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Im thinking this is a case of bad manners. Instead of these fellas taking the position that it's public property they should ask if you would mind some company. Yes obviously we all share the lake. But sharing means compromising. And sometimes sharing means you have to wait your turn. Kinda like being in a public restroom. If I go into a stall and someone is dropping a dookie Im not going to try to pee with him sitting there. Obviously not quite the same but you get my meaning. People should respect each others space a little. How much space depends on the individual. But common sense should say not to be using someone elses hole without at least asking if it is ok... Just my 2 cents...
Bring a paintball gun with you and if someone gets too close pepper 'em with paintballs. This will stave off boredom if the fish are not biting and will certainly keep you off the offenders Christmas card list
It's tough and all about what you are fishing and where you are fishing. I maintain no one ever owns the water and tip up fishing some distance is needed. However, I let jig fisherman come in and fish around my tackles and in old holes I may have moved from and I have no issue. Some people are going to crowd, some won't. I think it's best not to ruin a day over whether someone came close to a spot you had or not. you are never the only one who knows about a spot, and no one owns the water. I fished a derby this last weekend and the ice was literally covered with tipups, it's just how it was. I had a great day, even though some people fished close.
The timing of this is funny but yesterday on a popular sunnie spot where almost everyone knows each other and has fished it for years and always embraces strangers I saw some of what is being talked about. Most of the time when people come out they open a bunch of holes in the beginning and then again as the day progresses if new holes are needed. Everyone skips from spot to spot but often have a pattern of holes they work as long as the bite is holding up. We all respect that and generally there isn't any problem. Yesterday a person who isn't part of the group came extra out early and set up his sled, auger and a couple of buckets on all 4 sides of a popular snow pack. The fishrmen I know who got there next said hello to him and he wouldn't even answer. It was apparent he didn't want anyone to fish "his spot" which is strange since the group there has been fishing that spot all year when we are in that particular bay. I am not talking about a small area. He cordonned off the entire snow pack about 50' wide by almost 75 long. The local fishermen just cut around the marked off area and didn't cross his barrier. He wouldn't talk with anyone when engaged and just sat there with his head down fishing. Had any of our guys been on that pack and were pulling they would have welcomed him in. I can safely say that won't happen to this obvious non team person. Too bad but being that way he is missing out on a lot of fun. Once again people get way too serious about fish.
I see this happen all the time! Usually these guys were fishing near there yesterday...saw the "group" pulling fish on "that spot" ..and since they can't catch a fish anyway..they figure THE SPOT is the secret... So what they do is get up extra early...set up a barrier all around where the group was the day before, and guard it with a vengeance! With an attitude of..."I WAS HERE FIRST" "THIS IS MY SPOT" "ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE JERKS FOR CROWDING ME" "You should stay 50 yards away from me" Meanwhile...the people who fish all the time move around this type of guy pulling fish, having fun, enjoying the day.....AND ALL THE GUY CAN DO IS WATCH.....because it really doesn't matter where this type of guy fishes...HE CAN'T CATCH! and most likely never will if he doesn't make some friends that ice fish, learn to enjoy the crowd of his peers, and eventually relax enough to learn why everyone else is filling a bucket and all he can do is watch.....
Just to play devils advocate, I usually see this the other way around, guys that know how to catch fish are usually on fish, and those that don't have a clue are the ones moving in on the one that do, kinda like people lurking on sites like this.
don't feel bad,I had a guy mad at me for fishing his holes on Bomo that he made the day before I got there.I got there at 2PM and he didn't show till 4PM but I guess I shoulda known he was coming,I didn't see his deed to that part of the lake.I'm sorry ,but that's going too far,he wasn't even there,and there were no tips ups there either.
I agree with you trout whisperer, the other guys that disagree are probably from n.y. anyways does that tell you anything, go to dillinback and check license plates oh that's right there's no fish in n.y.!!!!!
Well I've been fishing for 45 yrs. seen it all. I fish to eat so when I spend my hard earned money on gas and bait i like to catch something. I usually get there before light and head to a spot where I know alot of people don't fish or too far to get there lazy ass out there, some times a mile from the parking lot then after getting set up have 3 guys on a 4 wheeler ride right up to me.Not another fisherman in sight and start setting up 50 yards from me and this is not no special spot. That's what I call rude, I respect other fisherman and would NEVER set right next to them unless it was smelt grounds and alot of other people. I tipup fish most of the time so I try to keep my distance I'll tolerate a few jiggers but more then that I WILL LET YOU KNOW and from that point on it won't be pleasant for you and me for the rest of the day, so if you are the guy fishing the hole I just drilled plan on getting wet when I fire up that 10 in. auger 6 in. from your foot and if that don't work they may need the rescue squad because if I'm not catching fish I get bored real quick. Back to the guys on the 4 wheeler I hollered over and asked them if they wanted to use my holes not a sound, come to find out I knew them lmao but that don't make it right. PS. this year I've seen more fisherman keep there distance then ever I respect that and I would invite them to fish with me anytime.
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Topic: Ice Fishing Etiquette? (Read 9883 times)
