How close is too close

[Raider4ever]

I agree, if'n you can hear them fart...and then smell it...that's purdy close for comfort for me.

Wow, sometimes after taco night I could have the LOW all to myself.

[kevfish1]

I would like to see the law changed to state that you cannot leave a house on the lake unatended for more than a couple of days.

[Hawg]

This seems to be coming down to city kids and country kids. I don't for a second think I own the lake but too close is too close. You guys that watch tv and read books all year and your ideas of spot on a spot are bizaar. You would never do that in a boat, why on the ice. That picture of the two close houses is what were talking about, it happens way more than you think. These people show up at prime time and then start drilling. When my friend stepped out of his house the other night he could actually step on the flaps of a portable. Can anyone justify that?

[Big A]

I think that's partially why this is an un-enforceable law. My buddies and I set up back to back, so are we illegal then cause we are within 10 feet of each other even though we are fishing together and do it so we can talk, [PoorWordUsage] and hand bevys and bait through the windows but technically illegal right?

ABSOLUTELY it is illegal. The law clearly says 10ft. I have seen it enforced with permanents and I wish it was enforced more often with all types. Constant calls to the local Wardens bring results when needed.

I am not saying that its a good thing someone with a perm can camp out on your favorite spot, but its that reason alone that has caused me to discover new and better favorite spots on the lakes I enjoy fishing. Both with the perm when I owned one and with my portable. Fishing is fishing. This is MN. There are a lot of places to fish that dont bring you within 10ft of someone else.

This is always a hot spot debate when it comes to our sport. Its funny to me because in my eyes.. its not even up for debate. The law says 10ft. End of discussion.

Photographs and tape measures dont lie in court... regardless of who takes them.

[Chef]

Is it guys who plant their permies on the Icethe ones who build stands on public lands and lay claim to the spot?

Is it the same guys who shoulder-up next to those guys and set up portable tree stands next to the permanant ones?

All of this just goes with the territory--you have to live with it or quit. Marvelous...

[WhiskeyPete]

I would like to see the law changed to state that you cannot leave a house on the lake unatended for more than a couple of days.

No. We don't need any new regulations to abide by. Fishing should be fishing. If you can't find fish without being on any one specific spot, you're not fishing. Get out and try something new. I love being "That Guy". The one that you see away from everyone else that makes you say, "Look at THAT GUY; he must know something we don't or he's lost!" Give it a try. When it pays off you will be on here bragging about your success. I bet you won't give up your spot though!! Good Luck!

[DuckBlind]

Taking away perm shacks sounds a bit dumb to me. That is an old tradition, going back a long time. I have a perm shack, I love it...and to be told I couldnt put it out would be pretty sad.

[JSK76]

[jerk bait]

The part of my original post everybody is missing is that we are on a large piece of structure. There is at least 1/2 mile of breakline on this bar. The only place these portables seem to set up is right in the middle of our houses, the rest of the break is empty. We are not on anything unique or a "hotspot". It is just a breakline on a large bar. Take the time to find a spot to fish not just drill holes near permanant houses. I call it lazy.

[Chef]

The part of my original post everybody is missing is that we are on a large piece of structure. There is at least 1/2 mile of breakline on this bar. The only place these portables seem to set up is right in the middle of our houses, the rest of the break is empty. We are not on anything unique or a "hotspot". It is just a breakline on a large bar. Take the time to find a spot to fish not just drill holes near permanant houses. I call it lazy.

You can thank the TV guys who tell the viewers you have to find that one special little spot on the entire breakline in order to CAPITALIZE on the entire spot.

[fiskyknut]

Perhaps they have a waypoint marked right there from 4 years ago and wanted to fish it?

[bikeoutback]

I'm not gonna fish within 10 feet of people I don't know but I'm sure my buddies and I will continue to set our houses back to back. Call it what you want we usually have 5-7 people in 2-3 portables so this way we can all still [PoorWordUsage] and have a good time.... remember that part of fishing, the good time? Buehler? Buehler?

[Random guy]

Today I had a guy set his wheelhouse down in the driveway of the rental so close I could barely get my truck between the rental and his truck. To close.

I have had guys anchor their portable to our rental. To close.

I have had guys set so so close they asked our clients to turn their interference rejection on as it was messing up their flashers. To close

Hillman had a group use the bar connecting the skids of his rental for their table. To close, and they where ticked when he hooked up and took off with their table.

I never could and still can't figure out why somebody would want to be so close.

[leech~~]

Today I had a guy set his wheelhouse down in the driveway of the rental so close I could barely get my truck between the rental and his truck. To close.

I have had guys anchor their portable to our rental. To close.

I have had guys set so so close they asked our clients to turn their interference rejection on as it was messing up their flashers. To close

Hillman had a group use the bar connecting the skids of his rental for their table. To close, and they where ticked when he hooked up and took off with their table.

I never could and still can't figure out why somebody would want to be so close.

Come on JP, people couldn't be this Stupid could they? That Drunk maybe?

[Cast A Way]

I think some of the problem is lack of manners, common sense, and the "I bought a license so I'm entitled" Granted our waters frozen or open(I know)are public. I have had people cast their lures in my boat and drill holes almost on the flaps of my portable. Usually once is too many times for me.

[SFC]

To close is if u are closer than the law allows. No permys get over it, I dont own one but who cares where they set up, find a new spot. I see a bunch of people I go the other way, still catch fish.

[Random guy]

Come on JP, people couldn't be this Stupid could they? That Drunk maybe?

Some guys don't have lake maps I guess or maybe its seperation anxiety. Not sure.

Now two days ago I had a shack that needed to be moved. I took care of a few things and came back through the snow storm to get one of our big six man sleepers and of course a guy was setting up about 30 feet away; now remember it is the ONLY shack for a good 1/2 mile. I watched him for a bit as I got the house ready to move and as I was hooking up the ropes he walks over and asked what I was doing. I replied. "The fishing was so bad here we are pulling out". As I pulled away into the white out he was still standing their with a lost look on his face. Classic.

[bikeoutback]

I know for me it's not separation anxiety or lack of maps currently it's simply a lack of lake knowledge. I'm currently in a new area to me so the only areas I feel comfortable traveling are previously traveled lines. In talking with people in the area many of the lakes around me have springs and spots to avoid whether it be on truck, ATV/Sled, or foot. I'm just more comfortable with the masses but I'm setting up 25 feet away from other perms or portables but still only in areas that others have traveled.

Guess for me I just feel safer till I can talk to people and get a working knowledge of these lakes and can't do that unless I talk to people fishing them. Being the new guy kinda sucks, not trying to hone in on anybodies fishing just trying to gain the knowledge.

[redseal]

Well the A$$ face on blue last night was too close with his slead 3-4x. And the others with full sized trucks, I felt the ice drop!!!

[harvey lee]

If another stays 20-30ft away from me, thats fine. The lake is there for all to enjoy. I do not own an area and noone else does either.

I have had others set up within talking distanse from my portable and see no issue with that at all.

Heck, I am out there to enjoy the day and if another can also catch some fish, great.

The last thing I personally would do is come down on him or her.

I do know there are some who believe if they have a house on the lake that all others shoud stay out of sight from them. Not me.

[KG243]

Sometimes you cant fix stupid! That is why I stay away from the crowds, and if someone trys to join me I tell them there are no fish here:)

[Glockwinger]

I have had guys set so so close they asked our clients to turn their interference rejection on as it was messing up their flashers. To close

That's a little ballsy. I might have turned my gain up a bit for good measure

I have a wheelhouse and don't like to set up near other people because I dont' want to bother them. I will set up next to some buddies with portables or other wheelhouses for the party effect though.

[muskE]

"Your favorite spot" is very likely someone else's favorite spot too. I don't have a perm and also don't think it's appropriate to put bans on them. There's a tremendous history and tradition with perms (which spawned the modern day wheelers) and I would hate to lose that. Although I don't think there should be squatters rights for perms on lake structure.

I would rather see greater distances between perms (30' or so)in general which could allow the portables access to the same structure. The porties could then nestle between the frozen village and, with good enforcement and well-written rules, both could live in a reasonable symbiosis.

It's not right that there are stories of people over-crowding another angler or drilling holes outside of doors. We are all adults and should have the decency and the decorum to respect and treat one another as you would want to be treated. I'm willing to bet that the guys that overcrowded the permy would be the first one's to complain if someone were to walk up with a bucket and drill a hole next to their ice. Where's the logic?

[gr82fish]

+1. Whether another guy/group is too close to me or not, I will always engage them in a how're-you-doing conversation, in part to find out if they have previous knowledge about this spot we are on, or, mainly, to find out their interest/knowledge in ice-fishing overall, because I certainly don't know everything about fishing, but always bend an ear to hear more and if I can help them or amuse/educate them with what I do/don't know, then life is good for everyone. During the course of the conversation, if they are breaking a law(too close, etc.) I will mention it to them in a PC way. If the fishing isn't too good at that spot, which will be determined by the length or brevity of the conversation("bobber down, hold that thought for a sec!"), I will move elsewhere and start over, simply because any day on the lake is a lucky day for me.

[TruthWalleyes]

For me, if there is more than 3 houses (or porty's) within 100yds of me...I'm mov'n.

It is comical though, all the posts about leaving spaces between houses to leave room for people to crunch into those spots...I just hope ya'll catch fish in those crowds, cuz in my experience, crowds are fishing...not catching!

I set up on my "spot on the spot" yesterday, which luckely was 100yds from the village. Had several come through my spot and head to the village...each time i was wondering if i was going to have to move. Oh well. The sooner that village grows into a "lake town" the sooner the fish will move to where they aren't.