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Sportsman Authority

The outdoors belongs to everyone who shows up.

Sportsman Authority is for everyone who hunts, fishes, and lives the outdoor life. Research-backed guides, honest gear reviews, and lake condition references built from public data, starting with the hardwater season.

16,006 lakes · 2 states · USGS + NWS + NOAA · sourced and dated

Live from the report · Lake Monona, WI

Jul 18, 9:56 PM CDT

Water temperature (USGS)

81.7 F

Air (KMSN)

75 F

Gage height

4.82 ft

Full conditions

Built for the 2026-27 hardwater season.

The Ice & Water Report covers 16,006 named lakes with observed government data where it exists and a transparent freeze model everywhere else, every page sourced and dated. Around it: ice fishing gear reviewed with published methodology, women's fits covered as standard, and the full sportsman's year, open water, hunting accessories, UTV setups, heated gear, arriving season by season.

One thing you will never read here is that ice is safe. Ice is never one hundred percent safe; we publish what the data shows and the drill decides.