I was thinking

[Waubay Fisher]

Another thing that bothers me is the garbage left on the ice. I take some garbage bags along and everything that goes out with me comes back off of the ice. I also pick some trash up left by others. I bet I could fill my pickup half way with garbage if I picked up trash for a day. Last year I walked over to what looked like beer bottles on the ice and as it turned out someone had drilled a hole almost through the ice and then proceeded to break bottles in the hole. I wasn't about to cut my gloves to ribbons  cleaning that mess up. I don't like the crowds either and I would like to find a nice out of the way place that isn't already fished out. I'll just keep  looking.

I haven't seen a lot of garbage on Waubay... but I have picked up some - and yes - it torques me off like no other.  Just the same as people throwing crap in the lake like empty crawler boxes I see floating from time to time... absolutely NO excuse for crap like that... LOL - maybe we need to have a "SD Grumpy Old Men" shanty here IceDawg... seems like we have a few things to complain about here!!!    Congrats on picking up that trash too ... if I were to have a commendable award in my possession I'd ship it on over to ya!!!

[ice dawg]

The hole full of broken beer bottles was on Waubay and there was the cardboard 12 pack packaging laying all over too. I sure don't want a medal, but I would like to see the lakes a bit cleaner. I doesn't take much to show a little respect for other fishermen and take it with you. It seems like the few spoil it for the many. I was on Richmond Lake this afternoon and all of the snow is gone with about an inch of water on top of five inches of ice. I won't be going back tomorrow because I really don't feel that it is safe anymore. If we get some good cold weather we should end up with some good strong ice. Tight lines.

[Waubay Fisher]

The hole full of broken beer bottles was on Waubay and there was the cardboard 12 pack packaging laying all over too. I sure don't want a medal, but I would like to see the lakes a bit cleaner. I doesn't take much to show a little respect for other fishermen and take it with you. It seems like the few spoil it for the many. I was on Richmond Lake this afternoon and all of the snow is gone with about an inch of water on top of five inches of ice. I won't be going back tomorrow because I really don't feel that it is safe anymore. If we get some good cold weather we should end up with some good strong ice. Tight lines.

I hear ya completely, garbage is ridiculous and there's no excuse for leaving it lay around and not pick up after yourself.  Some people just don't have enough pride and respect for their lakes and the outdoors...

I'll be up at Waubay this coming weekend.  Hopefully this warm weather hasn't had too much of an effect on the ice conditions!  I guess we'll find out though!

-WF.

[ice dawg]

I may be there next weekend too. I think my son has to work the next 10 days straight, but his girlfriend likes to fish with me. I sure wouldn't trust the ice around here anymore. I usually call the Sportsman's Cove for a fishing report before I head that way. I hope there will be enough ice for my atv one of these days. I didn't like walking on Richmond yesterday and a guy drove right on with his atv and went south. He still wasn't back when we left and it was about 8 pm. Hope he is ok. Maybe we'll run into each other next weekend. Didn't you say you usually fish the NE part of Waubay?

[Waubay Fisher]

Yep... usually fish the NE part - at least on ice I always do.  I heard of a few people in portables on the NE section... although it only had a few inches of ice (3+ or so) - a little to risky for me yet.  Grenville access only had 2+ I heard and I also heard from someone that drove down into the refugee to look that there was a good 50+ people in portables out there. I'm sure the refugee has a good 6+ by now if not more.  Next weekend should only be better, hopefully for the main basin areas too on the NE end.  I'll be heading up Fri morning afternoon and coming back Sat. evening or Sun afternoon.  Yeah if we meet up that's cool - if not that's cool too!  I just cannot wait to finally get out!  I think I'll try either the refugee or main basin areas on the NE end.  If Enemy Swim is good for ice conditions I might give that a whirl too and try the crappie/bluegill thing... Have to see I guess .

[ice dawg]

Is it ok to use an atv in the refuge when there is enough ice? I think I heard it is but only during certain hours. I have never fished the refuge and I don't know for sure how to get in there. Tight lines.

[Waubay Fisher]

Is it ok to use an atv in the refuge when there is enough ice? I think I heard it is but only during certain hours. I have never fished the refuge and I don't know for sure how to get in there. Tight lines.

As far as I know ID - there is no vehicle or motor traffic of any kind in the refugee during any season.  I am not COMPLETELY sure about the ATVs... but I do know that no boats, no boat motors, and no trucks/cars driving into the refugee... might want to contact the GFP about it... they'd let ya know fer sure .

[nodakbassmaster]

yeah, they would be the authority to ask.... as they would be the persons to ticket you if not. Good luck!

[Waubay Fisher]

Toothfish answered the question about ATV's in the thread "Hey South Dakotan's".  I pretty much figured there is no ATV travel... but wasn't completely sure....

[ice dawg]

I'm an old coot with a bad hip and I'm done pulling my flipover around by hand. From now on I go where my atv goes.

[Waubay Fisher]

I'm an old coot with a bad hip and I'm done pulling my flipover around by hand. From now on I go where my atv goes.

Thankfully I'm still a relatively young buck... although there's days I feel like an older guy    Hopefully I won't be towing my sled through a bunch of snow this weekend!!!    Oh - and I WISH I could afford an ATV, for now I'll just have to be jealous of you and ponder the idea in my head when I can get one!!!