20-year-old recovered from Chequamegon Bay identified

Update as of January 22: The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office has identified the 20-year-old male victim as Harlow Pruess. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Pruess family and friends as they grieve the
loss of their loved one,” read statement from the office.

Original Story: At 12:16 am on Sunday, the Ashland-Bayfield Emergency Communication Center received a call from someone whose friend was late joining them while ice fishing on Chequamegon Bay. The missing male, 20, was reportedly on a snowmobile.

The missing man is from Ashland, and his last known communication was at 9:03 pm on Saturday. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ashland Fire Department, Ashland Police Department, and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office began searching for the man.

According to the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, the man was found deceased at approximately 10 am on Sunday. He was in open water.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. The identity of the deceased ice angler is being withheld pending notification of his family.