ice houses to close!

[fishguy]

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.

[Walleye Express]

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.

[Heiz]

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.

[SUPERTROLLER]

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.

[WALLEYE DREAMING]

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.

[bountyhunters]

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

[Walleye Express]

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.

[WALLEYE DREAMING]

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.

[stevefellegy]

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