Kurt's Island Sport Shop

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!   Last report of 2025…Looks like the easy stuff is over for a while!  Last week’s mild temps and lack of snow on the ice coupled with a 7-10” ice thickness average (some up to 12”-others still in the 5-6” range) made for great fishing and catching!  Biggest concern was staying upright.  The warmth and rain made it critical to have creepers on the snowless ice – but that should end by the time this report gets out!  Lots of warm snow will most likely create a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Wild swings in the weather, last weekend’s sub teens to midweek warm up and rain, to sub temps and incredibly high winds have really made for a fish when you can “challenge”.  Action picked up nicely after the weekend of arctic blast.  Then Saturdays (12/20) front, by mid-morning, slammed the bite OFF!  Winds and swirling snow kept most anglers away, those that did tough it out had little to nothing to show for their bravery (foolishness)!   Walleye:  Good-F

We survived an early season artic blast (sub-teen temps) over the weekend.  Not good for getting on the ice when wind chills hit 30 below and lower.  Good part is ice building and except for some areas covered with snow mounds (not good ice below) and some larger lakes (only 4” or so).  Most reports coming in have thickness of 6-8” and building.   Walleye:  Very Good-Good – Still shallow and weed related.  Shiners, both golden and river, working best in water as little as 4’

OK, It’s getting started!!   Not all lakes yet!  Trout, Fence and parts of similar large, deep lakes still not iced.  Yet enough 3-6” of good walkable ice to allow foot traffic on many of the popular, easy access ice season favorites.   Walleye:  Very Good – Shallow weeds of 4-8’, especially after dark, using medium shiners in standing cabbage.  Fish of the short week – 27 ½” caught and released by Even of Newbold, caught during the middle of the day!   Bluegill:  Very Good –