    #1489384

    James !!!

    I will try and pull a group from down in our neck of the woods to sign up and join the GTG !!

    Sounds like a BLAST !!

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489394

    James !!!

    I will try and pull a group from down in our neck of the woods to sign up and join the GTG !!

    Sounds like a BLAST !!

    Koonce – I really hope you can make it… and bring the squeeler! Every good ice fishing GTG needs the squeeler to make an appearance for good luck!

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489398

    14 hours 13 minutes one way say’s Google Maps for me James. Maybe one day I will get to catch up and fish with you boys.

    Certainly a great opportunity for the folks that live closer. I hope they take advantage of the opportunity! Sounds like a great time.

    We’ve been wanting to find a way to film a show with guest hosts for some time now but we’ve struggled trying to find a way to make the logistics work. By that I mean, if we picked someone to come guest host with us and they were located, say, in Michigan, and we told them they needed to be in MPLS in the next 36 hours to go film that week’s show there’s a very good likelihood that things wouldn’t work out as jobs and wives tend to want a little more notice than that. And when you film a weekly show there’s no such thing as advanced notice.

    So it became apparent that we needed to get a pool of potential guest hosts to the location before choosing a winner. Hence this GTG. This GTG is a great way for all in attendance to fish a great lake at a fantastic time of year and save some money over what it would cost to do it outside of the IDO event. And when we draw winners we already have those people on location and ready to fish. Its a perfect solution in my opinion.

    The reason I put this all out there is if this works, and I think it will work well, our plan to is do something like this every season and move the event around the Ice Belt so people that can’t make the LOTW GTG in 2015 due to the distance could eventually have one held close(r) to their home waters.

    Long story short, if you can’t make it this time around there’s a good chance we’ll be holding the next one, or one down the road, closer to you.

    scmelik
    South Dakota
    Posts: 238
    #1489401

    this is awesome. Anyone from the sioux falls/NE south dakota area want to split fuel costs?

    belletaine
    Nevis, MN
    Posts: 5116
    #1489406

    This sounds like a great time! I plan on attending if anyone wants to share the ride and fuel cost.

    If I end up on the show I can do a presentation on untangling a birdsnest…

    Dave Ansell
    Rushford, MN
    Posts: 1572
    #1489407

    Thanks James & IDO, this sounds like a great opportunity and a lot of fun too!

    I’d love to go too but I will have some work to do to clear this at home and I would need to find someone to share the ride with. I better start working to see if I can make this happen.

    Dave

    castle-rock-clown
    Posts: 2596
    #1489409

    man I want to be there but, and there always seems to be a but, but tentatively I am supposed to be in Daytona for Bike Week the week before and possibly celebrating my birthday in Nashville that weekend of the GTG. I don’t have very reliable friend sometimes, and if they stand me up on the Daytona Nashville trip I guess I’ll be ice fishing Lake of the Woods.

    Chuck Melcher
    SE Wisconsin, Racine County
    Posts: 1966
    #1489411

    The entire package and direction sounds so well thought out. Good job James… and best of luck to all who attend. Sounds like a great time!

    lund45
    Posts: 6
    #1489421

    hey james will everyone be fishing in the same area?

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489428

    hey james will everyone be fishing in the same area?

    I’m sure all the Ballard’s houses will be in a general area but they’re not going to set people up on top of each other either so expect a reasonable amount of space between the houses. I’m going to guess that the guys that opt to fish out of portables will be running all over the place.

    I’m going to give the guys that end up fishing with Joel and me the option to fish out of a Ballard’s house or fish out of portables. Their call. I of course like to stay mobile but if the Ballard’s houses have been putting the hurt on the fish in the days leading up to the event… I won’t have any issues with that option either.

    lund45
    Posts: 6
    #1489433

    if you do bring portables what is the form of transportation on the lake?

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489436

    if you do bring portables what is the form of transportation on the lake?

    If you bring portables you’ll need your own transportation – wheeler, snowmobile, etc.

    francisco4
    Holmen, WI
    Posts: 3607
    #1489438

    Didn’t find this is in the fine print, so I am just going to throw it out. If for some unfortunate reason the ice is bad, is the deposit refundable?

    FDR

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489464

    Didn’t find this is in the fine print, so I am just going to throw it out. If for some unfortunate reason the ice is bad, is the deposit refundable?

    FDR

    I’ll check and get back to you with an official response but I’m 99.99999999% sure that if the ice is unsafe and the trip is cancelled the deposit will be refunded in full. Not that this is likely to happen given the dates… but it won’t hurt to check. Just in case. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have the scoop. waytogo

    icenutz
    Aniwa, WI
    Posts: 2534
    #1489466

    James,

    Do you know if the rates are based on double occupancy? Thinking my better half might want to go. You know she would love to fish with James and leave me alone!!!

    JD Winston
    Inactive
    Chanhassen, MN
    Posts: 899
    #1489469

    Do you know if the resort provides vegan meals that are kosher, gluten free, dairy free, egg free, shellfish free and prepared in a certified nut allergy free kitchen with an emphasis on locally grown produce that is certified organic utilizing only hemp-based kitchen uniforms with the cooks wearing hair and beard nets? Would be nice, if it’s not too much to ask that the meals are Paleo diet approved?

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489472

    Do you know if the resort provides vegan meals that are kosher, gluten free, dairy free, egg free, shellfish free and prepared in a certified nut allergy free kitchen with an emphasis on locally grown produce that is certified organic utilizing only hemp-based kitchen uniforms with the cooks wearing hair and beard nets? Would be nice, if it’s not too much to ask that the meals are Paleo diet approved?

    IF they do, I’m switching resorts. I expect heaping platters of meat with a side order of meat topped with… some sort of meat gravy. And beer.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #1489486

    Didn’t find this is in the fine print, so I am just going to throw it out. If for some unfortunate reason the ice is bad, is the deposit refundable?

    FDR

    I just received this from Gary Moeller @ Ballard’s regarding the question about bad ice and deposits.

    Gary said, “Yes. That is our policy. If we can’t fish, then the deposits are refunded, fully.”

    francisco4
    Holmen, WI
    Posts: 3607
    #1489490

    Thank you Sir!

    FDR

    castle-rock-clown
    Posts: 2596
    #1489491

    Do you know if the resort provides vegan meals that are kosher, gluten free, dairy free, egg free, shellfish free and prepared in a certified nut allergy free kitchen with an emphasis on locally grown produce that is certified organic utilizing only hemp-based kitchen uniforms with the cooks wearing hair and beard nets? Would be nice, if it’s not too much to ask that the meals are Paleo diet approved?[/quote

    so what are you saying, you want Ballards to serve McDonalds?

    on another note, if the perms are on fire with the fish, how close are we in portables allowed to fish by them. We seem to have this trouble on Castle Rock every year where there was a war between the guys in permanent shacks, and the guys running and gunning in their portables.

    bee
    Maine
    Posts: 357
    #1489517

    James would an Old guy from out east be welcome. I do have some Lobster connections.

    belletaine
    Nevis, MN
    Posts: 5116
    #1489520

    <div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JD Winston wrote:</div>

    Do you know if the resort provides vegan meals that are kosher, gluten free, dairy free, egg free, shellfish free and prepared in a certified nut allergy free kitchen with an emphasis on locally grown produce that is certified organic utilizing only hemp-based kitchen uniforms with the cooks wearing hair and beard nets? Would be nice, if it’s not too much to ask that the meals are Paleo diet approved?[/quote

    so what are you saying, you want Ballards to serve McDonalds?

    on another note, if the perms are on fire with the fish, how close are we in portables allowed to fish by them. We seem to have this trouble on Castle Rock every year where there was a war between the guys in permanent shacks, and the guys running and gunning in their portables.

    CRC, I wouldn’t think it would be a problem since we’re all on the same mission, but that’s just me.

    castle-rock-clown
    Posts: 2596
    #1489532

    I hear ya, just trying to inject some humor into some of the controversies that pop up here and there. It’s all in fun, I hope things pan out where I end up on Lake of the woods. I’ve never been there before, and the opportunity to experience it with comrades who also know the areas and techniques is priceless. Daytona will be there next year…barring any hurricanes. Lol.

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