Author Topic: What State has the best ice fishing ?  (Read 4506 times)

Offline claymore6

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What State has the best ice fishing ?
« on: Mar 04, 2019, 09:52 AM »
Just wondering?  I live in up-State New York. One of the best and least appreciated places in the USA for hunting and fishing. However, the current New York political situation does not look good for the future for Sportsmen/women. The anti-gun movement and increasing reductions in budget lines that traditionally supported hunting and fishing have me wondering if I should make a move to an area with a better future.  If I move, I would have ice fishing as a priority, followed by upland game and soft water fishing for Perch and Walleye. Any suggestions?

Offline lefty2053

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #1 on: Mar 04, 2019, 09:54 AM »
OH stop it. I don't want to know I live in a poor state for Ice fishing.
<===Lefty===

Offline bullpine

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #2 on: Mar 04, 2019, 09:57 AM »
Eastern Montana around Fort Peck reservoir if you don't need a job.

Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #3 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:01 AM »
South Central Idaho

Offline blacktrap

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #4 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:14 AM »
Great state of Maine....oh wait we just elected a bunch of those people that cant get enough of spending others peoples money.  Probably be like down there soon enough.

Offline Unclegillhunter

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #5 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:19 AM »
Well if you don’t need a job or since I don’t know what you do for a living you may have lots of options. Given your sporting priorities, I would suggest South Dakota. Me if I could talk my little wife into it I would sell my ice gear and move back to the Oregon coastal area.
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Offline 52isntbigenough

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #6 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:22 AM »
I live in Wisconsin, but give the nod to MN, especially LOTWs.

Offline laer0302

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #7 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:40 AM »
MN has great ice fishing, but the legislators are really trying  to push some anti-gun laws through, so if that's a big concern for you, I don't think I'd head here. North Dakota would be my suggestion.

Offline wirehairman

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #8 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:43 AM »
Given your list of priorities, I'd suggest Minnesota or Wisconsin if your definition of upland game is ruffies and timerdoodles.  If you like the prairie birds and pheasants, I'd suggest the Dakotas.

Of course, the Big Sky State is pretty awesome as well.   ;)2

Offline Badder

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #9 on: Mar 04, 2019, 10:50 AM »
Michigan hands down!
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Offline IceFishFreak

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #10 on: Mar 04, 2019, 11:24 AM »
I can tell you what state isn't the best,  Wisconsin.  Wisconsin is a harvester state.  Nothing is done in moderation.  people kill piles of deer and people fill the freezers when not needed. 
99 % of our lakes it's tough to catch a bluegill over 9 inches.  It's the same as hunting,  850k some people hunting,  it's tough to have real quality anything in numbers.  This is the name of the game here,  catch and kill everything,  brag on facebook. 


Offline Mr.Seaguar

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #11 on: Mar 04, 2019, 11:41 AM »
IceFishFreak is trying to steer you away from his hotspot.
Every plastics manufacturer claims plastics outfish livebait. So now I use livebait just for the increased challenge.

Offline 52isntbigenough

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #12 on: Mar 04, 2019, 11:54 AM »
IFF seems angry. Maybe he should ice fish southern Illinois waters for a season or two.

Offline Kevin23

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #13 on: Mar 04, 2019, 11:56 AM »
North dakota will have your amazing perch and walleye fishing, great upland and waterfowl hunting, and good soft water fishing as well. Also very pro-gun and outdoors prioritized state.
EYECONICFISHING

Offline SLAYERFISH

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #14 on: Mar 04, 2019, 12:46 PM »
Florida
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Offline FlamDragger

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #15 on: Mar 04, 2019, 12:51 PM »
I don’t see anyone from Alaska chiming in. I guess they don’t give away their secret, but I’d like to go there someday to fish their hardwaters. I bet it’s spectacular up there!

Offline IceFishFreak

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #16 on: Mar 04, 2019, 01:29 PM »
North dakota will have your amazing perch and walleye fishing, great upland and waterfowl hunting, and good soft water fishing as well. Also very pro-gun and outdoors prioritized state.

LOL,  not angry,  just disappointed.  Social Media is the devil.  A spot gets beat on if the wrong person finds out.  I really dislike the WI culture.  i been trying to get out for years...

Offline Mr.Seaguar

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #17 on: Mar 04, 2019, 01:54 PM »
Idk what the best state is but my favorite place to ice fish has a steakhouse beside the access. Can't beat that.
Every plastics manufacturer claims plastics outfish livebait. So now I use livebait just for the increased challenge.

Offline appleye

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #18 on: Mar 04, 2019, 02:29 PM »
Florida
[/quote

I'm with Slayerfish! Except for the population explosion every winter. LOL Wyoming has very good fishing but you must drive a ways. I also drive to MT, SD, CO most winters. If I had it my way Florida in the winter and WY the rest of the year after hunting season.
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Offline Bull Herbie

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #19 on: Mar 04, 2019, 04:15 PM »
Not North Dakota, it's awful, shouldn't waste a trip!  Unless you like catching lots of walleye, perch and pike, then its not to bad.
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Offline Light liner

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #20 on: Mar 04, 2019, 06:35 PM »
Never been to either but I would guess toss up between
North dakota or Minnesota.
Here in northern Vermont its good, hard place to live though.
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Offline t0mmyt316

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #21 on: Mar 04, 2019, 06:44 PM »
Maine! :tipup:

Offline Hardwater2

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #22 on: Mar 04, 2019, 06:45 PM »
I lived in Minnesota for 20yrs. It consistently gets thick ice, has incredible ice fishing for months. North Dakota would be a close second. Politics aside lol

Offline TickleStick

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #23 on: Mar 04, 2019, 06:49 PM »
Not Utah  >:(

How about Texas  :P
WINTER IS COMING!

Offline Jomat

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #24 on: Mar 04, 2019, 07:40 PM »
Pretty tough to beat the fishing and hunting in upstate ny.  Actually the main issue I run into is that the fishing is so good up here it gets hard to find a parking spot with all the tri-state/downstate guys coming up.

I’d second vermont...was up fishing Champlain and magog last winter.  You can def put a hurt on some fish up and don’t have to show up to the lot at 5 am to find a parking spot.  Ur gonna need an auger extension though and a lot of propane.

Offline Hooked up

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #25 on: Mar 04, 2019, 08:16 PM »
After moving all around the United States for the last 35 years, you can't beat North Dakota for what you are looking for. I live there for 5 years and the upland bird hunting and fishing was some of the best you will find anywhere.

Offline John_BZ

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #26 on: Mar 04, 2019, 08:22 PM »
IFF seems angry. Maybe he should ice fish southern Illinois waters for a season or two.

Not much better in northern Illinois except we get a little longer season. Nothing great about fishing in Illinois. Probably bringing up the rear. Maybe ahead of Indiana lol

Offline Light liner

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #27 on: Mar 04, 2019, 09:19 PM »
Pretty tough to beat the fishing and hunting in upstate ny.  Actually the main issue I run into is that the fishing is so good up here it gets hard to find a parking spot with all the tri-state/downstate guys coming up.

I’d second vermont...was up fishing Champlain and magog last winter.  You can def put a hurt on some fish up and don’t have to show up to the lot at 5 am to find a parking spot.  Ur gonna need an auger extension though and a lot of propane.

Yeah 40" of ice right now on magog.
Champlain
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Offline IceFishFreak

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #28 on: Mar 05, 2019, 07:28 AM »
Pretty tough to beat the fishing and hunting in upstate ny.  Actually the main issue I run into is that the fishing is so good up here it gets hard to find a parking spot with all the tri-state/downstate guys coming up.

I’d second vermont...was up fishing Champlain and magog last winter.  You can def put a hurt on some fish up and don’t have to show up to the lot at 5 am to find a parking spot.  Ur gonna need an auger extension though and a lot of propane.

I fish the eastern basin of Lake Ontario....you are correct,  that area is a tough one to beat 

Offline stinkyfingers

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Re: What State has the best ice fishing ?
« Reply #29 on: Mar 05, 2019, 07:41 AM »
Really? Your quality of life will be a function of bird shooting and how much ice fishing you can get in? Tough to beat the Dakotas for your heart's desire except that you'd have to

live in the Dakotas. Feels like you need to eat your vegetables rather than just lapping up the gravy.
We're born, we live for a while, and then we die.  Sounds like a good reason to go ice fishing.
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