IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: briansnat on Dec 25, 2013, 11:48 AM
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Do you prefer ice fishing or is just something to do while can't go regular fishing?
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DEFINITELY prefer hard water...i am laid off in the winter most of the time unless its snowing..and work out of state all summer..maybe stream fish 4-5 times a year,but i get shaky if i dont ice fish at least every other day...just somethin about being out there in my shanty. ???
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I prefer hard water then open water.
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I prefer Ice as well. Even in the boat I have to have ice.... usually in my drink. A good Crown Black on the rocks goes good while trolling salmon on Lk Michigan!
Also I spend the warm months on my motorcycle, and the fall in the bow stand.
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Not necessarly what I prefer but something I look forward to every season that I can get out.
:tipup:
NBG
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Ice fishing is the way to go for my spring and summer is booked with farming and my wife's plans!!
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Im a four season guy. Every season brings something that I look forward to. In the winter, Ice fishing is that thing. Spring comes and I fly fish for trout. Summer is for Saltwater. I spend the fall split between more fly fishing and hunting. I could give reasons why I prefer any of them, but I much rather just wake up in the morning and have an excuse to say "Its a good day for fishing" 365 days a year!
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Ice fishing and deer hunting are both tied for number one for me.
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I fish HARD all year long. However, I consider the soft water fishing just practice for this time of year. There is something very special about the hum of my Vex and attempting to will a large red bar to rise to my jig.
Cheers,
Ice Beard
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I hunt and soft water fish as I count down the days till the ice hardens..... Hard water fishing triumphs all other outdoor activitys for me....
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I love to ice fish, but open water is clearly more fun... From smallies doing cart wheels, casting a fly to a rising trout, stripers turning the water white with a blitz, 40+ lb cod slamming a jig while watching it all on the sounder, sight casting to False Albacore that make multiple drag screaming 100+ yard runs and best of all Blue Fin Tuna on a popper with a spinning rod, sorry the hard water just does not compare...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E00KdfvDKY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E00KdfvDKY)
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If I could only do one kind of fishing
ICEFISHING would be it :woot: :woot:
Pirk
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I gave up hunting in 07 to dedicate more time and money to fishing. I had lost the real passion to hunt animals while my passion to hunt fish kept growing. I love all the changing seasons and the challenges it brings. Ice or open, salt or fresh, no mater, I just love to fish.
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Ice fishing and deer hunting are both tied for number one for me.
X2
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I like hard water and open water just as well, but I have to say taking my 2 boys is a lot more laid back on the ice than in a 14' john boat. There is room to roam, and a lot less snags and tangles on the ice. ;D
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Ice fishing for me no bugs just something about sitting out there on the ice ;D ;D ;D
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I love my annual muskie fishing trip to Canada in summer, other than that I prefer ice fishing.
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I like whatever season it is the best.... Except spring.,.... I hate spring...
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I love spring it's a nice transition from late ice crappie to early open water crappie fishing. Mid summer is the worst, hot and too many bugs, plus the fishing slows way down. Give me winter, fall and spring, in that order. Summer is over rated!
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I love spring it's a nice transition from late ice crappie to early open water crappie fishing. Mid summer is the worst, hot and too many bugs, plus the fishing slows way down. Give me winter, fall and spring, in that order. Summer is over rated!
I couldn't agree with that more and wish I was still somewhere I could enjoy that crappie bite.
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Ice is My Favorite
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I am an ice fisherman who fishes for catfish during the warmer months. Not a week goes by that I am not doing something geared towards ice fishing season.
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I look forward all year to the ice fishing season, my favorite time of year!!!
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For me open water fishing is something to do while I can't ice fish!
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OK, I understand most of you love ice fishing more and that is fine, we all have our favorites. But as I gave some examples of why I like open water better, what is it that make hard water your preferred? This is not a judgment, maybe a dislike of bugs is enough to tilt it to the ice? What is your reason?
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I preferred ice for many years, mostly related to the mobility of ice fishing( some of it was surely my un dividing love for vertical fishing and flashers), then when I could afford a boat, I preferred that for a couple seasons.... Now that I'm comfy and cozy in my fishing, I'll take them both with seasons they come with.
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Since i don't have a boat, i definitely prefer the ice. Even if i did have a boat, i would prefer the ice. It's an addiction
.
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Don't really prefer one over the other, I prefer to target big game (pike and muskie) through the ice, but other than that, there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
I bass tournament fish in the spring through fall, and ice fishing is a great way to find new pieces of structure, since many lakes are drawn down. Also, I love how this site has become somewhat of an "ice fishing social network" and easy to meet other fishermen who you can become friends with, I often simply say the name of my vehicle, or my shanty, and I have a few people stop and introduce themselves throughout the day. I like the experience of being able to set my tip ups up, and fire up a big pan of sausage and peppers marinara while I wait, and offer some to those around me.
In open water, I bass fish, and fly fish for trout. The weather isn't as a cold and sometimes a bit more tolerable. It's a bit easier to get people who want to come out (I have some people who refuse to ice fish with me since they're afraid of falling through the ice, eventhough I tell them that in 20 years of doing this, I've gone in once, only to my hip, and that was on last ice in 70 degree weather, easier to get them on a boat),
To sum it up, my year of fishing isn't complete without doing both.
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Soft water. Salmon and perch on Lake Michigan, walleyes on Lake Erie. Heavy line, big baits, big fish, better for my old eyes.
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I love spring it's a nice transition from late ice crappie to early open water crappie fishing. Mid summer is the worst, hot and too many bugs, plus the fishing slows way down. Give me winter, fall and spring, in that order. Summer is over rated!
Obviously you've never been big lake fishing in July-August with 20+ pound king salmon screaming out hundreds of yards of line. Once you go out on the big lakes and fish for big staging kings you won't be able to say that summer is overrated.
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I like whatever season it is the best.... Except spring.,.... I hate spring...
Wow. Spring is my #1 trout fishing time. A spring morning in the boat or a late fall deer hunt, that's about a tie. But ice fishing is an extremely close second to those.
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Or he doesn't have much of a care for running out tons of line, or down riggers, or trolling endlessly. I don't mind doing any of those things at certain times, but I surely have no love for it.
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Ice fishing rules! I have a boat and really enjoy it but ice rocks. Being able to move around easier, the camaraderie between ice fishermen, no offense but less water traffic, and I can go to another lake without having to wash a boat first. I ALWAYS wash my boat between lakes so I am not bringing any unwanted "Critters" to the second lake.
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Panfishing in the winter, mostly catfishing spring summer and fall. Don't know that I prefer one over the other, but I like ice more and more every year it seems. And I don't have to waste fishing time cutting grass or weeding the garden.
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If there is ice thick enough to safely ice fish on I prefer it over soft water. No matter the weather in the winter, -30 below and 25 mph winds, I can get comfortable in the pick-up, flip over, or perm. Might not catch much but it is relaxing even with my son with me. In the summer every time I hit days off the wind will start screaming making fishing a pain in the butt and anything but relaxing with a two year old in the boat and big rollers shoving the boat around. Oh and like everyone else I hate bugs but the wind really sucks in western ND.
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I have boat...prefer ice fishing
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I love fishing all year every chance I get but being on the ice is the best time to catch the fish I like to eat Crappie perch and gills. I will fish for anything that will bite a hook but the only fish I keep are those three there and hardwater is when I catch the most.
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I do some soft water but the hard water is the best. I just think of all the times that my Dad and I had went,and now it is my Son and I. And it is that thing about pulling a fish out of a hole,that just makes me want to go even more.
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Would have to be something like #1 ice fishing hands down, #2 Spring bass/crappie, #3 Fly fishing spring/Fall
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I'm a 4 season outdoorsman/fisherman as well, but there's something magical about getting out on a frozen lake. From the crunching noise of snow crumbling under your feet, the cold air filling your lungs, the sound of an auger cutting thru ice, setting up traps, flags popping, fine tuning your jigging techniques, watching the fish rise and then the hit, man I could go on and on....yeah....I prefer the ice over pretty much everything else! Tight lines! :icefish:
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when it comes to fishing, I love fishing from a small boat as I work weedy edges and lilypads. In the summer I fish early morning and evening and it's fun to get out on a lake at night and fish topwater by sound or with a lantern for crappie. Flyfishing an evening hatch or casting bass bugs or tossing a long flashy streamer for pike with a heavy fly rod can't easily be beaten. But as far as I'm concerned... HARD WATER RULES! :tipup: ;D
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I like ice fishing just as much as time in the boat, it's about being out there in nature, I don't hunt..... so fishing and woodworking are my go to hobbies. But I have to agree.....no bugs while ice fishing....that's nice.
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This is a tough question. I just love to fish and will fish when I can. An easier question would be do you like to ice fish or hunt more...ICE FISH ;D
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I have a boat and I love fishing period.but I would take ice hands down not really sure the reasons just love it so much have looked into moving more north to have more of it but the weather that makes a lot of ice also hurts my profession as a mason :icefish:flllaaaaaggggggggg
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I prefer ice fishing. Most years I get my biggest fish of the year through the Ice. I think the relatively short and unpredictable ice season adds to the appeal. I always feel lucky whenever I can get out.
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I think the relatively short and unpredictable ice season adds to the appeal.
you may be right there but I sure would like to have so much ice I would get tired of it. nahhhhh :tipup:
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I understand this is an ice water fishing site and would be followed by some hard core ice anglers---------- but I believe some of you replying to this thread are just caught up in the season. Most of the serious fisherman I know would never trade open water for ice. The endless possibilities of open water, compared to staring at a hole in the ice, has to win out for the vast majority of fishermen.
I love ice fishing also, but let's face it, for most of us it's the only game in town.
OK let the bashing commence.
Hogan
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that is what is so nice about IS the different opinions and point of views thank god everyone is not the same.flaaaaaaaaaaag
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Hogan, could be... but I doubt it ;D
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Ice fishing is my #1 but reelin in a nice fat largemouth or a smallie in the summer out of my kayak is a close 2nd ;D
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love the late fall fishin' in western ny
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Not as smelly, don't have to buy ice to keep fish cool, no bugs, and ability to go anywhere on lake compared to shore fishing...I LOVE ICE FISHING! :tipup:
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You boys are missing the boat (pun intended) lol I love to ice fish but if I had to choose saltwater particularly off shore( and I don't mean from shore or goin to catch stripers and fluke I mean Pelagics shark tuna etc) I honestly don't think I could move away from the ocean even though I have considered it I always find myself wondering how I would feel after a couple years of not sinkings a harpoon or gaff into the side of a tuna or shark. I couldn't do it I would loose my mind. I understand for the guys that have never done it saying that they have plenty of fun bass fishing or catching walleye but I promise you have know idea what it's like watching a big tuna come
Up and smash a spreader bar 30 yards behind the boat and listening to a penn 70 scream like it was gunna explode for 45 seconds. See I try to give a simple response and it turns into wet dreams about offshore lol
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By far more relaxing...no jerks on jet skis or speed boats screwing up your fishing and a lot more peaceful.
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If I had my choice, I'd be fly fishing. But, Ice is a lot of fun.
RG
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open water for me...I fish bass tournaments. But I do love ice fishing too!
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I like ice fishing alot, but find myself dreaming about fishing out of my boat all winter. On the other hand, I don't dream about ice fishing all summer. Everything just seems so much more difficult in the winter!
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I am great full to live where there are four seasons. Ice fishing really does make me happy during the winter months. I do ice fish more than open water so i would say i do prefer it to open water. :tipup:
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I wish we could have 70 degrees and hard water year round! Ice is the way to go in my book. A close second is fly fishing for gills. Third is salmon fishing the creeks and streams in the fall.
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I understand this is an ice water fishing site and would be followed by some hard core ice anglers---------- but I believe some of you replying to this thread are just caught up in the season. Most of the serious fisherman I know would never trade open water for ice. The endless possibilities of open water, compared to staring at a hole in the ice, has to win out for the vast majority of fishermen.
I love ice fishing also, but let's face it, for most of us it's the only game in town.
OK let the bashing commence.
Hogan
I don't think you understand the hardcore addict. When I open water fish, I'm scouting for ice fishing.
I do have other hobbies like cycling, soft water, and cooking, but I think about and wait for ice fishing all year.
Pirk
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exactly.i live and breath ice fishing ,already dreading the end and its only Dec. :tipup: :tipup: :tipup:
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Yeah but I do love ice fishing. It's tied up with the summer trolling. Nothing gets me for excited than flag up early in the morning or seeing the vex light up light like a Christmas tree!
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centerpin fishing rivers all year round.. but ice is an extremely close second followed by deer hunting and soft water with the boat.... this time of year I'm torn between steelhead and my shanty
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The only time I get on the water is when I can walk on it. ;D
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Im a four season guy. Every season brings something that I look forward to. In the winter, Ice fishing is that thing. Spring comes and I fly fish for trout. Summer is for Saltwater. I spend the fall split between more fly fishing and hunting. I could give reasons why I prefer any of them, but I much rather just wake up in the morning and have an excuse to say "Its a good day for fishing" 365 days a year!
This about sums it up for me. There is always something to look forward too.
I love all fishing and my other hobbies too. Hunting in the fall for game big and small including ducks. Saltwater fishing in the summer. Catching Salmon on the rivers in the summer and fall. There is always something to look forward to.
Ice fishing is a part of winter I will never give up and I certainly don't see myself moving anywhere there isn't icefishing.
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gotta go with hard water great exersize ;)
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Man I can't Belive non of you guys do any offshore.
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I do... I have been guiding the salt, including offshore for years...
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Well at least I'm not alone lol idk where athol is I'm in ct I issually trailer the boat up and fish the cape for BFT a few times a year and some cod trips were not lucky enough down here to get the tuna and cod in close like you guys.
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Gott'a say, I agree with an earlier comment. I think about ice fish'n during the spring, summer and fall (and winter if the ice isn't safe)! OK, maybe "think about" isn't really the right way to describe it, rather I seem to "crave" ice fishing! don't get me wrong, I like all seasons for fishing, just not to the extent of my love of the hard water! I plan, ponder, wish, daydream, and spend way more money on my ice fishing addiction, than anything else! I'll drive 10.5 hours to get to a good ice fishing outing, without even thinking about it. Can't say that for soft water. I like my boat, but I like my ice better! It is just that, an addiction!!! ;D
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Bowfishing first, Ice fishing second and finally regular fishing bringing up the rear
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Man I can't Belive non of you guys do any offshore.
I do as well. I have a 23' saltwater boat for fishing Halibut, salmon, rockfish, lingcod etc.
I don't do it in winter though just too much hassle with the cold and our icy roads.
I also like the fact that I can hit the ice for as little or as long as I want.
It is over an hours drive to my favorite saltwater port and pretty much an all day affair with the big boat.
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I love to ice fish,I fish in the summer that is OK but ice fishing is something like no other. Fat Fish
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Fly fishing is my favorite. I even spend days when I can go ice fishing; standing in a river waving a stick. That being said, ice fishing is a close second. There's something about walking on water an literally standing ontop of the fish
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I fish anytime,golf consumes my summer months so the winter is free to hard water fish.
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I would have to say ice fishing is my favorite hobby. I am in Georgia sitting in 66 degrees pig hunting checking ice shanty for our local ice reports. This is pretty fun but I rather be in my shanty with my 8 year old.
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It's tough to say. Spring and fall my wife and I have our raft on water ever river whenever we can. Summer we hike and fish mountain lakes. Starting first freeze every winter I am a junky for ice fishing.
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With the exception of river Smallies on a fly rod Icefishing is my favorite type of fishing. If the weather is right in winter I'll go after Coyotes first, but the weather often doesn't co-operate so it's icefishing 10-1
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Love eating panfish, so much tastier in the winter.
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the fish definitely taste better ;D
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the fish definitely taste better ;D
My theory on that is, they taste better because it is the only time of the year most folks pull fish out of the water and put them on ice. I believe that if you ice your summer fish promptly they taste just as good.
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fish for bass when the water is soft and fish for panfish thru the ice. Ice is very rewarding and relaxing , but so is open water fishing. SO i guess i just love to fish !!!
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If I was as successful fishing open water as I am on ice, I might be more excited about doing it, but there is no doubt that I wait all summer for the ice to begin. Highlight of the year for me.
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nite time walleye fishing, deer hunting, fresh water fishing, ocean fishing, great ways to pass the time, all have one thing in common, spending hours upon hours waiting for 3 min of action. I wouldn't trade it in for nothing lol. All the memories and good times, ....priceless...
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My theory on that is, they taste better because it is the only time of the year most folks pull fish out of the water and put them on ice. I believe that if you ice your summer fish promptly they taste just as good.
I am afraid I just don't agree with that I have iced them right away and I don't think they taste quite the same especially bass.but that's just me.
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fishing is my passion, so whether it's ice fishing, open water fishing, fly fishing, or deep sea fishing, i want to be out there doing it.
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It's a toss up for me between hunting and icefishing. Soft water fishing is just something to do when I can't do the others.
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If I were to go by the amount of times I take the boat out versus the times out ice fishing, ice fishing wins hands down.
I think someone else said it, Summer is overrated!
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Pretty sure there are more ice fishing people then summer fishermen on this site. I do both but I don't get as excited in the summer to go out.
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the fish definitely taste better ;D
Amen.... Ice time is definitely the time to stock the freezer. They just taste amazing when they come through the ice!
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Ice is the only time I fish. No snow and I'm on the golf course
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Ice fishing by far, there's just something special about being out on the hard water pulling fish through the ice.
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I like them both. I fish a few tournaments in the summer. Mostly on the river where I live. I just love fishing in general and as long as I'm on water chasing fish I'm a happy camper.
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ice is for me... in the blood... primative, exciting, makes me want to move north...
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My favorite thing to do is hunt elk but I can only do that 1 week out of the year. Ice fishing is a very close second, and my favorite type of fishing for sure.
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HARDWATER !
driving along the Quabbin reservoir this morning saying to myself "I love this weather!", -8 this morning.
brought my shanty today.....and stood outside!
the brisk fresh air. Hell, I just walked the dogs in my t-shirt! burrrrrrrr..... I LOVE THE COLD!
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Ah man, I go nonstop all year, thats what I love about ny theres such diverse fishing, from the spring bite to the summer topwater bite and then the fall frenzy all leading up to the magical waking on water season, of coarse lets not forget the striper run on the hudson or any of the runs coming out of ontario,...I just couldnt prefer one over the other realy !I would be a sad man if it were any different......
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I enjoy all fishing..... But there's something about ice fishing that just has me hooked like no other!
Dunno why but I'm definitely a hardwater addict! I'll bust a** all summer working so I can plan more ice fishing trips during the winter....
I freaking love this sh*t!!!!!
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Summer saltwater is my first choice, the fish are massive, epic and exciting but for sheer, easy fun icefishing for panfish is a ball and tough to beat. Small investment, high success and a tasty meal. It really speeds up those long four months from deer season to spring turkey.