2026 Annual Picnic and Board Meeting
Food • Friends • Lake Community
Don't miss the fun! Bring the family, swap stories, play games
and hear what’s new around Island and Mud lakes.
​
-
Saturday, July 25th—moved to the weekend after Emily Days!
-
Levi’s Field on Walworth Rd
-
4pm Social time/games
-
5pm Potluck meal
-
Annual meeting follows potluck
The Association will provide pulled pork, hot dogs, brats, buns, chips, and water. Please bring a dish to share, your preferred beverages, and lawn chairs.
​
Door Prizes • Games • Raffle
Enter to win door prizes and guessing games for gift certificates from local businesses like Emily Meats, Sweets N Such and Emily Ace Hardware. There is a new, sawdust treasure dig for the kids! Looking for some friendly competition—play the bean bag toss game.
Plus, get in on the raffle* for a custom Island Mud Lakes cribbage broad (>$100 retail value) donated to Patrice Bogart by Chris Peterson of cribbageandgifts.com.
-
1 ticket for $1
-
8 tickets for $5
-
16 tickets for $10
Stay for our brief, annual meeting. Topics include:
-
Fire safety/awareness tips from Blair Mileski,
-
Quick IMLPOA update
-
Vote on a slate of new board members
*Raffle proceeds go to the IMLPOA, a 501(c) non-profit organization.
Ice Cream Day on the Lake
The 2026 Ice Cream Social will be on
August 8, 2026 from 1pm to 4pm (or until the ice cream is gone). Check back this Summer for more information on the location.
In 2025, several adults and more than 20 children and teens came by boat, pontoon, kayak, paddleboat, and paddleboard to reach The Ice Cream Social Pontoon, parked from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm near the sandbar on Island Lake! The weather was glorious and the ice cream cold... all in all an awesome day!
Go Exploring: Island Mud Lakes Geocaches
​
Back for 2026 is the Island Mud Lakes Geocache hunt. This year there are three IMLPOA Geocaches!
​
​Use your GPS devices to find our hidden caches. When you find one, sign the sheet inside.
There will be a special prize drawing at the annual picnic for those who reported finding all three geocaches.
​
Here are the GPS coordinates and clues:
-
N46.687310; W093.904624; I say a little prayer for you
-
N46.685871, W093.895789; Operator can you help me place this call
-
N46.686976, W093.893121; Like a bridge over troubled water
​
​Have fun exploring and good luck!
2027 Island Mud Lake
Fishing Contest
​​
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2027
When: 7am to 3pm;
4pm awards presentation at the public access landing
Enter: Contact Lora Strey with adult anglers' names; youths' names and ages​
Rules:
-
There are two contest divisions:
-
Adult (age 15+).
-
Junior (age 14 and under).
-
-
Each angler may register multiple fish per species: Northern, Bass and Walleye; Juniors can also submit Panfish (Crappie/ Sunfish).
-
Remember the “slot” restrictions apply for Northerns between 22” & 26”.
-
However, you still can register your catch with the appropriate photo and info!
-
You are encouraged to keep the smaller Northerns to promote a healthier fish population.
-
-
Prizes are awarded for the largest fish by species in each division.​
​​
How to Register a Catch:
-
Contact Lora Strey with the following information:
-
Adult angler's name; youth angler's name and age
-
Description (species & length) of the fish
-
Photo of the fish clearly displaying its length next to a tape measure
-
Photo of angler holding the fish
2026 Fishing
Contest Results
(July 3, 2026)​
Adult
-
Walleye - None caught this year
-
Northern - 33" by Mary Schelling
-
Bass - 19" by Josh Schelling ​​
-
Bass - 18" by Scott Savitt
Youth
-
Northern - 31.75" by Cash K. (10)
-
Bowfin* - 27" by Miles W. (10)
-
Bass - 15" by Jax S. (10)
-
Bass - 16" by Sam S. (10)
-
Bass - 16" by Mia G. (11)
-
Crappie - 10" by Isaac S. (12)​
​​
* Youth walleye category substitute​
July 4th Boat Parade​
Show off your holiday spirit on the water. Grab your American flag, decorate your pontoon, fishing boat, or speed boat and join the parade! Festive outfits and music are encouraged, though not required. Let’s see if we can top last year’s record turnout of 29 boats!
​
• Sunday, July 4, 2027
• Gather near the public access around 12:45pm.
• Parade begins at 1:00pm.
If you're watching from the dock, cheer our boaters to join the celebration.
Non-Sanctioned Fun!!!
Music at the End of the Road
You’re invited to a relaxed lakeside concert — featuring piano solos, duets, and cello-piano pieces.
This 5th Annual Labor Day concert is sponsored by Donna Hastings and Jonathan Geiger.
​
• When: 3 to 5pm; Sept. 5, 2026.
• Where: 36205 Whitewater Road.
• Dress: lake-casual.
• Bring: a chair, shareable snacks or your favorite
beverage.
​
RSVP to Donna Hastings at 701-330-2586
(call/text) or donnah701@gmail.com.
​
Freewill donations support future student concerts.
Buetow-Staples Hunters' Boohay and Winter Fishing Contest
Last November, Morgan and Cullum Buetow-Staples sponsored a tasty Hunters' Booyah. It was chance for cabin neighbors and fellow hunters to swap stories about the lake, hunting and the woods. Morgan and Cullum are gauging interest for a 2026 Hunters' Booyah. Please connect with Morgan, if you're interest.
​​
On January 16, 2026, the first annual Buetow-Staples Bragging Rights ice Fishing Contest
was held on Island and Mud Lakes. It was all about
friendly competition and fun—and yes, prizes for
the biggest fish by species.
A traveling trophy (created by Chuck Pettipiece)
was also awarded for the overall biggest fish.
Winners were celebrated during potluck at the
Swatosch's cabin.
The winners were:
-
12" Crappie - Marty Erdman
(Swatosch/Miller party).
-
31" Northern & Traveling Trophy - Jason Leighton-Johnson (Nordahl party).​
Look for information this Winter about the 2026/2027 Winter Fishing Contest.​