Not all are members

[salmonrebel]

On that note I can agree with that 100% this is one of the better sights that have been to and I wish I could find an open water forum like this.  I have made some real nice connection from this place and I support the intentions. 

I agree. This is a great site, for this great sport. As far as an openwater forum. I just recently joined one of the other sister-sites to this forum, myfishfinder.com. It is an openwater fishing forum. I haven't posted on it yet, but I'm sure one of the moderaters could probably mention about it, seeing that it looked like at least some of them are moderaters on that forum as well...Good Fishin'...SalmonRebel.

[salmonrebel]

WOW I’m very surprised this thread did not blow up onto a big argument over what people think others should share.  Conditions posting that is great I go out of my way to make sure others do not head out on iffy ice or make a wasted trip.  What I do, use,  or how I do it I will tell anyone but I have to draw the line when it comes to specific locations.     

Take care and good luck,

Snapper

Yea. I'm kind of surprised this didn't end up a big arguement too, especially with my Rebel charm!

Be safe, and good luck to all. SalmonRebel.

[TIME2FISH]

With regard to the statement of  guys asking for ice conditions and then not seeing any posts from them and  asking “what’s up with that?”  You can use me as a case in point. Here’s a little background. Just prior to my recent retirement, I had visions of grandeur, I would be out fishing every day. Yeah right! It hasn’t happened. Warm spells, rain, icy roads and not wanting to go alone have limited me to four trips. I did post good and bad for each trip, but had to cancel out on twice as many planned trips for one reason or another. As far as posting , I agree with and can’t add anymore to what’s already been said, except for a couple of quotes.

"Most fishermen swiftly learn that it's a pretty good rule never to show a favorite spot to any fisherman you wouldn't trust with your wife" -- John Voelker

"Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths." -- Jimmy D Moore

[Snapper]

I logged onto that myfishfinder a BUNCH of time it just does not get the action like this site does.  It is a shame becasue I enjoy this site during that hard water.

[Pajns]

If your parked in a certain spot on the lake for a few days you think people don't notice that???  I know I think...They must be catchin em. Example is the posts about a church lot being packed with trucks and cars. Before that day there was no posts on here about the bite being good there. Its a easy access place to get on the lake and alot of people always fish it. I guess my point is people are going to find your so called hot spots one way or the other. Guess the only way to prevent this is to close window in shanty and hide your catch in a bucket when coming off the ice. I have gotten info from bait shops saying there have been alot of guys fishing here or there. If I'm on the ice and someone walks by and ask that all important question......Having any luck???   I always answer it...cause....When I'm walking past people I hope they do the same to me. Some stretch the truth but when fishing by them and seeing them run for flags all day I know the truth. When I'm on the ice I always keep my eyes open.  Not hard to notice who's doing good and who has found the fish. Doesn't mean when they move I'm running over there but I do keep it in my head for future trips. But when I go fishing that area again I might try where they were catchin em. Is that Hot Spots stealing???  I don't think so. They ain't there so its fair game. Just like if I go there and someone is in a spot I wanna fish. All I do is get there alittle earlier the next time.  Have a GREAT weekend Guys and STAY SAFE!!!!!!  PS....Don't try to follow me cause I will be in a disguise this weekend....LOL

[Gambler]

Well you could probably consider me a "lurker".  I have been a member here for 6 or so years and I have only posted 83 times.
I mainly use the forum to find out ice conditions and I generally only get to fish one day a week so most of the time the conditions are posted by the lucky ones that can get out every day or two. I do not want to know exactly where you are catching fish. If I were on the ice and you walked up to me and said hello I would have no problem with you sitting right beside me if I were catching fish or not. I have learned that life is way too short so enjoy the moment. And if you had a child with you I would go out of my way to make sure that child had a pleasurable day on the ice and that he or she would take home a very good memory. I would like to meet some of the local guys but I never seem too.

[1MOFISH]

I just wanted to say this because of a post I just read. We need to remember that not everyone on the ice is an active member on IS. There will always be lurkers that are on here only for info. without giving any in return but there are LOTS of people that don't even know about IS. We just need to remember that MOST of the guys on here will post decent reports when they go so we should do the same in return. It's not just give or take, it should be give AND take. Just my 2 cents and we know what that's worth these days.

i hear ya it should be give and give sometimes selfishness takes over i hate to not post the hot spot but its hard when you get there to not have a place to fish,youll always have takers lets outnumber them and maybe they will come to realize its better to be one of the gang    mo

[Ripper10x]

I guess I am a "Lurker" also.  This is my first season fishing the hard water and I am trying to gather as much information as possible, so I read almost every post.  I don't have much time to hit the ice, so I want to maximize my chances of doing the right things.  I am not looking for your honey hole, just reading to see how, why, where, and with what.  I don't have any words of wisdom or strategies for you guys, because I am sure you all "have done that, been there before".  I have only been out 4 times this year and have caught fish all but one time, even my very first outing.  The reason I have been able to catch fish, is because you guys are willing to post all of this great information.
You know, I would like to get out this weekend, but with risky ice conditions I will stay at home.  I fish by myself and wouldn't dare ask to meet up with some one for safety reasons.  I wouldn't want to steal your "secret spot"!

Paul   

[Pajns]

You ought to ask...you might be surprised at the answer. Lotta good people on this site. I ask alot cause I really don't care for fishing alone when ya think the ice could be iffy.

[EJF]

When posting on IS I don't get in to great detail because it IS the internet and ALOT of people will see it but I try to share some stuff. If you see me on the ice I'll show or tell you anything I can to help you out.

[icewagon]

I usually fish on Sat. sometimes Sun. afternoon. ,I used to fish a lot more when I worked 3rd shift. But I always post where I fished ,what time , water depth, ice thickness, what bait, how bait was fished , weather ,and what was caught. If your fishing next to me and on that particular day I seem to be having more success than you by all means come and talk to me , put a hole right next to me I'll fish with you .you will end up with something good to eat and a new friend .

[caddy084]

This will be my last post on this subject. I sometimes fish with a guy that never wants any of our spots to get out in the open. He will not hook a fish if someone is watching, he'd just assume let the fish strip his jig of bait. He'll cover the jig's on his rigged rods hanging on the back of the sled with tinfoil so no one can see what he is using. He never,ever let's a fish lie on the ice, and always warns about saying anything on I.S. and I think this is so stupid... Ya know it's really not that hard to find a hot spot for any given lake or waterway. Just look around when you get their, if you see an area with 300 holes in it chances are it's probably holding fish. If you see a big group of fisherman in an area of the lake, it's probably holding fish. If you drive by a river and their is 20 cars on the side of the road, their probably catching fish their too as well. I have been a member here on I.S. for  4 yrs. and this year was the first year I have ever fished a place from reading a post about it, the first time!!! It was Lake Winola and I did go right to the exact spot stated in the post. We probably caught 50-60 brook trout, which were all released. Now if ya know me ya know I hate trout, hate them, don't even care to catch them but I took my dad their because he loves catching these things, or any fish for that matter , he probably caught 40 of them little 8" to 10" brookie's that day and had a smile from ear to ear. Now my dad taught me everything I know about hunting and fishing, and is approaching his 71'st birthday, and being that I don't know how long I'll be ice fishing with him I figured I'd take him trout fishing and he had a ball. Thank you for this POST as I really enjoyed that day with my dad. Now like I stated before no one is looking for your specific area, Just a little post to let people know the ice conditions and if the fish were bitting or not, because it might just bring a smile to an old man's face.....  "Caddy Out"....  

[salmonrebel]

Went to the private lake today. and just hammered 'em!   Went to the bait store 3 times for more bait!, and still didn't have enough!

[sbfPA_Mike]

Caddy's story is amazing. It should really make you stop and think about what everyone is posting. We all like to cut up, make jokes, poke fun at each other, but his post is what Ice Shanty is all about. Caddy is the every man here; in this case he wanted his Dad to catch fish. In someone elses case, they could be taking their kids out, maybe someone wanted their wife to experiance what they get to experiance when they go out. My point is, a seemingly small, 30 second post could turn into a lifetime of memories for someone. Give and take, moderation, and communication are the keys to life, use em wisely.

Thanks Caddy,

Mike

[Snapper]

I think everyone is on the same page with this topic, general locations gets posted no big deal, ice conditions, feet of water, so on and so on.  No foul no harm no big deal the issue comes about when you have that area that key structure that holds quality and quantity of fish and does not have 300 hole punched over it.  Those are the areas that people are not putting out that and that’s OK it is hard work and time consuming finding those areas.  Will other stumble on then sure no big deal, but posting them up for 100’s to see that’s another storey.   


The majority of the “hot spots”  you are not going to find from an area that gets hit hard day in day out because they are out of the way.  I put my fish in a bucket I do not put them on the ice, when I fish a tourney in open water my rods are in the locker because I do now want others to see specific colors or lures.  Because I can tell you I look at other peoples gear to see what they are using. 

If you are new read, post, and ask people will help you out that is what this site is here for. 

Take care,

Snapper           

[salmonrebel]

Went to the private lake today. and just hammered 'em!   Went to the bait store 3 times for more bait!, and still didn't have enough!

I think alot of the time, some people take things way too seriously. I am totally for taking loved ones fishing and hunting. With that, I like to hopefully hook them up on a nice outing. For anyone that doesn't really know me. I love making jokes, and making people laugh. And sometimes it may offend those who have their underwear in a bunch. I try to help someone out whenever I can, and do fairly often since I've signed onto this forum. But there are a few that are looking for every detail, without putting any time on the water for themselves. You can't please everyone, oh well.

[Ski Hunter]

I think alot of the time, some people take things way too seriously. I am totally for taking loved ones fishing and hunting. With that, I like to hopefully hook them up on a nice outing. For anyone that doesn't really know me. I love making jokes, and making people laugh. And sometimes it may offend those who have their underwear in a bunch. I try to help someone out whenever I can, and do fairly often since I've signed onto this forum. But there are a few that are looking for every detail, without putting any time on the water for themselves. You can't please everyone, oh well.

I demand you give me the GPS coordinates to your honey hole, drag all my gear out, set the hook and then hand me the rod...anything less and your one of the bad guys who expect me to actually go out and learn how to do things on my own 


I'm the first to admit that in terms of conditions, I've become a major lurker. I stopped using this forum for conditions quite some time ago. Between false reports and the fact I actually had guys thank me for driving 30-50 miles to check ice conditions and posting them since they didn't want to drive a few blocks to check it for themselves. Its easy to see how that could push someone over the edge pretty quickly. Probably 75% of the times I've clicked on a thread in the reports/ conditions page in the past 2 seasons its been someone asking. There are more posts on here asking for conditions than actually reporting them. Take a ride and check. If it turns out to be unsafe it sure beats sitting on the couch all day. If it is safe than fish it which once again, better than sitting on the couch.

Enough of my rant...its too windy to go sit on a lake so I'm off to swing flies into a local creek looking for bait for the weekend 

[pocono]

If someone only wants to uses IS for conditions and fish reports so be it.  All this info is for everyone.  What gos around comes around and people have to start someplace.