So ice fishing is incredibly popular now?

[mdougla1]

This is clearly anecdotally speaking but it seems to me that over the last 5 years the interest in ice fishing has just absolutely exploded. 

I have to imagine there's some research to confirm what I'm seeing here locally, but my eye balls tell me that roughly 8,000,000 more folks ice fish in the state of ny than 15 years ago.

Granted, this influx of participation doesn't seem to be limited to the hard water. Similar issues have been going on for years now in the high peaks region of the state, with an explosion of interest in hiking (yuck).  Lack of parking/access has been an issue for several years as folks flock to the outdoors, even prior to covid.



With recruitment levels being what they are, there needs to be a response from the state in terms of generating additional access to these fishing spots.



Private land owners who are forced to deal with the influx of anglers could blow up several popular access spots on a whim and then we would really be in a pinch.

Its good that folks want to recreate, but access has not expanded to keep up with demand. 

I dont see this as a sustainable situation.

[adkRoy]

People are loving our natural resources to death.

http://https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/what-a-waste-human-poop-plagues-the-mountains/Content?oid=6961836

[Jake1]

to add to that the advancement in electronics and HD cameras etc a lot of these lakes are getting hammered . seems like everyone has them. bigger lakes will be fine these smaller ones who knows. time will tell

[Iceman1899]

I feel just the advancement in portable shantys over the last 15 years have made a huge impact. I use to just sit on a bucket when I first started fishing ice. There were a lot of days I wouldn’t dream of fishing or only be able to stand couple hours out back then. Now with a flip shanty and heater as long as the wind is under 30mph I’m good to go. Spend a lot of days sunup to sundown as well. I definitely see you point. As with a lot of things there are many pros and cons to the spike in popularity of something and you have a very good point on public access. I’m finding that more of a problem from fishing to hiking camping hunting etc in the past couple years

[mdougla1]

to add to that the advancement in electronics and HD cameras etc a lot of these lakes are getting hammered . seems like everyone has them. bigger lakes will be fine these smaller ones who knows. time will tell

I'm not worried about the state managing the resource, I'm worried about the lack of viable access to these spots


I fished on lake george yesterday out of huletts.   The state owned beach was at MAX capacity when we left at noon. Fortunately there's a popular spot to get on through private down the road, but there were 35 plus vehicles there. What happens when the locals are so sick of that many folks up there they close off that access point?

[Pequod1]

I agree. It is a lot easier these days with shanties. I remember the bucket days well.  I also think that people have a lot more free time with either no job, unfortunately, or working at home on line.

[mdougla1]

I agree. It is a lot easier these days with shanties. I remember the bucket days well.  I also think that people have a lot more free time with either no job, unfortunately, or working at home on line.

I agree covid has amplified the situation, but things have really been escalating the last few years prior to the pandemic.

The hiking situation in the adks has been going on for a long time.   

I  dont know who told these people the outdoors can be fun, but they really messed up.

[Mr.Seaguar]

I've noticed the exact same thing in Iowa. Where are these people coming from? 

[IcefisherSteve]

Has been huge increase in outdoor activities. I See more walkers, joggers, bike riders than ever. Bike trails got put in all over.
I noticed increase in hunters this year also. Most people have a lot more time free time now. I also think social media plays a huge part too. Gotta get those pics ups on social media for everyone to see. Social media turned into pp measuring contest for most sports. Everything is based off likes and followers now it seems.

[BeenPerchin315]

I couldn’t agree more with most if not all of you. We need more parking and need variances for access.
 To many home owners these days at/marked dec access aim bubblers and use dock heaters trying to prohibit use.
There is a spot I fish that has a large off road parking spot but no one will maintain it in winter. Ie plow the lot so everyone just parks on the side of road for min .5 mi both ways. Best thing yet at this access I saw some twerp that backed his truck and trailer down the access ramp with trailer tires at ice edge. Illegal as can be. There were 3/4 others parked in there as well keeping the access open but still illegal.

What’s wrong with people today.

[grubdropper]

There is a big difference when you try to go fishing on Saturday and Sunday and holidays.   There are much less people fishing Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday.

[trapper2000]

i think your all talking  hog wash ...yes great advancements  in  equipment  but  i  don't see that many more  fisherman ..... i thinkyou all think  to much and  fish to little

[FingerLaker607]

Yeah ok...some of us working stiffs can't fish weekdays. You don't see more people fishing Otisco on the weekends? Really? When was the last time you were at Apps on a weekend. C'mon man

[jiignut]

I started writing this around 2:00 right after reading the last post at that time of hiking in Adks.
Snow on my dish cut my connection, then lost my post. Glad I screen grabbed it beforehand.

[jiignut]

Part 2.

[mdougla1]

i think your all talking  hog wash ...yes great advancements  in  equipment  but  i  don't see that many more  fisherman ..... i thinkyou all think  to much and  fish to little

When I began my comment I stated that I was speaking anecdotally.


Thank you for responding with facts and data to prove why your anecdote is more important than mine.

[mdougla1]

Part 2.

I think you're opening a very interesting can of worms that is only somewhat related to the issue at hand. I think hunter recruitment is super important given the constant attacks on our hunting heritage. But I do see your point

[mdougla1]

 https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/human-interest/2021/02/01/ice-fishing-heightened-interest


 https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ice-fishing-growing-in-popularity-in-manitoba-amid-pandemic-1.5267385

https://www.southbendtribune.com/sports/outdoors/outdoors-ice-fishing-popularity-on-the-rise/article_03fddfb0-1d33-11ea-aea9-076175d992c6.html

https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/fun-time-on-the-mississippi-ice-fishing-grows-in-popularity-on-river/349166

FAKE NEWS

[trapper2000]

facts ....

2006-2007  991,084  fishing license  sold in new york

2017-2018  921,172 fishing license  sold 

https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/26368.html

looks like i found  70,000people that  disagree with you 

[BeenPerchin315]

facts ....

2006-2007  991,084  fishing license  sold in new york

2017-2018  921,172 fishing license  sold 

https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/26368.html

looks like i found  70,000people that  disagree with you 

So trap are we to say that actual numbers of fisherman are down, more people are breaking the law, or have that 70,000 less moved to a state where there are lower taxes. 🧐🧐

Lol. Haha. 🤣😂🤣🤣

[mdougla1]

facts ....

2006-2007  991,084  fishing license  sold in new york

2017-2018  921,172 fishing license  sold 

https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/26368.html

looks like i found  70,000people that  disagree with you 

I didn't realize fishing licenses only applied to the hard water


This is family friendly website so I won't say what I actually wanna say

I'll just say have a good night

[mdougla1]

I cant find the exact numbers because the world wide web is only giving me figures on how 2020 sales tripled 2019 sales in ny hunting tags for the same time frames in each season in ny


This website never ceases to amaze

[jiignut]

I was just looking at that too. Couldn’t find FISHING stats for last year/s. I guess Trapper couldn’t either. Would be interesting if similar to the hunting stats.
I find it odd the Super Bowl halftime show is a guy from Canada 🇨🇦. It’s not the Olympics.

[Mytipupisbiggerthanyours]

Ever since spring of 2020, I’ve seen way more people out with every kind of fishing I do. My catfish spot had 5x the amount of people it did to the point I got sick of going down there and not having a spot to park. Ice fishing now I tried to fish mayville at Chautauqua lake the one day. Got there at 8am and parking was FULL. I’ve been ice fishing Chautauqua for 7 years now and have never seen it full. Steelhead streams were a circus this fall too. Obviously Covid has an impact, but I feel social media does too. A lake I fish had a nice pike posted on a Facebook page, the next weekend it was packed. Parking lot was full. Again I had never once in my life seen the parking lot full at this lake. I’m not so much worried about more pressure on the lakes, but I am worried about losing access due to trash being left, people blocking driveways, etc. but unfortunately it is what it is and nothing we can do about it. When things get back to normal, I’m sure you’ll see less and less. I’m excited to buy all the barely used ice fishing gear for sale later this fall 😁😁😁

[mdougla1]

I was just looking at that too. Couldn’t find FISHING stats for last year/s. I guess Trapper couldn’t either. Would be interesting if similar to the hunting stats.
I find it odd the Super Bowl halftime show is a guy from Canada 🇨🇦. It’s not the Olympics.

License sales for the year is not indicative of folks that participate in hard water to begin with. 


Open water fishing in ny is a year round event, why am I even explaining how ludicrous this argument is ?



Back to apps and beer.

[mdougla1]

Ever since spring of 2020, I’ve seen way more people out with every kind of fishing I do. My catfish spot had 5x the amount of people it did to the point I got sick of going down there and not having a spot to park. Ice fishing now I tried to fish mayville at Chautauqua lake the one day. Got there at 8am and parking was FULL. I’ve been ice fishing Chautauqua for 7 years now and have never seen it full. Steelhead streams were a circus this fall too. Obviously Covid has an impact, but I feel social media does too. A lake I fish had a nice pike posted on a Facebook page, the next weekend it was packed. Parking lot was full. Again I had never once in my life seen the parking lot full at this lake. I’m not so much worried about more pressure on the lakes, but I am worried about losing access due to trash being left, people blocking driveways, etc. but unfortunately it is what it is and nothing we can do about it. When things get back to normal, I’m sure you’ll see less and less. I’m excited to buy all the barely used ice fishing gear for sale later this fall 😁😁😁

Trash being left, people blocking driveways.


THATS LITERALLY ALL IM TALKING ABOUT.


But hey.  Some random jabronie on ice shanty dot com says the sport isn't growing. 

So settle down everyone.  All is well

[jiignut]

Doesn’t really matter to me what the official numbers are though. Only matters for this selfish serenity seeker what I see and experience, my places are being hugely invaded recently.

[BeenPerchin315]

License sales for the year is not indicative of folks that participate in hard water to begin with. 


Open water fishing in ny is a year round event, why am I even explaining how ludicrous this argument is ?



Back to apps and beer.

Your acting like a child and trying to create and argue with yourself because of the beer and apps.
Maybe you should take it easy on the beer bud.
And at the end of the day in 10 yrs according to New York State 70000 less people are legally fishing period. So theory suggests that the numbers of ice fishermen would decline too.
Tight lines
Perchin