Ballard Chain of Lakes

   The Ballard Chain lies in the Town of Plum Lake in eastern Vilas County and is made up of three connected lakes: Irving, Ballard, and White Birch. Together they provide a little over 1,000 acres of water—about 419 acres on Irving, 503 acres on Ballard, and 113 acres on White Birch—linked in sequence so that water flows from Irving into Ballard and then west into White Birch as part of the Manitowish River watershed. The surrounding landscape is dominated by northern forest and low, rolling glacial terrain, giving the chain a quiet, back‑of‑the‑woods feel just a short drive from Sayner and Star Lake. These lakes are relatively shallow, clear, and productive. Ballard is a 500‑plus‑acre shallow headwater drainage lake with a maximum depth of about 25 feet and a mean depth around 9–11 feet, featuring a sand‑ and gravel‑dominated bottom and excellent water clarity for its type. Irving covers roughly 419 acres but tops out at only about 8 feet deep, while White Birch is the smallest at about 113 acres and 27 feet deep, adding a slightly deeper, cooler basin at the downstream end. Historically, a severe winterkill event in the mid‑1990s led to major fishery rehabilitation work, and today the chain supports a re‑established multi‑species fish community including musky, walleye, bass, northern pike, and panfish, with local anglers also praising it for strong fall fishing. Recreation and shoreline use lean toward low‑key, nature‑oriented cabin country. The Ballard‑Irving‑White Birch Lakes Association coordinates water‑quality monitoring, aquatic‑plant management, and habitat work, and local resorts and homeowners emphasize quiet boating, paddling, and wildlife viewing. A public boat landing on Ballard and access on Irving and White Birch make it straightforward for visitors to explore all three lakes, and paddlers often highlight the narrow channel between White Birch and Ballard as a particularly tranquil stretch surrounded by mixed hardwoods and pines. For guests who want a modest‑sized, connected chain with clear water, good fishing, and a strong sense of community stewardship, the Ballard Chain is a small but appealing Northwoods gem.