Reprint of a story published in Midwest Outdoors.
Midwest Outdoors:
January 2002 issue By Bob Holzhei
The fishing action at Nagagami Lake consistently produced walleye in the 18
to 21 inch range and when a 12 or 13 inch perch hit on the floating 1/4 inch
lead head jig topped with a minnow, I wasn't sure if another nice walleye was
on until the fish was reeled to the surface. Orange, green or white lead head
jigs produced consistent action, and time of day didn't matter to the hungry
fish.
It took Ed Stubelt from St. Joseph, Michigan 45 minutes to boat a 41 inch
northern pike topping the scales at just over 15 pounds. Of course, Ed is
having the fish mounted and Brad Walton cut a board long enough to attach
that pike to, in order to freeze it and transport it home for mounting.
Just what is the secret to running a successful fishing camp?
"You've got to talk to customers and be out front" stated Rob Walton who
owns the camp with his wife Donna.
"One year a customer needed batteries, so I flew to town and got him the
batteries. Another time we ran out of minnows so I flew to town, bought more
minnows, landed next to the boat so they could continue fishing" stated Rob
Walton.
One customer said "You're doing too much for us" "It's your holiday," Walton
replied.
It was obvious in talking with the Walton's one afternoon following a buffet
shore lunch featuring walleye, baked beans, carrot salad, homemade bread,
and relishes that teamwork within this family was a key element in the camp's
success.
"My wife's the axle, and I'm the wheel" stated Walton,
It's obvious that son and daughter Brad and Pam Walton are important spokes
that make that wheel go round. They run to meet your boat as you return from
fishing, help you tie up, and then clean the catch of the day.
Walton's Kay Vee Lodge located on the 13,500 acre lake with 33 miles of
shoreline was our destination where a fishing adventure of a lifetime awaited.
It didn't take long to locate the fish either, and anglers that brought a GPS with
them did incredibly well on both walleye and perch. Anglers are limited to
taking six walleye home and there is no limit on the number of jumbo perch
you can take back.
Rob and Donna Walton, who with the help of of their son Brad and daughter
Pam, operate the lodge offering both a housekeeping and an all inclusive
American plan featuring three, four or seven day packages.
An underlying philosophy of customer service, friendliness and honesty keep
bringing anglers back to this fishing hot spot. The Walton's just don't pass out
a lake chart marking the fishing hot spots; they make a point of personally
taking you there, and putting you right on top of the fish. Anglers travel from
Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Germany. Many anglers re-book future fishing
trips years in advance to insure an opening.
Fishing Nagagami Lake, an Indian word meaning "big water", must be a stop
on the way to heaven. The fishing action, accommodations, food, and service
provided by the Walton family was unmatched. Although we were guests, the
Walton's treated us like an extension of their own family, and as my wife
Shirley and I left Nagagami Lake, the Walton's had become and extension of
our family.