Kurt's Island Sport Shop

As we wrap up the month of March, everyone is wondering when is open water coming?  Are they still ice fishing?  Can I drive my 4-wheeler out still?  Well first off, winter doesn’t seem to want to let up, snow and cold are forecasted for the first week of April, so not open water in sight for the near future.  Yes, people are still out ice fishing.  Some reports of 20”+ still, not all solid of course.  The last few days were warm and north shore lines are sloppy with some ice

It’s hard to tell we got hit with a blizzard last week!  Three days of 50°+ and most traces of that snow are gone! Anglers still finding their way across the ice.  The snow cover protected the ice from the warmth, but now that’s gone.  The melting snow has been seeping into the ice.  Plus side…little to no slush, the negative side…top 6-8” of the 17-23” reported getting punky.  A few landings on the North sides of lakes pulling away due to melting from blacktop accesses.  Onc

In case anyone needed a reminder of what winter can be like…in March!  Blizzard conditions Sunday and Monday (3/15 & 3/16) completely shut fishing (and nearly all other) activity down.  While we didn’t get the 30”+ like the did from Wausau east, the 12-14” on top of the 8-9” on Friday (3/13) was enough.  Fishing reports from the break on Saturday (3/14) were few, but encouraging. Yellow Perch:  Good-Bad (Bad being shut down) – Schools or more like small “pods” of Perch in num

Ice still holding on here in the North.  Despite some warm temps melting down the top layer, most lakes still holding on to 18-24”.  The top 6” or so is punky.  Melt has worked its way down, causing the top third of the ice to be white and porous.  Below ice looks good.  Lots of water on the top layer, but that should seep through and firm up with some coming cold (single digit) nights. Yellow Perch:  Very Good – Be mobile or patient!  Schools roaming in 15-30’.  Tungsten or