IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Massachusetts => Ice Fishing Massachusetts => Topic started by: xklipze on Jan 02, 2022, 09:19 PM
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So sad to see this website fizzle away like MySpace and Kmart
What the heck is going on?
Where did everyone go?
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Out looking for ice?
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I haven't been here that long maybe 3 years so I probably missed this sites heyday but it seems fairly active considering there's been no ice this year. All the folks that just like to blow up spots and beg for ice reports have moved on to Facebook because its unfortunately more tolerated there.
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Yup spot burners and freedom of speech issues is what I hear from friends/members. Facebook shouldn't even be used by Americans. Its slightly worse than here. This site is slowly being left with only Karen's andlwingers
I agree with you up its sad
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The site has been hemorrhaging active users for over A decade. Obviously climate change has been a factor but the biggest contributor to the downfall is the fact that the message board format is untenable. There is no spot burning on a quilting message board and those type of boards failed as well
Im amazed this place held on as long as it did. Its a testament to the greatness of ice fiahing
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Never thought climate change could be part of it, in my area ice fishing is growing, so you’d think activity would pick up.
Social media and especially Facebook groups are where people are posting now. If you ask my kids what a message board is, I don’t think they would know what I was talking about. Most people I’m seeing post on FB don’t want reviews or tips, they want to know exactly where to go what bait, etc.
it will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years, of all the younger people I know, say ages 15-24, they don’t use Facebook and have no interest. Maybe people will migrate back to message boards(?)
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I dont really post anywhere but here and catfish1.and its never lake names or spots.i will give tips and techniques here and more if i see a guy struggle at a lake.thats the first step in fishing.get in yer ride,get to the lake and try fishing.i have zero tolerance for a couch hot spot lurker that wants to put in no effort and waits for someone to drop a hot bite and name the lake.i think thats why new members dont like it here,most of us are seasoned and know better to post all that on the web.and most have been here so long that we are internet buds and just shoot the sh$t about anything.i just joined fb again, but just for airbrush and lure making.few other groups.im not into drama or i will delete fb again.
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I mean it is an ice fishing forum and there is no ice
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I mean it is an ice fishing forum and there is no ice
I guess if yer looking for lotsa silly social psychobabble, go to buttbook or any of the other silly social sites.
Lack of ice everywhere = no fishing, no fish, no fish pics, and fewer questions being posted.
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my ice fishing season is either non existent or a period of 7 days in February in southeast MA if I am lucky, the rest of the winter I just come on here to bust balls so I dont go crazy. The reality is this MA page should be changed to Berkshire County because the 4 guys from there are the only ones doing any real ice fishing consistently
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been here for 5 years and enjoy the banter, i like the story's the questions and learning and sharing, but most of all like seeing whats going on in our little world of ice fishing. thanks to all that post here ;D
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I've always considered it a mostly seasonal message board. I'm not sure about the broader site losing users but once the ice sets up there's enough activity to keep my interest up for the season.
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I dont really post anywhere but here and catfish1.and its never lake names or spots.i will give tips and techniques here and more if i see a guy struggle at a lake.thats the first step in fishing.get in yer ride,get to the lake and try fishing.i have zero tolerance for a couch hot spot lurker that wants to put in no effort and waits for someone to drop a hot bite and name the lake.i think thats why new members dont like it here,most of us are seasoned and know better to post all that on the web.and most have been here so long that we are internet buds and just shoot the sh$t about anything.i just joined fb again, but just for airbrush and lure making.few other groups.im not into drama or i will delete fb again.
Ohh cmon doc gimme your spots.... Im in a chair not on the couch its safe lol....
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Ohh cmon doc gimme your spots.... Im in a chair not on the couch its safe lol....
lol with a name like doeslayer...nope jk
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Facebook hurt it for sure, pre FB this site, and a few others were very active. At one point it was way easier on FB to post pics and videos, you can post an item for sale without getting your thread deleted, and the arguments/drama are a lot more funnier imo. Both sites have their pros and cons.
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Been a member since 08 prob the peak of the great posts and was lurking before. I have to say alot of spots were burned and the og posters still watch but won't post pics anymore I don't blame them
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Yup spot burners and freedom of speech issues is what I hear from friends/members. Facebook shouldn't even be used by Americans. Its slightly worse than here. This site is slowly being left with only Karen's andlwingers
I agree with you up its sad
Hello friend... it's funny. I just tried to give you a Like 👍 and there was no Like button. I read all the comments....
It appears the owner of ice shanty made it hard to be a member with a difficult to use platform.
The possibilities are endless... but it appears this website has turned into Blockbuster video.
The old days on this site were truly amazing... I'm chasing that feeling and it's never gonna happen...
As soon as Smart Phones & social media became popular this website nose dived... this site took off with the camera phones and died with the smart phone era....
There isn't even a Like button !!!! lol.
Northeast Shooters has a Like button!
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Hello friend... it's funny. I just tried to give you a Like 👍 and there was no Like button. I read all the comments....
It appears the owner of ice shanty made it hard to be a member with a difficult to use platform.
The possibilities are endless... but it appears this website has turned into Blockbuster video.
The old days on this site were truly amazing... I'm chasing that feeling and it's never gonna happen...
As soon as Smart Phones & social media became popular this website nose dived... this site took off with the camera phones and died with the smart phone era....
There isn't even a Like button !!!! lol.
Northeast Shooters has a Like button!
The like button here says "REPLY " if we like a post we comment, if we don't MOST of us move on.
Reading all of these comments, some of the people responding are why I don't share as much info on open forum.
When I was newer to the site I was asked to take some kids fishing cuz dad has some important stuff to do. Strangers kids from this site. SURE. I'd love to teach them. Show up to the pond and theres the two kids and Dad fishing away. Dad was juat using his kids as a pawn to trick me into giving up my spot. So no more meet me at this pond, at this time unless I know you
I still love ICESHANTY, 2 years in a row I asked for a IS Hoodie and Santa forgot
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first i would say no ice..no posts. i bet within 10 years, Mass will not have winter ice except for a few spots.
site has become more of a chat room with fewer fishing pics.
too many people looking for spots that do not want to put in the effort. took the 'older' crew years of driving around to find good ponds...newbies nope. did you know you phone pics provide GPS location in the embedded code?
i have been on the ice for 50+ years as have the other G.O.D.S. old school rules do not apply anymore, spot burning especially. we shared our spots amongst ourselves, we would never bring anyone else there. we still go fishing after all these years..some of the best group of guys i know.
my fav bass pond was ruined decades ago meeting up with a newbie on this site. next weekend he was there with friends, posting pictures and pond name. next week there were 10 guys out there.
caught few big fish last year..did not post here..not worth it anymore. >:(
burp
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my ice fishing season is either non existent or a period of 7 days in February in southeast MA if I am lucky, the rest of the winter I just come on here to bust balls so I dont go crazy. The reality is this MA page should be changed to Berkshire County because the 4 guys from there are the only ones doing any real ice fishing consistently
X2
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The site has changed over the years but I still enjoy it. I've met a lot of great people through this forum and have learned more than I could imagine. TBH I think with social media people expect to see 100s of active posts with people posting pictures every few minutes but that's not reality, its Instagram or Facebook.
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it aint like old times.. lots of factors, lack of ice bring one of them.. myself, I've just migrated north to New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. Instead of the old days when i went north to extend the season.. i just go north early.
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Agree Pat I have made some solid connections here. People ill fush with till the end of time. I also agree that some folks with short attention spans and desire for instant gratification may not find the amount of spot burning they are looking for here.
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Made a lot of connections on here when I first joined. It was a very active forum then despite all of the drama I think it was one of the major reason that drove the OGs away from site. I still keep in touch with them til this day. Most of the conversations are now through text messages and phone calls.
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Yup spot burners and freedom of speech issues is what I hear from friends/members. Facebook shouldn't even be used by Americans. Its slightly worse than here. This site is slowly being left with only Karen's andlwingers
I agree with you up its sad
But at least they don't have the bearded people in Mass! :roflmao:
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I'm sure there are many seasonal participants like myself that only check in once I start getting on the ice and disappear with the ice at the end of the season.
Without ice there's just less interest.
I wasn't gonna post until I got on the ice myself but started lurking a week or two ago to start getting in the groove.
I definitely agree that compared to modern forms of social media, the old forum format is cumbersome. I'm not a youngster but I do prefer the faster, shorter, more streamlined mode of communication. I'd much rather see a bunch of "likes" for a post than have to scroll through 5 pages of "nice fish" posts.
One last thing I will say, and I'll probably get my balls busted, but IS in general is not a very friendly place anymore. The ball busting and hazing of newer members can be pretty off putting. Sometimes it kinda seems like it's more of a private club where new members are not desired and the same few guys try to out do each other in driving people away.
Not all the regional forums are like that but enough do seem that way.
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I use the site from November to about March then hang it up. Unless we get lucky this year and have ice longer than that, then I'll hang around a touch longer.
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For me (I am now the old get off my lawn guy) it is climate change. Here in the lower half of Michigan I used to ice fish from early/mid December through mid March. The new normal is mid January if lucky and we do not get any rain, and then done before March even gets here. Just not right getting rain in January.
On a positive note, this years ice (started last Saturday) is perfect hard ice. Perfect for fishing (with creepers) and teaching the grand kids how to lace up and hit the lake for some pond hockey....gonna be Joe Louis Arena quality ice.
Plan to spud my way to some fish this weekend.
Peace to all.
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Lack of ice is a big factor. As Mikez said, the ball busting (aside from the kidding) makes this site unfriendly. Lack of respect. if a newbie asks what you consider an obvious question, they are oftentimes answered with mean spirited comments and the admins/moderators let it happen. The Facebook pages have rules and admins that watch comments. Many of them have rules such as "...be kind, show respect, no abusive comments, ...."
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Let’s also mention the majority of new members are millennials that want an experience and instant gratification when they go on the ice, they don’t want to just sit there all day and put the time in, it needs to be instant success
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Let’s also mention the majority of new members are millennials that want an experience and instant gratification when they go on the ice, they don’t want to just sit there all day and put the time in, it needs to be instant success
it's not about when you were born it's about how you were raised.i was born in 85 so technically a millennial, but I was raised by my grandparents, so I wasn't raised like one.
But that aside Most people in life are selfish and rude. I've worked in automotive customer service my whole adult life and people are just nasty...even some of the ones who fish.
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it's not about when you were born it's about how you were raised.i was born in 85 so technically a millennial, but I was raised by my grandparents, so I wasn't raised like one.
But that aside Most people in life are selfish and rude. I've worked in automotive customer service my whole adult life and people are just nasty...even some of the ones who fish.
Truth be told here... spot on.
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I've met a lot of old dudes on the ice and asked them where they're from, how they heard about the spot, etc. And most of the time they aren't local and heard about it on Facebook. I really don't think its an age thing at all. Post a trophy fish with location online and I'll bet you its not just young guys there the next day.
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I've met a lot of old dudes on the ice and asked them where they're from, how they heard about the spot, etc. And most of the time they aren't local and heard about it on Facebook. I really don't think its an age thing at all. Post a trophy fish with location online and I'll bet you its not just young guys there the next day.
This old dude's never been on face book.. and never will be.
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I met someone named Will on the counterpart of this website, Myfishfinder, and even though we had never met before he took me out for a few hours on his boat on pristine Quabbin reservoir in Massachusetts. No way could I have launched my boat even though I had it with me, as no kayaks are allowed there, and even regular boats have to be steam cleaned and inspected on certain dates.
This was while I was on vacation 850 miles from my home. He refused compensation. So yes I have met some good people on these forums and even Facebook.
On Facebook I can block all the rude jerks and have done so with over 70. Now my page is friends only and very tranquil. At times I wish I could have blocked a few here and on Myfishfinder.
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This old dude's never been on face book.. and never will be.
If you start posting on facebook I stop fishin with ya Joe... ok, maybe not but you know what I mean lol...
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Been on here for 6 years or so. Definitely seems a bit slower than it was back then but there's still decent activity once the ice gets here. A couple things that I think have effected some of the posting are the increased popularity of facebook groups. I know the adirondacks have 4-6 different groups at least talking about ice fishing conditions. Some of those groups have 15k+ people. Ice fishing has also increased in popularity and with that, decreased participation in groups such as these. Most people I know have been burned at one point or another after trying to help a stranger and dont lose that foul taste in their mouth very quickly. With more people, more pressure comes, fishing success tends to decrease, and spots/ early ice all become that more competitive. I know im much less open than i was back then. That being said, without sites like these, i wouldn't have met a majority of people that i absolutely love fishing with regularly and who also showed me the ropes when i was a greenhorn. Always will be thankful for the IS community
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Though I joined here in 2009, I only really started using the site a couple years ago. That was after a couple local fishing forums dwindled down to a fraction of what they were 10-15 years ago. Mostly because of people moving to Facebook and Instagram. I'm still surprised by the number of ice anglers still on here everyday.
Most teens and young adults these days have little patience for this kind of thing, with pic sharing and resulting "likes" being the new m.o. The resulting explosion of people ice fishing was only compounded by our idiotic govt to impose some of the strictest covid shutdowns on the continent.
Personally, I'm off Facebook since a few months, save for the few odd occasions I got on there to check some early ice reports in targeted groups. Simply too much of a time vacuum, and wasted energy dealing with stupid people arguing politics, or posting pictures of every meal they eat.
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I have no issues with the site in its current formate or how it was back in the day. I even offered to buy the site from Scott. Something Im still interested in. If Reddit (essentially a giant forum) can exist so can IceShanty. The site needs SEO enhancements so that it comes up in any search related to ice fishing. Also, a few of the surfcasting forums I use to visit had strict anti spot burning policies. Those are good measures to protect specific locations from being overtly exploited when good reports roll in. End of the day if someone doesnt like it here, the door isnt locked from the inside.
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....if someone doesnt like it here, the door isnt locked from the inside.
I guess ultimately that's the answer to the question "what happened to the forum?".
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I guess ultimately that's the answer to the question "what happened to the forum?".
Lets look at it from a different angle....see new sponsors? Yup bunch of them. Why would a business pay ad money on a dying site? There's still enough traction here for it to be profitable and the number of sponsors show that.
I agree with what was posted earlier, there may not be enough instant gratification material to win over new users but that depends on what types of users you are trying to attract. I know more people who fish that never and will never touch social media. They have a home here.
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If you start posting on facebook I stop fishin with ya Joe... ok, maybe not but you know what I mean lol...
Theres a better chance of AA telling a certain "tattle tale" " he's sorry than me, looking at, joining or posting on FB.. ain't gonna happen...
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Lets look at it from a different angle....see new sponsors? Yup bunch of them. Why would a business pay ad money on a dying site? There's still enough traction here for it to be profitable and the number of sponsors show that.
I agree with what was posted earlier, there may not be enough instant gratification material to win over new users but that depends on what types of users you are trying to attract. I know more people who fish that never and will never touch social media. They have a home here.
Good points. Would also like to add that this site has to have the biggest and most collectively experienced group of die hard ice warriors in North America, and probably the entire planet. Not everyone is here trying to look for quick and easy info on the latest hot spots.
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Very well said.
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x2 :clap: :flex: :thumbsup:
:icefish: :icefish: :icefish:
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X3
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Lets look at it from a different angle....see new sponsors? Yup bunch of them. Why would a business pay ad money on a dying site? There's still enough traction here for it to be profitable and the number of sponsors show that.
I never thought of it that way. I suppose you're right.
IS is still pretty big. Some of the sub forums are busy. Obviously enough to be profitable as you said.
I guess if some of the regional forums taper off to just being the same half a dozens guys it doesn't really matter so long the other forums draw enough hits to make $$$.
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Good points. Would also like to add that this site has to have the biggest and most collectively experienced group of die hard ice warriors in North America, and probably the entire planet. Not everyone is here trying to look for quick and easy info on the latest hot spots.
Agree completely. Ice warriors, nice touch!
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Everyone thinks they have The Spot and are so worried it will be burnt. Additionally try asking for help about ice conditions you’ll get lectured about how you need to drive to check spots on your own and burn your own gas. somethings been lost. Kind of thought that was the point of the site to share information and help each other out
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I was here back in the late 90's and early 2000's. Then we moved and opened a convenience store and cafe". It took all our time so no fishing and I stayed away. I came back after we sold and the dynamic of this site has changed, i think all the social platforms changed that. This is still a great site or I would not have paid to be here and continued to just surf free.
Yes, ice conditions are not given as freely as they once were. Was nice to know without driving 2 hours to only find out its a no go, but at the same time, spots with early ice are not getting flooded with people like they were.
Information pertaining to our sport is still given freely and I have gained a wealth of knowledge that would have taken years of trial and error to have acquired. For this I thank you all.
Years ago, if you told 1 person about a hot bite, 3 may show up. Now with all the networking, you tell 1, and hordes of people are flocking to the spot. We have done it to ourselves allowing the generations coming up that they are entitled to everything with no effort or work needs to be put forth.
Rant over, tight lines everyone and hope to meet some of you on the ice.
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Yup, I posted on a local small site about a quiet hot spot...next day it looked like this. Social media, baa. >:(
(https://i.postimg.cc/c634cTZM/Brainerd-Ice-Fishing-Contest.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/c634cTZM)
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Everyone thinks they have The Spot and are so worried it will be burnt. Additionally try asking for help about ice conditions you’ll get lectured about how you need to drive to check spots on your own and burn your own gas. somethings been lost. Kind of thought that was the point of the site to share information and help each other out
This is just wrong and part of the issue imo, for all the reasons mentioned below about crowds and personal responsibility. It’s my job to figure out what ice conditions are at a given place then give you the all clear to bring your crew? Wrong
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Yes!stop the entitlement mentality.find your own spots and become a better fisherman for the effort.
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You guys couldn’t have made my point any better. Where’s the brotherhood. Have no sense of entitlement personally just always looking to help a fellow fisherman.
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Additionally you could always try something different and help a fellow human being it feels great.
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Yes!stop the entitlement mentality.find your own spots and become a better fisherman for the effort.
What irks me is some knob asks "is the ice thick enough at wingnut lake?" Good god, yer gonna maybe trust yer life to what someone posts on the internet??! That's why folks fall thru the ice! You want to fish it, get out there and check it out! Don't ask social media for facts ! ::)
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Additionally you could always try something different and help a fellow human being it feels great.
AOC would be proud, I stand by what I said, not my responsibility to do the work for you, happy to discuss rigging, and the ins and outs but ask me to post where and how much on a public forum no chance
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You guys couldn’t have made my point any better. Where’s the brotherhood. Have no sense of entitlement personally just always looking to help a fellow fisherman.
Really..brotherhood.. you mean the clown and flying monkey show that shows up with a half a dozen guys,parks in front of people's houses, blocks entrances, peppers the area 6' from you, leaves dead fish on the ice and mounds of trash everywhere.. Oh THAT brotherhood
..
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Really..brotherhood.. you mean the clown and flying monkey show that shows up with a half a dozen guys,parks in front of people's houses, blocks entrances, peppers the area 6' from you, leaves dead fish on the ice and mounds of trash everywhere.. Oh THAT brotherhood
^^like
..
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I post alot here and would like to think half are tips and techniques that guys could use and go out and catch fish,however im not into dropping a hot bite or lake name on the web.
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Also, a few of the surfcasting forums I use to visit had strict anti spot burning policies.
Been saying this for years. There's a lot of actual legit FB groups that understand this. But up here in Montana, if you want to see the potlickers loose their minds, bring this concept up. I mean how can we help people if we don't give them exact coordinates???
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I help people all the time but I use my brain while doing so. Telling someone you had a good day on Quaboag pond in February hurts no one. Pointing a guy in the right direction for ice via PM hurts no one. Posting openly about small early ice ponds that can't take the pressure is just dumb and not cool to the people that used a tank of gas and put themselves at risk to check them. I was fishing on ice in late December a stones throw from CT in south central MA. If I posted the location not only would the pond get hammered but someone probably would have died (only one small cove was anywhere near safe and I kept myself in less than 5 FOW.)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PvkZx8JC/Screenshot-20220107-083307-Snapchat.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PvkZx8JC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/p9hnJBn9/Screenshot-20220107-083313-Snapchat.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/p9hnJBn9)
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I don't see why spot is so important here. having a great spot will not make you a better fisherman. I come here to learn and teach tips that will in turn make you a better fisherman. everyone thinks it's the spot but it's really not.
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These aren’t exactly the Great Lakes around here, access is limited
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And this is exactly why people are leaving. Thanks for the explanation and lecture of your rules and how things should work. You guys act like you’re giving GPS coordinates. Get over yourself and try and be nice. PS I can’t stand AOC either. Just because I’m not a Democrat I can still be nice to people.
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Everyone thinks they have The Spot and are so worried it will be burnt. Additionally try asking for help about ice conditions you’ll get lectured about how you need to drive to check spots on your own and burn your own gas. somethings been lost. Kind of thought that was the point of the site to share information and help each other out
I also enjoyed this forum for the sharing of fishing tips and results (not spot burning!). What is the point of a fishing forum if not to share, I have fished over 50 years and enjoyed reading about the methods others use even though I may not incorporate them. As far as spot burning I totally agree if there is a smaller or remote pond that is special it should be kept private as I have done, on the other side, here in thee Berkshires everyone already knows about Onota, Pontoosuc,and Cheshire, they are usually busy and known pike lakes. Somebody sharing that they caught a 15 lb pike on Onota on a dead shiner does not change the fishing pressure, everyone already knows, Also, all of the results of local fishing derbies results are reported in the newspapers so fisherman know already where the action is.
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I have no issues giving an invite or general lake locations but scouting terrain & holes is something that took many tries& fails over a lot of years mostly w/ out electronics. If a noob gets their new Clam suit/ Marcum setup and wants it pointed out to them , then they have earned/ learned nothing and feel lucky from then on if you can find a parking space.
As far as out of the norm. honey holes, they do exist and youll be able to find a great list of em' written w/ invisible ink on the back of my tombstone.
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I think the discussion in this thread has drifted from the OP's question "where did everyone go?".
Now it's kinda becoming an example of why they may have gone.
Lots of harsh talk about entitlement and the way people are raised and when they were born and what their politics are.
I wouldn't say this about the entire IS community but some of the regional forums have become unwelcoming to downright hostile to anyone who isn't part of the "old boy's network".
I get the spot burning aspect and the "where's the safe ice" problem but that doesn't explain why there's an atmosphere of "who can be the biggest dick".
Obviously it's all personal preference. Not everyone has the patience to see thread after thread derailed into 8 pages of hotdog jokes.
If that's what the forums are going to be, that's fine. Whatever helps you kill all that time ya'all got on your hands.
But like it was said above, the door ain't locked from the inside. Guys that come here hoping for some mature discussion on ice fishing or newbies hoping to learn from experienced fishermen probably aren't gonna stick around if all they get is sophomoric dick jokes and rude ballbusting.
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I've gotta say that as a new member and darkhouse die hard it's kinda depressing. I found the spearing forum and it hasn't been posted in for over a decade.
There are over a dozen about strike master blades because of the instant answer want, instead of looking at the answer in the same thread posted above it, ( too much thinking involved maybe?)
So why not fish the same way?
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I think the discussion in this thread has drifted from the OP's question "where did everyone go?".
Now it's kinda becoming an example of why they may have gone.
Lots of harsh talk about entitlement and the way people are raised and when they were born and what their politics are.
I wouldn't say this about the entire IS community but some of the regional forums have become unwelcoming to downright hostile to anyone who isn't part of the "old boy's network".
I get the spot burning aspect and the "where's the safe ice" problem but that doesn't explain why there's an atmosphere of "who can be the biggest dick".
Obviously it's all personal preference. Not everyone has the patience to see thread after thread derailed into 8 pages of hotdog jokes.
If that's what the forums are going to be, that's fine. Whatever helps you kill all that time ya'all got on your hands.
But like it was said above, the door ain't locked from the inside. Guys that come here hoping for some mature discussion on ice fishing or newbies hoping to learn from experienced fishermen probably aren't gonna stick around if all they get is sophomoric dick jokes and rude ballbusting.
SPOT ON
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I have no issues sharing ice conditions and do readily after the first big freeze but when it comes to early ice, im always going to be hesitant. Early ice is dangerous and im not going to be openly spreading that information online where i could put others at risk. I share plenty of early info, just not openly in the forum/facebook. Its with guys i have build up relationships with and can trust, knowing they wont burn my spot or put that information online to get blown up and have proven to be good stewards of the sport. With an increased popularity of FB and the internet, word gets out on early ice when there are limited locations and youre SOL.
It might be a bit selfish of a take, however I do believe its alright to be selfish sometimes. I'm the one spending my gas, taking time out of my day, putting miles on my vehicle to drive hours and check ice conditions. I do that because i love fishing, i want to have success, and get out early/safely. To freely give that information up to thousands and thousands of individuals online doesnt seem right to me. Whats the point of my time and money and effort if i dont even get to enjoy it? I can understand the frustration from others when they live far away and its not possible to go check the ice. I do, trust me. However, i'm not holding it against those than can in early situations.
This also isnt a new problem. People always ask about early ice and for years the frustration always plays out similarly. This happened to me when i first started ice fishing. Instead of complaining, I kept building my network. Using this site and the relationships ive built on the water to befriend people in areas i like to fish early season. Not only have i made a bunch of friends, mentors and fishing partners who are irreplaceable to me, ive been able to find trustworthy people to help inquire about early ice. If more people were proactive about building up relationships with people in areas where they like to fish, there would be less complaining about "early ice and the ethics of sharing/not sharing"
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How did we fish before the internet?to many people look to the web to find fishing spots.i did not have internet or cell phone when i started fishing.it didnt exist.im a old school guy and get in my truck and go check ice conditions and look for fish myself.maybe new gen guys should try it.as far as guys leaving Iceshanty idc.go cry somewhere else then.
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It seems like this is an ice fishing site where you aren’t allowed to talk about ice fishing.
A few major turn offs of this site are how archaic this forum interface is. Posting and viewing pictures here is ridiculous. Also there’s a core crew here of self proclaimed experts that think they are above everyone else and take their ice fishing way too seriously. It’s supposed to be fun guys. Also there’s nothing wrong with helping people out with ice thickness reports as long as it’s not some tiny pond with limited parking. If more people helped out no one would have to waste their own time and gas driving to check ice.
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Amen brother
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first i would say no ice..no posts. i bet within 10 years, Mass will not have winter ice except for a few spots.
site has become more of a chat room with fewer fishing pics.
too many people looking for spots that do not want to put in the effort. took the 'older' crew years of driving around to find good ponds...newbies nope. did you know you phone pics provide GPS location in the embedded code?
i have been on the ice for 50+ years as have the other G.O.D.S. old school rules do not apply anymore, spot burning especially. we shared our spots amongst ourselves, we would never bring anyone else there. we still go fishing after all these years..some of the best group of guys i know.
my fav bass pond was ruined decades ago meeting up with a newbie on this site. next weekend he was there with friends, posting pictures and pond name. next week there were 10 guys out there.
caught few big fish last year..did not post here..not worth it anymore. >:(
burp
I've been a member for 10+ years myself. I was going to add my 2 cents but it's written out well right here above.
Many good experiences and some bad through this site. But the good outweigh the bad . Here's to another 10 years 🍻
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It seems like this is an ice fishing site where you aren’t allowed to talk about ice fishing.
A few major turn offs of this site are how archaic this forum interface is. Posting and viewing pictures here is ridiculous. Also there’s a core crew here of self proclaimed experts that think they are above everyone else and take their ice fishing way too seriously. It’s supposed to be fun guys. Also there’s nothing wrong with helping people out with ice thickness reports as long as it’s not some tiny pond with limited parking. If more people helped out no one would have to waste their own time and gas driving to check ice.
I don't understand why you are even ON this site then. It works well for myself and a lot of us, and I plan on stickin' around. Your last 2 lines say a lot..."tiny pond with limited parking?" Some fisherman LIKE small ponds without a Walmart sized lot full of buffoons that are gonna storm the ice like the Big Red One. Not for me.
"Waste their time and gas having to check ice.." Wow, I thought that was part of the sport...note, keyword "Sport". Seriously, does everything have to be instant/easy gratification? Sounds like you just want it all handed to you, on your terms. Whatever works for ya, though . Some of us do feel differently and approach it differently though. Again; whatever works for ya.
Bassquatch and lenz....totally agree with your posts. Make me X 3. :thumbsup:
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I agree with all of you guys.....I have 4 grandsons that I have taken out ice fishing with me and not a single one is a ice fisherman...the are in there 20's, every time I see them they are playing games on there cell phones or on computer. We are from another generation, green eye radios saying ,What Evil Lurks In The Hearts of Man.....The Shadow Knows...LOL. It is sad to hear our generation experience, knowledge of ice fishing will be left on this web site for the future people to look at and say.....WOW..."So that is were all those fish went."I guess we all have to throw in COVID-19 also, its mess up all parts of the world and we can hide from that, Happy New Years guys....God Bless you all...RHLP
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I don't understand why you are even ON this site then. It works well for myself and a lot of us, and I plan on stickin' around. Your last 2 lines say a lot..."tiny pond with limited parking?" Some fisherman LIKE small ponds without a Walmart sized lot full of buffoons that are gonna storm the ice like the Big Red One. Not for me.
"Waste their time and gas having to check ice.." Wow, I thought that was part of the sport...note, keyword "Sport". Seriously, does everything have to be instant/easy gratification? Sounds like you just want it all handed to you, on your terms. Whatever works for ya, though . Some of us do feel differently and approach it differently though. Again; whatever works for ya.
Bassquatch and lenz....totally agree with your posts. Make me X 3. :thumbsup:
Did you skip the “NOT” part of my comment about small places with limited parking. Try reading my post again. Also I’ve been ice fishing for around to 40 years. I don’t need anything handed to me and I’m not looking to steal anyone’s secret spots. Why do you automatically assume you know more than others?
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All the noobs from FB poking around here sure stick out...
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aint that the truth
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Did you skip the “NOT” part of my comment about small places with limited parking. Try reading my post again. Also I’ve been ice fishing for around to 40 years. I don’t need anything handed to me and I’m not looking to steal anyone’s secret spots. Why do you automatically assume you know more than others?
I don't assume anything. It just wasn't hard to read yer gripin' about the site being archaic, pic posting, spot fishing, wasting time and gas looking for ice.... Simply pointed that out. Steal secret spots? Where did that come from? Try reading your post again in a different light. Kudos on your 40 years. I've been at it for over 50.
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I think 95% of us essentially agree that some info should be shared and are willing to share it, and some should not be. The 5% of guys that want everything to be shared are the guys we don't need here. They don't care if 40 guys show up and fish out a 5 acre berkshires pond because they don't live there and next week they'll be on bigger and better waters. The guy that said no one would have to waste gas if we all shared info? WTH!?!? Someone still has to waste the gas regardless, just not you apparently!!
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All the noobs from FB poking around here sure stick out...
haha yep. I noticed that too!
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I don't assume anything. It just wasn't hard to read yer gripin' about the site being archaic, pic posting, spot fishing, wasting time and gas looking for ice.... Simply pointed that out. Steal secret spots? Where did that come from? Try reading your post again in a different light. Kudos on your 40 years. I've been at it for over 50.
This site is archaic and should be upgraded. It’s pretty painful to use compared to others and why I don’t spend much time here.
There is nothing wrong with someone saying they went to Webster, Quabog or any other decent size public waters and giving an ice report. That used to be what people did here. Now it’s just a bunch of old grumps b***hing about everything.
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At least we know where the fish are internet warrior.nobody has got you chained here,move on.
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I think everyone should put in the work to find good ice and a good bite. What ruins this forum is the same half dozen d*cks that make a sarcastic comment that is maybe negligibly pertaining to the topic. It's like they are on here just to read their own posts. And some are on here so much I wonder if they even have time to fish.
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I think everyone needs to go find some ice and go fishing. This post has gone of the rails. I drove 7 hours round trip on Saturday to fish for a species I wanted to target and found about 8" of ice. I got skunked and although I'm not happy about it I still had a great time with friends, cooked up some breakfast sandys and made the best of an extremely slow day.
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The GODs and their disciples have spoken...
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It's ready...
(https://i.postimg.cc/tJyMXK2y/Popcorn.gif) (https://postimages.org/)
Carry on, my 2 cents is clearly not necessary.
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At least we know where the fish are internet warrior.nobody has got you chained here,move on.
Nothing I have said is related to where the fish are. Sharing ice thickness has nothing to do with sharing fishing spots.
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At least this topic is bringing some life to an otherwise dead MA forum. :o
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At least this topic is bringing some life to an otherwise dead MA forum. :o
It's interesting how many of the guys chiming in on this are not from Ma. Many from far enough away that it's unlikely they ever fish here.
The OP's point with the question of "where did everyone go" was apparently missed by 2/3 of those that responded.
I'm curious why the Ma forum is more driven by so many guys from elsewhere and why so few guys are local?
Why does spot burning and safe ice questions matter so much to guys that don't fish here?
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Its because i start at the home page and post everywhere on the site.i dont pay attention to where, but responded to a post saying Iceshanty was going downhill,which its not but just alot of good guys and gals not wanting to spot burn is all.
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Its because i start at the home page and post everywhere on the site.i dont pay attention to where, but responded to a post saying Iceshanty was going downhill,which its not but just alot of good guys and gals not wanting to spot burn is all.
That makes sense.
Come to think of it, every time I try to come to the Ma site, I end up on the homepage.
There's certainly no shortage of new posts on the homepage. Obviously IS in general is busy this time of year.
The Ma page, not so much. Surprisingly because a crapload of people ice fish here.
Although I am very active on FB for non-fishing groups, I don't use the FB fishing groups. I'm only a member of one and it's mostly adds from bait sellers and notices for tournaments.
Very little to no productive discussion.
The advantage of the old fashioned forum format is it lends itself to discussion. That's the reason I come here.
That and the chance to maybe put names to faces I see on the local ice.
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Its because i start at the home page and post everywhere on the site.i dont pay attention to where, but responded to a post saying Iceshanty was going downhill,which its not but just alot of good guys and gals not wanting to spot burn is all.
This topic is about the MA forum going downhill. There’s no denying that a ton of people don’t post here anymore. The only person that even posts trip reports anymore is Bog Trotter and even he has been MIA recently. There used to be a couple pages of active topics here, now there are like 4. Where did everyone go?
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If it makes you feel better the Michigan page is kind of slow too,thats why i post all over.we can be civil/friends from other states.im here for icefishing in general not just my state.
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I'll start giving reports if people want to listen to them. I won't say where but I'll say what I caught and how much ice I had.
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Looks like lots of people that dont want to be here, yet wont leave....huh
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I'll start giving reports if people want to listen to them. I won't say where but I'll say what I caught and how much ice I had.
I'm interested in seeing your reports. Even if I've seen them elsewhere. ;)
There's plenty to be gained from seeing local reports. They don't have to contain the location.
Besides, I just like local reports. It makes it more real when it's in your own state even if you don't know where.
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I'll start giving reports if people want to listen to them. I won't say where but I'll say what I caught and how much ice I had.
Post em up. No need for locations.
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Looks like lots of people that dont want to be here, yet wont leave....huh
No. The problem is all the people already left.
Why do you care about the MA forum if you’re in Montana?
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My bad, didn't know this page was private. I accept full responsibility for commenting on a public forum with antiquated programming...
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My bad, didn't know this page was private. I accept full responsibility for commenting on a public forum with antiquated programming...
Post away….
I enjoy reading and seeing everyone’s trips, tips and techniques from all over. Including weather, ice etc.
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Same here! Thanks Hardwater2!! :thumbsup:
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My bad, didn't know this page was private. I accept full responsibility for commenting on a public forum with antiquated programming...
Isn’t it a little strange that you’re from Montana but arguing in the MA forum with people from MA discussing what’s happened to the MA forum and it’s members.
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Isn't it a little strange that your bothered by it? Like I said, the forums arent private. You do notice there are other people from other parts of the US commenting right?
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lack of ice :%$#!:
i think we all coment on other states theads :thumbsup:
i do it, and enjoy reading others comments, tips and fun ;D
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If I used this site only for Quebec threads, I'd be talking to myself since day 1.
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:thumbsup:
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Good read. Regardless of which side of the coin you are on...NH board is the best of them all right now in my opinion.
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Well, it's posted on the "Recent topics" front of the forum, with the geographic area shown at bottom, which doesn't necessarily make it area specific, IMO. That WOULD make it deader than a tick on here, if you had to stick to your own area... Heck, hardly anyone posts on the Minnysoda site, there's friggin' cobwebs on the threads. I don't see it any different than chatting with anyone on the ice, in a bait shop, in a bar.......
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Good read. Regardless of which side of the coin you are on...NH board is the best of them all right now in my opinion.
Someone get this man a hotdog...
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Looks like lots of people that dont want to be here, yet wont leave....huh
How are things in Missoula? You getting out much I heard it’s a late start
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Super late start. And then we finally started getting ice but then we were further into snow season so now we have lots of places with ice thats about half or 1/3rd of what it should be covered in lots of snow and growing more slush by the seconds. Makes it challenging. We need the snow so bad though. I did get to jig macs yesterday with a new rod I built and it was a gorgeous day so thats 3 wins in one day!
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For those that are statistically bent or simply curious...
Average registrations per day:15.79
Average posts per day:611.14
Average topics per day:44.60
Total Boards:199
Latest Member: Roscoe B
Average online per day:337.30
As of 5:18 pm CST...
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Huh! Good job, there, 'sox! Uh, the latest member ya listed...is that Rosco P. (B) Coltrane, maybe? Did he register Flash? O wait; I bet I know who he is.... ;D
(https://i.postimg.cc/grPVRJ2Y/rosco.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grPVRJ2Y)
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welcome rosco b ;D
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Missoulafish, welcome. Welcome anytime. I love to read about ice fishing whether here or on other states forums. All good, interesting stuff.
When I joined here, I was in my early 70’s and posted about ice fishing at a certain pond. One of the regulars here sent me a pm regarding spot burning. He was very diplomatic and his thoughts made all the sense in the world. I deleted the pond/lake names and was happy that he explained what can happen with naming fishing spots.
I have never met Jon, Pat, Jim, and the other regulars but I sure do enjoying reading their posts. Great forum, enjoy it. Thursday will be my first 2022 trip. Still get excited.
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Super late start. And then we finally started getting ice but then we were further into snow season so now we have lots of places with ice thats about half or 1/3rd of what it should be covered in lots of snow and growing more slush by the seconds. Makes it challenging. We need the snow so bad though. I did get to jig macs yesterday with a new rod I built and it was a gorgeous day so thats 3 wins in one day!
Glad to hear you are getting out , heavy snow on early ice is brutal
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Someone get this man a hotdog...
Please and thank you. Skip BarS. No love.
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Please and thank you. Skip BarS. No love.
Marinate that in some fresh garlic and hang it on a single hook... ;)2
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The advantage of the old fashioned forum format is it lends itself to discussion. That's the reason I come here.
That and the chance to maybe put names to faces I see on the local ice.
Sigh :'( I miss BBS5
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Marinate that in some fresh garlic and hang it on a single hook... ;)2
Haha! More of a sea herring guy for that.
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So where did all the massholes actually go? It seems like almost everyone posting here is from out of state.
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here ;D
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This is a great thread
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here ;D
Attendance please. Can we get a head count? I think there’s now 7 of us. ;D
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I am from MA, I said my bit, most of the comments have just been whining, I don't need to participate in winning. It is one of the best ways to get a long thread thought, there never seems to be a shortage of people that want to whine and b***h...
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I think biggest problem is lack of ice in Mass. Ppl get all torqued up when they can't fish.
Also, most ppl won't get a license from another state or drive more than 30m to fish (or icefish). And once there, they won't walk more than 100 yards.
So, between a few of those factors, there's a big drop in actual icefishing & big increase in complaining.
There's ice up north on the small ponds, just have to be willing to drive there + poke around until you find some good ice. :tipup:
After this cold snap, I bet alot of ppl will be out + about on the smaller ponds closer to home...and the reports will increase. :D
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As long as we keep this a positive thread, we can keep it going. If you don't have anything positive to add, keep it to yourself.
BJ
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:thumbsup: ;)2
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I only have to say after all these comments, look around today and hope that anything you can find to make your day positive is a blessing.
So for 2022 why don't we try to make it this sight. :tipup: :tipup:
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I only have to say after all these comments, look around today and hope that anything you can find to make your day positive is a blessing.
So for 2022 why don't we try to make it this sight. :tipup: :tipup:
Good call Dick. We need to meet up for some crappie fishing.
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Sounds good Jon
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I don’t ice anymore. Maybe once or twice a year. Being so close to the cape, open water all year!
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Masshole present and accounted for
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I'm a Mass guy still checking in once a day or so but not much to say to current threads and no worthwhile fishing of my own to talk about.
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Still relevant :tipup:
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masshole here ;D
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Hi, My name is Steve, and I'm a Masshole.
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I guess I’ll throw some change in the hat too…
No, I’m not from MA. Good thing that’s not the only state with solid water. When it comes to advising ice thickness, many people die every season just trying to enjoy this sport, usually with family and friends. NOBODY here wants to be responsible for ill advice that could lead to someone dying. What a lot of “instant gratifiers” don’t understand is that ice fishing is a truly dangerous activity. The surface of a frozen lake IS NOT the same as the surface of the parking lot. Regardless of experience, NOBODY can identify 100% safe ice in every condition, regardless of thickness or the air temperature. The die-hards here understand this. If you’re someone that gets upset because the responses you’re getting to thickness requests are “go find out for yourself”…. you’re being told that literally for your own safety. No one is trying to be elitist when they say that. It is truly, 100%, a safety precaution. Of course, this implies that that person actually knows how to check for safe ice. A spud is crucial and even a lot of experienced guys don’t use one. Use one. I don’t care if it’s mid winter and ice is 2’ thick. If you haven’t set foot on that particular body of water yet this year, don’t trust anyone but yourself. This is all amplified during early/late ice. Just because you see a few guys out there, doesn’t mean they just strolled out onto the ice. Those early/late guys usually tend to spud their way out to those spots. If someone was to just say “ice is good!”, a lot of people are inclined to just trot out there without a thought in the world about legitimate ice safety. And In this hobby, ignorance can and will kill you deader than crap. I do not take ice safety lightly and neither should any of us. Hence, “go find out for yourself”. It could very well save a life, literally. If you think that random strangers being concerned about your well being is “elitist”, I don’t think ice fishing is the activity for you. However, you’re probably bound to find that out one way or another anyways. Hopefully, it’s not while you’re sinking to the bottom of a 40 degree lake staring at the underside of the ice while your brain begins to shut down. And yes, that imagery is needed to drive home the importance of understanding what the hell we are doing out there. Literally risking our lives to catch a fish… I will not be responsible for your ignorance. However, I am responsible for mine and I will not tell anyone on the internet that “ice is good to go” regardless of conditions. This is especially true if a particular body of water has current, springs, or just had 600 geese land there yesterday and it’s just skim ice surrounded by “safe” ice. So much goes into ice safety to just arbitrarily advise “safe ice”. ESPECIALLY, to an out-of-towner.
Having said all of that, ice fishing is still a very niche subset of angling. Before 25 years ago, it took legitimate work and care to find these spots during winter because the fish act different when they’re capped with ice and darkness. You can’t cast. You can’t troll. Your “strike zone” is generally a 2’ wide 15’ deep sample of hundreds of thousand if not millions of gallons of water. I’ve heard guys say “I couldn’t imagine fishing without electronics and modern gear, how did everyone do it?”. That answer is passion and not too many guys are lining up to give away what took so much of them to acquire. For others that are just as passionate, they’re tough enough to wade through the jerks that just want to blow their load and go home. The jerks last by believing they’re better than everyone else. The passionate last because they know it isn’t always about catching a fish. :tipup:
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Some excellent statements in here^^
Very well said RyanW👍
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RyanW. Best post ever!
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“The jerks last by believing they’re better than everyone else. The passionate last because they know it isn’t always about catching a fish.”
That quote’s “Thoreau” worthy.
Bravo!, RyanW.
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RyanW gets it... Excellent post sir.
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That's the best said on it I've seen yet. Excellent post, Sir. :clap:
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Yep ryan hit it out of the park with that post!
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well done ryan ;D
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Solid post dude!
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Well said Ryan. Going out this weekend to a new area and you bet your ass my spud will be in the sled!!
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Great post ryan! I have no doubt in my mind that my spud has saved my life on multiple occasions due to late reason rapidly deteriorating ice conditions, or spring holes on lakes that soften the ice that we passed over safely on the way out, and turn them into 1 punch death traps. I'll never leave my house without my spud or my ice picks for my neck. If we are on safety for the moment, an overlooked thing can be a dry set of clothes in your car. If you do happen to get wet and are able to get out of the water, those clothes will be cold, wet, and continuously trying to put you into hypothermia. A dry set of clothes in the car can be critical in preventing you or someone else from slipping into hypothermia, even after theyre removed from the lake.
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I can’t even. In the end plain and simple it is common sense. I truly think you are lecturing the wrong crowd. I think on this site we all get it.
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Nostalgia....
Too bad this site never adapted.
Facebook ice fishing groups are massive
My childhood is being wiped away 😪
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I don't see why spot is so important here. having a great spot will not make you a better fisherman. I come here to learn and teach tips that will in turn make you a better fisherman. everyone thinks it's the spot but it's really not.
We should just tell everyone lake winnipesaukee and leave it at that.
It's such an incredibly difficult lake to fish.
I've gone weeks without catching anything there.
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This old dude's never been on face book.. and never will be.
X2
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X3
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X4
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Might as well chime in 🤣 . I'd say it's been at least 10 years or more since this site was a great place to meet people and fish together while sharing our days with everyone. Too bad , met some great guys here. Fished with one today, lavaman (Kevin).
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The past and present ice conditions make chit chatting chatter about our sport almost non existent on this site ...which is sad but be thankful it is not FB where every third post is about foam tiles , led lighting and what cordless drill to buy ...and the jack bag answers/replies that follow ...at least here folks tend to get the right answers or links in a civil forum. FB can be a good resource for information but you have to sift through it like panning for gold.
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Might as well chime in 🤣 . I'd say it's been at least 10 years or more since this site was a great place to meet people and fish together while sharing our days with everyone. Too bad , met some great guys here. Fished with one today, lavaman (Kevin).
Keith
Kevin isn't a great guy.
He is a super guy. Always helpful to this old dude and funny to fish with without his knowing it. ;D ;D ;D ;D
He spreads his traps out so far apart you can't see all five at the same time. Forget it if we were in Vt with 15 traps. Thank god you could drive your vehicles on the ice. I swear he sets GPS coordinates to locate his traps.
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x5 ;D
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Keith
Kevin isn't a great guy.
He is a super guy. Always helpful to this old dude and funny to fish with without his knowing it. ;D ;D ;D ;D
He spreads his traps out so far apart you can't see all five at the same time. Forget it if we were in Vt with 15 traps. Thank god you could drive your vehicles on the ice. I swear he sets GPS coordinates to locate his traps.
Yes you are right. Super guy for sure. Funny you said that about spread out traps lol. One I needed my monocular to see 🤣.
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I agree with all you guys....No Ice ....No Shanty...Put it togeather......NO ICE SHANTY....By Guys....I"m going Salt Water fishing
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I agree with all you guys....No Ice ....No Shanty...Put it togeather......NO ICE SHANTY....By Guys....I"m going Salt Water fishing
[/quote
Eastmans out of Seabrook Nh is just shutting down for the next 4 weeks this weekend for winter maintainance of the boat. All winter they slammed the pollock to 30 lbs and reds with some haddock mixed in. One trip they got over 1500lbs
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The pollock fishing from the NEC up through Jeffreys is absurd, big fish 10-20lbs, makes me want to break in my new 300s now
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Not to mention that to get a trip for 8 hours out of CT., RI., or Mass. its $140 to $180. We bought a 10 pack in N.H. for 10, 10 hour trips for $450...$45 per trip. Even their regular price is only $82 and last year we came hone with 22 pounds of haddock, pollock, red fish, and cusk, all great eating fish.
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Not to mention that to get a trip for 8 hours out of CT., RI., or Mass. its $140 to $180. We bought a 10 pack in N.H. for 10, 10 hour trips for $450...$45 per trip. Even their regular price is only $82 and last year we came hone with 22 pounds of haddock, pollock, red fish, and cusk, all great eating fish.
Walsh's American Classic Charters out of Lynn Ma.goes out all winter on weekends for $100 a trip I believe its a 10 or 12 hr trip. They have also been slamming them.
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Wish the family was a fan of pollack as they have been filling boat loads of tubs with fish. Cod and Haddock. Remember a trip 15+ years ago with Yankee on their Marathon. First stop we had a boat load. Had to stop and go somewhere else for a break. 80# of mostly cod and a few haddock.
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I surf fish out of R.I....I Cod are runing right now close to shore there are some BIG fish on cut bait. If you have not fish the surf...i It can be very costly for equipmen. It c ost me $65 buck for my rod ONLY a few ago . I was first mate on a charter on the Rufus for capt. Ray Snow from Westfield ....those were the days around Block Is. filling a 3' ft + 6"ft. box with codt..you can not do that now or filling my 12ft Sears with winter flounder ,cod pollock out of Quincy Bay, That is when a flat cost $20 bucks
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I hate to break it to you Ron but 65 bucks for a surf rod or any fishing rod these days is dirt cheap. I consider my Terez 76xh spin rods cheap at 250ea. Compare that to reel easy tridents and cms Chatham longs at1250ea and surf gear is a walk in the park. My favorite bottom fishing combos are Shimano trevala 66mh with Daiwa LD30 2 speeds, lot of fun and can get up from 200-250ft quick
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Lack of ice in many spots surely the culprit this season. Most of the spots around here are open water, though I've been able to get out onto every spot I planned for the season except for 1.
That being said, the 2 spots I hit in February were both 5 to 7 inches, while most years, they would be 15 to 20 inches by now. Luckily, some of the spots further North are good 18-20 inches, so I should have safe ice to hit up until the end of the season on March 31st, if I choose to do so.
My condolences to all of you at the Southern edges of the ice belt, I can imagine the frustration. Hopefully weather will swing back around next winter and we'll find safe ice early on to make up for it.
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dear rmoody 79, thgis surf rod was built for me in 1960..possibly brefore you were bornMy surf fishing buddy Johnny K wanted for me to leave it to himif I died..Thnis rod would cost about $650 today to build if I wanted it now. one the reels I use with it is French...Ru-Mer...its good today as it was 54 yrs. ago
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My condolences to all of you at the Southern edges of the ice belt, I can imagine the frustration. Hopefully weather will swing back around next winter and we'll find safe ice early on to make up for it.
Thanks, it is what it is. I was just as happy in the boat Sunday.as I will be on the ice this weekend.
I almost came up to your neck of the woods, still on my list. You have some nice pike rivers up there.
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Thanks, it is what it is. I was just as happy in the boat Sunday.as I will be on the ice this weekend.
I almost came up to your neck of the woods, still on my list. You have some nice pike rivers up there.
Heading south myself, going to spend a week in Florida visiting my daughter and family. Hoping to get some decent fishing done, both freshwater and saltwater...
Trophy pike fishing here isn't the greatest in winter. Many of the good zones are closed to fishing in winter, some open ones have complete baitfish ban, others allow dead bait in winter. Live bait forbidden all through the province since a good 5+ years now. Rare to get pike over 10 lbs on ice here, the monsters in our country are mainly caught in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
We do have muskies open here in winter, but word is that they ministry is planning to change that next year, due to pressure from muskies Canada. It's exploded over last few seasons, and many people just aren't equipped to release them safely. People still catching 50 inch giants every season, but it takes a lot of time and crazy number of lines out to have any success.
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Musky in quebec is my next mission then. In Maine they kill 50" musky. Theres been some big ones killed this season.
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Musky in quebec is my next mission then. In Maine they kill 50" musky. Theres been some big ones killed this season.
That's a shame, they are coveted trophy here. Many states kill off pike, musky and bass to protect stocked trout populations.
If you come up to Quebec for musky, season runs from mid June until end of March, unless they close them starting next winter. St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers have the biggest ones by far.
First month in the season is usually most productive, I have a couple friends that guide for musky, can send you their info if need be.
(https://freshwaterphil.com/images/philmusky11141701.jpg)
(https://freshwaterphil.com/images/philmusky0820132.jpg)
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That's a shame, they are coveted trophy here. Many states kill off pike, musky and bass to protect stocked trout populations.
If you come up to Quebec for musky, season runs from mid June until end of March, unless they close them starting next winter. St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers have the biggest ones by far.
First month in the season is usually most productive, I have a couple friends that guide for musky, can send you their info if need be.
(https://freshwaterphil.com/images/philmusky11141701.jpg)
(https://freshwaterphil.com/images/philmusky0820132.jpg)
Thanks Phil, die hard do it myselfer but appreciate the offer.
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Thanks Phil, die hard do it myselfer but appreciate the offer.
My pleasure. It's definitely not a numbers fishery here, if you've never fished these waters, you want to give yourself a few solid days to give yourself a chance at landing one, as you're fishing big water. I get the thrill of diy, but hiring a guide for the first day just to show you around and give you some tips can be worthwhile, would really help target the hunt.
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Shoot me a pm. Im a big water guy but also a few days are hard to come by. Once I get that early season pattern from a guide I can use it forever.
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Shoot me a pm. Im a big water guy but also a few days are hard to come by. Once I get that early season pattern from a guide I can use it forever.
message sent, good luck!
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Great example of how this site continues to be valuable. Thank you Phil!
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Great example of how this site continues to be valuable. Thank you Phil!
My pleasure. Tight lines and stay safe.
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Just wait for this el Nino system to pass and we'll all be back into the ice fishin. Remember, the weather is cyclical and if you pay attention to it, the Shanty posts closely follow.
Pyro
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dear rmoody 79, thgis surf rod was built for me in 1960..possibly brefore you were bornMy surf fishing buddy Johnny K wanted for me to leave it to himif I died..Thnis rod would cost about $650 today to build if I wanted it now. one the reels I use with it is French...Ru-Mer...its good today as it was 54 yrs. ago
Got it Ron! I misunderstood, yeah 65 dollars in 1960 is serious bucks today, I bet that surf rod could tell a lot of stories
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Shoot me a pm. Im a big water guy but also a few days are hard to come by. Once I get that early season pattern from a guide I can use it forever.
we know your not leaving laker land jon stop fooling yourself
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...and to be part of a fish(horse mackel) put on the scale at Pt.Judith Coop-op...The scale read 999 Lbs. and the tail was still on the deck....that fish could bring $$$$$....the ccCoop could not handle it...and the Coast Guard took it beyond Block Island and dump it
Hey Ron, I can relate to most of what you wrote, but couldn’t quite wrap my head around this one. A 999 lb. horse mackerel? Sounds more like the bluefin we used to catch, commercially rod n reeling out of Harwich and Gloucester back in the 90’s. Well, not quite, my biggest was 980… Anyone remember seeing monsters like that floating in the harbor after they were found to be full of cancer?
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Yes FP it was a Blue Fin Tuna....Horse Mackel is what they call them up in Tiverton, Nova Scotia, my grand parents are from there.My grandfather was from a family of 8 boys. He told me when he was a teenager him and his brothers would go on a Nova Scotia Sleigh ride in a 16 ' Dinghy with the power provided by a Horse Mackel(blue fin) . They would cut the lin e and row back. I am from a long line of sea faring people, ship builders to fisherman.My greatgand father 6 times over was granted from the King of England a 50 miles of land between Digby to Westport,The last time I was up there is when that storm 'BOB' came throgh there....Take Care Ron
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Yes FP it was a Blue Fin Tuna....Horse Mackel is what they call them up in Tiverton, Nova Scotia, my grand parents are from there.My grandfather was from a family of 8 boys. He told me when he was a teenager him and his brothers would go on a Nova Scotia Sleigh ride in a 16 ' Dinghy with the power provided by a Horse Mackel(blue fin) . They would cut the lin e and row back. I am from a long line of sea faring people, ship builders to fisherman.My greatgand father 6 times over was granted from the King of England a 50 miles of land between Digby to Westport,The last time I was up there is when that storm 'BOB' came throgh there....Take Care Ron
That is some amazing history right there, Ron. Thank you for sharing. It’s an honor to virtually know you. I had thought you spelled mackerel incorrectly. Happy to learn a new word today. And that is too funny about your sleigh ride, as we used to call ours, the Sea Craft sleigh ride when we’d hook into a giant, letting the 23’ boat fight her out of the gunwale’s swiveling rod holder. Be well!!!
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Spelling was not one of my high grades since I have AMD and carpel tunnel of my right handI see you you have put a modern update to a tuna ride, Gramps would enjoy hear that. it would be 125 yrs. ago for him....Take care
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Spelling was not one of my high grades since I have AMD and carpel tunnel of my right handI see you you have put a modern update to a tuna ride, Gramps would enjoy hear that. it would be 125 yrs. ago for him....Take care
Awesome! Cheers to Gramps!!!!
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Thanks....Keep a tight line..and may all your fish be HUGE..take care
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The early settlers around the Merrimack/Newburyport would complain about the Horse Maceral wiping out their nets around Deer Island (just below the 95 bridge). Strange to think big bluefins would run up the river that far!
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They are after herring,,,thats what we used in the chum them in to the boat. Its like ice cream to them.........lol. Thne Japs pay big bucks for them....they fly them to Japan from our east coast....some bring $$10 grand+++...take care guys
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we know your not leaving laker land jon stop fooling yourself
Theres musky up the lake from where I laker fish Vin.
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Too many guys posting pictures of every fish they catch and also those exact same guys burning every spot they got invited to. Say what u want …. Agree or disagree! I know it’s facts as I’ve talked to many of the older guys here. :tipup:
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Too many guys posting pictures of every fish they catch and also those exact same guys burning every spot they got invited to. Say what u want …. Agree or disagree! I know it’s facts as I’ve talked to many of the older guys here. :tipup:
Yo!
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Yo!
Hola amigo!!!!
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Hola amigo!!!!
Dr. Dabs?
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all too busy hiding where they fish. blurring backgrounds on pond X ya know all the usual stuff done on a fishing site, anyone have info on pond Z ice or do I have to go check myself?
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Gardner Hey
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all too busy hiding where they fish. blurring backgrounds on pond X ya know all the usual stuff done on a fishing site, anyone have info on pond Z ice or do I have to go check myself?
You have to go check yourself. You should be doing that anyways! You also have to go fish places and determine if they're good places to fish.
Unless you're the new generation that expects all the hard earned info collected over decades to just be handed to you? Get to know members and you will get info. It certainly isn't gonna be plastered all over the internet though.
89 posts or comments in 16 years on ice shanty, maybe you should share more before complaining about others.