The Walleye Lodge is now a three-season motel located on beautiful Lake Gogebic in Bergland, MI,  catering to the outdoor sports person.

The owners, Smitty and Deanna, were raised, and raised their family, in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan.  Smitty is from Negaunee and Deanna is from Ralph (both in the central UP).  We are both Northern Michigan University graduates, having lived in the UP all our lives, except Smitty who had a four year trip sponsored by Uncle Sam and the Navy, including three tours of Vietnam.

We have owned and operated the Walleye Lodge for 12 years and love what the Western UP has to offer. We are trying to sell the business but with the bad economy are having little luck.  Due to health reasons we are unable to handle the greatly increased workload the winter season requires (part of living in big snow country). We have tried managers and would do so again but Bergland is set on putting a new sewer system that will have a negative impact on an already stressed economy and could cause the demise of the Walleye Lodge.

Being in the service industry, we are the first to feel the hard times set in as Americans have to cut back on the fun part of life just to survive. We will regrettably close in early December and miss our first winter. This decision was not an easy one as we will miss our many winter guests who have supported us over the years and have built a strong friendship with the Walleye Lodge crew. Regrettably, other businesses & friends in the area will be affected by the absence of Walleye Lodge guests.  If we don’t sell we are going to try and be a seasonal business opening in May and closing in late fall.

The Walleye Lodge is located one mile west of Bergland, MI and overlooks beautiful Lake Gogebic.  Lake Gogebic consists of prime fishing waters, teeming with walleye, northern, smallmouth bass and jumbo perch, with a few sunfish, bluegill and crappie thrown in for fun (see Fishing Info). This is perhaps the finest walleye lake in Michigan.  Walleye season opens in May, and remains good to excellent throughout most of the summer, heating up in the fall for those hearty enough to brave the elements.
 
Spring is a beautiful time to visit. The rivers and falls are at their peak running wild and free.  Everything is just starting to thrive and grow.  Take a ride on any country road and see the doe’s with their fawns, an occasional bear, coyote, fox, wolf, raccoons, porcupine, skunks, birds and waterfowl of all sorts with their young.  Even Elk and Moose have been spotted.  Spring fishing is at the it’s best this time of year! 

Summer is a time to relax on the water or in it.  The temps are wonderful and the weather is beautiful.  Sun rises are breathtaking and the sunsets are fabulous!  Lots of wilderness trails let you enjoy the outdoors and look forward to another day.  Fishing is still one of our favorite past times of course!

Fall brings a whole new look to our wonderful area.  The Fall colors really start to shine by the end of September.  It becomes a photographer's dream.  Everywhere you look you see the vibrant yellows, golds, oranges, reds and burgundy’s only found in the UP. 

Fall also brings the deer, bear and ruffed grouse to the forefront of our lives as we travel the roads and trails of this near-wilderness forest land, which makes this area such a hunter’s paradise.  This is the best time to see the UP and all it has to offer.