Sturdy B, short for Sturdy Barb, is a fictional version of Mattel’s Barbie® doll and the nickname of Ellen Waalkes, Martin’s wife. As Sturdy B, Ellen revels in the “sturdy” role contrasting with her twin sister’s Fashion Barbie® style. The name suits both Ellen and the adventuresome and hardy spirit needed for fishing in Lake Michigan.

Starting as adventures shared among friends, cousins Martin Waalkes and Captain Clyde Richardson formalized their years-long hobby of Great Lakes fishing into a charter business, Waalkes Sportfishing, LLC, to share the experience with others. Captain Clyde secured a US coast Guard Captains license in the spring of 2025, and the Sturdy B, a 2023 Extreme GameKing, passed inspections to be a MI Licensed Charter Boat in August, 2025.

Martin notes, “We just wanted to make a way for our fishing hobby to more accessible to our communities and saw getting the Charter License as a way of making it safe and accessible to more people.” We welcome people of all levels of experience. Some join us for a great day on the water and to try something new, others are experienced but interested in exploring a different kind of fishing or are returning to big lake fishing after a time away.

The Sturdy B is based out of Whitehall, MI, just 1 hour from Grand Rapids, MI. Trips are about 6 hours long, departing in time to see the sunrise on morning trips, or evening trips that catch the beautiful Lake Michigan sunsets. The Sturdy B can take up to 4 charter customers. The fishing is trolling, where the fishing lines are pulled behind the boat and customers take turns reeling the fish to the boat. The fish, King (Chinook) Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, and Lake Trout, put up a great fight and make even better dinners. The main joy is time with friends on the water. Lake Michigan makes great memories.