Rock 101.5's Jim Cartwright, left, holding a fish on Lake of the Woods, (NRG Media)
BAUDETTE, Minn. — NRG Media’s 2025 Walleye Connection took place from July 20-24 at the “Walleye Capital of the World,” in northern Minnesota.
Participants who signed up for the trip received a roundtrip via motorcoach up to Ballard’s Resort on the Lake of the Woods, in the extreme north of Minnesota, the lake even shares a border between the United States and Canada.
Jim Cartwright, operations manager for the NRG Media station in Grand Island (KROR, KSYZ) and longtime voice on Rock 101.5, served as host on the trip for the participants.
Cartwright describes himself as an avid fisherman, noting he has fished in the 10,000 islands of Florida and the Gulf several times. He has managed to pull in a 12-foot hammerhead shark, blowfish, stingray, grouper, snapper, redfish, walleye, catfish among others.
However, Cartwright said he had never been north to fish for walleye on the Canadian border.
Lake of the Woods is renowned for its world-class walleye fishing, earning it the nickname “Walleye Capital of the World”. Anglers from around the globe visit to target these prized fish, and the lake offers diverse fishing opportunities throughout the year, including ice fishing and river fishing.
Cartwright said on their first day they were able to catch the fish that they ate at the lodge during the evening. The second day saw more fishing in the morning and meals of fresh wild walleye.
On the third day of the trip, Cartwright noted how he was able to catch a “huge” fish.
Aside from the fish, Cartwright said the food at Ballard’s Resort, breakfast, lunch and dinner, was among some of the best food he has ever had.
A special thanks was extended to Captain Tom with Ballard’s Resort to helped with baiting hooks and getting the group in the proper area to fish. “Everything was taken care of,” Cartwright said.
One of the best parts of the trip, Cartwright said, was making new friends and new connections with people who love fishing as much as he does.
For those looking to get a once in a lifetime experience, the 2026 Walleye Connection will be taking place on July 12-16, 2026. Look out for more details and information as it becomes available.
Find more information on Ballard’s Resort here.
