I live in an area where ice fisherman are rude. They simply follow your house around the lake and set up camp so close to your house that you can't even park your truck outside the door close enough to get the wire to the battery. And when they are approached about the issue of being so close, they scoff and say nobody owns the lake etc. To top it off they drill holes at prime time, make a ton of noise etc etc. Any input on this? Shouldn't there be some kind of law? I hate feeling like I should have to move to another spot only after finding a good one.

Fishguy.
Theres no good answer to your question, except to move to another lake less congested. Fact is, if it is a public lake, no bribes or threats will make people give you some space, or make them show up ealier to cut holes.

Years ago (1983) when I had only the 3rd Drift Boat sold in Michigan, I had the Pere Marquette/Big Manistee Rivers practicully to myself. 10 years later, with 10 to 20 drift boat trailers at every launch along these rivers, I had to either adjust or quit. I actually found that both starting later in the morning and fishing at my own pace, the fishing was better and the crowd had long gone down river or left the area. I'm not sure if this antidote would work in your case. But worrying about it, only spoils the fun and relaxation your actually there to have.

Fishguy,
I know there are laws in certain states, I believe Minnesota for one, have laws on how close a fish house maybe set up in relation to another. Find a proclamation for your state and if it's in there, politely show them the law.

Yes Minnesota does have law about being to close. But that does not stop to many of the people being to close. Which if you are next to a good group of people it can be a blast but there are always that few that just have to make it difficult.

I like to walk around the lake until I find a big icehouse with a pile of fish on the ice. I then drill a couple of holes and use this house as a wind break. I figure if they've got that many fish already, there's enough there to share the wealth a little. I could fish anywhere, but the wind break is the most important thing. Thanks for understanding.

Super Troller nice post made my friday ,its nice to come here and get a good laugh. I have found that when I have a productive hole and somebody spuds me in ( thats what we call ice houses too close where I come from ) it just makes me fish harder. Never had this problem on the Saginaw Bay but on the river I have had guys come real close to my hole, but they don't seem to do anygood most the time. One time I caught 5 hogs in under a hour with a guy sitting not 10 feet from me caught nothing. Capt. Dan I kind of like that going out later approach but can't wait that long to get out on the bay never had anybody really get too close anyway sounds like its different in minnesota though and I can imagine it could get pretty frustrating. But I guess some people just don't know any better and you just gotta suck it up and fish on.

just start talking loud and exited about how your just pulling them in .and they can;t get a bite .or try this one take a old alarm clock along set it to go off 15min after you pack up and leave ,DROP IT DOWN THE HOLE >WHEEEEEEEEE. jim

The "older" Fellegy brother coined those that follow....a parasite. Reference:"Thirty Years on the Big Lake...Memoirs and Secrets of a Walleye Fishing Guide", by Mille lacs Press.

Just this evening, as the sun settled in the west and potential walleye biters roaming along a rock ridge in less than 10 feet of water around my fishhouse salivated at the sight of my jigging spoons, a flock of ducklings, as I coined them, or parasites as referenced above, moved in within 20 yds. and drilled holes, lit lanterns and paced back and forth on the clear ice, actually expecting to still have a fish dumb enough to be under their fiasco and commit suicide. There isn't a house within a half mile, which is very fertile walleye grounds, yet they HAD to pounce on me! It NEVER ceases to amaze me.....

Law? How 'bout just common sense! lol lol

Make a device that you can snag their lines with and they will think they got a big one on while you are cutting off thier favorite rattle spoons. I can hear um now I got a big one! Then the line goes slack. Dang I lost him, while he reels in a empty line. Boy he must of been huge to break my line.! Then you can come out of your house and say to them . There are some real big ones on this spot, Ehhhh? I guarentee they will move after a few $5.00 loses. "COMA"

Jim.
You'll always have guys who wont trust their own instincts, and think that either fallowing you everywhere or going where the pack is, is the be all do all idea. I guess often enough they really dont have a clue as to where to start, and the pack metality is their best alternative. My buddy and I have found a real secret to keeping guys away when things get real tight. He mentions how plump and healthy I'm looking for having the aides virus:-). Seem to be a rather large circle of emptyness around us after that.

Good one Dan I can just see their faces. Never had a problem on the bay have you? I have had guys follow me but I just stop and sit there for a minute or I will take off my auger and cut a hole then they do the same and I will take off like a bat out of #### and they can't catch me. I try not to get close to the pack too many people competeing for the same fish I want my own hole.

The one thing wrong with that idea is that they'll think that their on the hog honey hole and they'll come back.
I like the aids routine better. Maybe make some yellow snow in the area as well as act a little "fashionable". Maybe make some remarks about snow sealin' the ice king...

My brother isn't as nice as I am if somebody gets to close to him he starts rantin and raving he lets them spoil his whole trip I just laugh it off life is too short to let those knuckle heads ruin my trip. I wonder how many fights have broken out over rights to a fishing spot.

Here is what you need to do. Think about it ,in the summer what happens when throw marker bouy out? Every idiot in sight flocks to it.
Find a ratty old fish house, place it on the other side of the lake, get some of fake walleye bumpers you see hanging in stores, throw a couple outside your fish house for effect, get a tape recorder and tape your self hootin up about the big one,and then wa-la, go to where you know the fish are biting! You know every lazy parasite will clinging on to the other house. Just imagine the looks on there faces when you pick it up!! Priceless.

KLH

If you are really bold you can do this.

After the parisites move in --

YOu go ahead and move out - to about 5 car lengths away, and then go back and proceed to drill about 100 holes about 5 feet from their holes.

If they ask why, you simply indicate that you need to move the fish back to your house, so you are herding the fish back.

If you drill the holes close enough - it will be difficult for them to back their rig out, without falling through the ice.

Of course none of the polite walleye fisherman that we have on this board, would be RUDE enough to do "such a thing" would they??

Take care
REW

Two years ago, I had my shanty right on top of some huge perch at Whites Landing (Sandusky Bay)and limited out for about a week straight. One day I didnt get out til the afternoon, and I had found my shanty was moved about 100 yards and another guy had moved his over my holes! He had been told I was doing real well and guess he didn't think I would be back out that day, so he just decided to move my shanty out and his in.

Ryan

Ryan I have you beat I went in for lunch one day while fishing on the saginaw bay, went back out and there was a guy sitting in my shanty! Oh yea he looked nice and cozy too. Can't say as I blame him though as it was colder than a well diggers ####.

It's my belief that it's not so much the number of fishhouses on any given spot- but the number of people using them at the time.Crowds scare fish, and they will alter their movements accordingly.Last week we had freezing rain- having a 50 mile drive to work- I made the call and did'nt go in.However, I figured the locals would make it to work here in town- so I hit the local crappie lake. Sure enough, I was the only one out.Banged out a limit of crappies in two hours- and I threw back as many as I kept.Been back a couple times while the crowds were out, and have been disappointed each time. I've found the same to be true for walleyes. The trick is to get out-when nobody else is. Coffees done-I'm hitting the lake now. Good luck-Lou in Alex.

Though I do understand about leaving room for you to fish I also understand to a degree some moving in close to permament fish houses. If you setup your permament fish house on a known spot then you should expect some company. If you are on a popular lake then expect most, if not all, good spots to be known good spots. I would not chase a fish house but if I know of a good spot and I am heading that way, and there is a permament fish house on it, then you might as well expect a little company. If the spot is large then I will do some searching as far as possible from you until I locate fish, but if it is small then I will be on top of it too. You can equate it to if you are fishing a known good walleye area during open water then you will have others fishing the same area. Don't like it? Find a quieter lake or private lake where you can be by yourself. Nobody should have, or expect, the right to setup a permament fish house on a specific spot on a public lake and then expect to have that spot to themselves the rest of the ice fishing season.

Daren

Val, you got any of those Flying Lures???? LOL

Half of you are right and half wrong
my thing is FIND your own fish

Yep > I still have the entire kit!. You know where I can get on some safe Ice up your way?. I have been thinking about heading to minnesota for a weekend in a couple of weeks. I have not been out on the ice yet this year in Iowa. I know there is some ice to be had but none I feel safe enough to take my boy out on. Really itchin to ice a eye. Hows the entrys Goin?. I gave Rodney , Robbs ph#. I have not heard if he is going to pair with him yet. Might see you at the River event and or the fall event at okoboji.. Good Luck, "COMA"