Kurt's Island Sport Shop

Ice out is only days away.  The pond behind the shop is halfway open and probably by the end of the day will all be open water.  Rain along with 60°+ days forecasted this week will bring ice fishing to an end, if it hasn’t already.  No fishing reports to share this week, just nobody fishing.   Our April line sale is still going on thru the 26 th  of the month.  Now’s the time to spool up and save.

Ice fishing looks to be coming to an end.  This past week with ice, heavy wet snow and wind really took its toll on ice conditions.  Northern shorelines are deteriorating fast and ice, where one can get out, is very sloppy.  Warmer weather and rain in the next few days will make it even more difficult for one to safely get out.  Very few people going out and in turn, very few reports on fishing.  The few anglers I talked to said one had to work to get fish.  The weather front

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

As of the closing bell (midnight 3/1) of the inland gamefish season, reports from anglers vying for the last Walleye, Northern Pike or Largemouth Bass of the ice season varied.  Northern Pike reports were very good, mainly early and late in the day.  Largemouth Bass made their presence known as temps crept up over 20° and Walley were for the most part an evening bite.  The surprising reports were that Bluegill and Yellow Perch outshined Crappies this past week, we’ll have to

The weekend had some cold, wind, and snow…not like the tropical weather of the previous weekend…but still fishable if not as comfortable.  Anglers found the previous weather did little to the ice thickness, still 24-28” average with some lakes over 30”.  Snow on the ice mostly from the every other day flurries, about 4-5” on average.  Reports mostly of “windows” of activity, but good when you’re at the right place at the right time. Yellow Perch:  Good-Very Good – Most over m

Should have been here last week! 5 days of highs in the 40s. Little wind, (too much sun, but us vitamin D starved Wisconsinites will take it) along with the great fishing opportunities (as long as you got to the right lake).   Getting (on and off) certain lakes has been a drawback. Melting, piled up, snow has made access tough on some lakes. Once on the lake's, travel has been great as melting snow levels are low, 2-3 inches and slush hardly an issue. The melting snow seems t

Not bad for moving into mid-February.  Ice is good, slush nearly nonexistent and snow cover in the 4-5” range in the Lakeland Area.  Easy enough for truck, UTV, ATV, snowmobile and walking traffic!  The further North you go, don’t expect as easy of travel as there is more snow, but still fairly good travel is reported. Fishing picked up mid-week, faltered a little on Friday (plus it was windy) then made a slight improvement before a stall mid-day Saturday (2/7) and then a muc