Ice Fishing etiquette...

[Corey Bechtold]

Hello fellow Ice fishing enthusiasts!

The Ice fishing season is finally in full swing and I thought I'd take a second to bring up some things that need to be said. I went out on the Ice last week and saw something that made me embarrassed to be grouped as an Ice angler. The season was only a few days new and when I was heading off the lake after a few hours of fishing I noticed something that really got me PO'd. TRASH!!! I know that there are a lot of people who respect our lakes and rivers but something has to be done to those who don't respect our outdoors. I saw empty propane bottles, paper bags, beer cans, pop cans, empty cartons of cigarettes, empty cases of beer, cigarette butts, broken minnow buckets and a few pop bottles! Remind you that this is still the first week of Ice fishing! I know that if I had seen the several individuals who had left behind the garbage I would have said something, although I feel that one shouldn't have to remind people to use some common sense and manners and take their trash with them!!!

Sorry to vent like this but we have to step up and make an effort to keep these slobs in line and start giving Ice anglers a positive image.

Take care and respect our outdoors!

Corey Bechtold

[Borch]

I've seen it orver an over again whetjer on the ice or along the shoreline during the summer.

I've collected more garbage other folks have left on the ice or shoreline than I care to admit to. There's just no excuse for it.

[jigginjim]

I agree with you guys. I have done garbage clean ups with different groups. I real wonder what these people would think, if all the trash from the lake they fished, was dropped over they lawn?

[Valv]

I really don't get it with the mentality of throwing garbage.

I live in the country and many times I find complete bags of McDonald stuff on side of road, 6packs of empty beer cans or bottles, and lakes are littered with other garbage.

I just ask myself: what goes through those people's mind when they toss garbage.

Kinda like "somebody else will pick it up" or "it will go away" ot what else, I still cannot understand the mentality of this......

Please pick up your garbage, and ask other people to do same.

[Mat O]

Before I had a watercraft in MN, I used to fish Long Lake in Long Lake, MN. I would find trash bags, easily, on the shore and fill up 2-3 of them each time out with trash I found on the shoreline. I'd come back a week later and repeat the process. It is truely one of the worst human characteristics I can think of. Blatant disregard for cleanliness and personal responsibility. This is my number one pet peave, and I've often thought of becoming a police officer just to give littering tickets. It's not OK to litter and it's a severe disrespect (even cigarette butts) to the community. Teach your children well and hopefully the lesson will catch on. My motto in life is to leave anywhere I visit better than it was when I found it. Don't be lazy, and help to contribute to a 1st world society by taking out trash and not leaving any. This topic gets me fired up!

[FOOT]

I would bet some of the same people who are littering in the outdoors would be po'd as h--- if you were to be in their house and threw a wrapper on the floor.

There just is something about being outdoors that makes some people to litter and excuse it off. No excuse for littering.

[CrappieJohn]

Foot.....The Rochester tribe will be doing a clean-up at Fosters on Jan.7, 9am to 3pm....want to join in? Fishing time is included.

This lake turns into a cesspool with dump dragged out on the ice by....none other than "ice fishermen". Please take to note....I use the term loosely. I think it would be great if we could administer some "on ice therapy" when we see this dump take place.

Any help on the clean-up will be appreciated.

[Quickstrike]

The Duluth forum does a couple cleanup gatherings every year. it's a great way to meet people, do our water and land a favor, and let the communitty know that there are people out there that care rather then abuse.

[Pat K]

If you go out on a lake the day after permanent houses have to be pulled off and see all the garbage left out there, it's surprising the DNR allows us to ice fish.

Pat K

[PikeHarms]

I figure since we are running out of dump sites that we should take note of such people and turn their homes into new dump sites since the like to do it to ours......

[Corey Bechtold]

Lets say we jump to a different etiquette issue... Drilling holes. Say that when we arrive at a spot there are some other anglers there. It is only common courtesy to ask them if it's ok to drill holes in the area. I usually do this and if people are catching fish I will just move farther away from them so they can continue to catch fish. If they don't mind then I will try to auger my holes as quickly as possible so I don't spook away any fish or put them in a negative mood. I hate it when a person stops by and asks me if I'm catching anything, and if I tell them that they are biting, they fire up their auger and start drilling right next to you! This gets me a little hot too and I'm sure it's happened to many of you as well.

We have to share the lakes with other anglers and should let them enjoy their outing so we can enjoy ours too.

More food for thought,

Corey Bechtold

[Dan Thiem]

Good point Corey, about the drilling. I know some people don't know about drilling holes on the roads and near the ramps. It's a good thing to let people know not to do that.

[hanson]

Since we're talking cleanliness on the ice fellows...

DO NOT! And I repeat DO NOT!! discard the little white plastic caps from the 1 pound propane tanks onto the ice. It is very easy to do and when multiplied by thousands and thousands of anglers per lake per winter, that ends up being a lot of white little plastic caps washing up on property owners beaches in the spring.

[fishercat]

It's a shame to have to think that there are people out there that shouldn't be let out of the house without their mommy's so that she can wipe their ...um, ur, ah... tie their shoes and pick up their messes for them !

[Corey Bechtold]

I don't know what's so hard about picking up after yourself. Obviously they brought the stuff out with them, what's so hard about taking it with you when you leave? I'd hate to think that they are assuming someone else is going to pick up after them!

I'd like to bring up another point, Vehicle travel, what is a good distance to stay away from someone while they are fishing? I have had people drive right by me on 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, and trucks/cars. Giving someone ample space while you cruise by would only be the polite thing to do. If you feel you have to go do doughnuts on your 4-wheeler, please try to stay away from those who are trying to fish.

What are your feelings about this?

Corey Bechtold

[Captain B.R.K]

Vehicle Travel you say Corey......I've got a good one for you, read along:

I was up on LOTW this past Sunday and a guy was fishing about 50 feet from me. I see that he is about to pack it up and off on the horizon I see 4 4-wheelers coming over my way. They don't just decide to drive close to me, they practically run me over on their way to help their friend pack up. I could of easily flipped my house over, made one step and gave all 4 of those guys high fives as they passed me.

Just when I was done venting to myself, outloud mind you, they decide to come back the way they came and went right past me again

Do you really wanna know how I feel??

Ridiculous that people need to do that stuff. People don't just buzz you with their boats on open water do they

Give a personsome space when he/she is on the ice. Use the same principle as you do on the water, just apply it to hard water now!

[caseymcq]

If they were were going over 10 mph they were also breaking the law.

It is amazing that as big as LOW is that they would have to ride by that close to you. Totally uncalled for.

[TNFL]

Drilling Holes

What is considered "reasonable" space, 10ft, 15ft, 20 ft, more. Some structure areas aren't that big and I don't like making a trip to "my" spot only to see someone else there.

[BradB]

Quote:

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Drilling Holes

What is considered "reasonable" space, 10ft, 15ft, 20 ft, more.

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Here is what I would consider reasonable. If you are traveling by foot don't drill a hole within 20 feet unless you ask the other fisherman if he or she minds. If you are traveling by motorized vehicle, then back that off to 100 yards. You can still walk over and say hello, and ask.

[iffwalleyes]

I had a guy last year set his house on wheels so close to mine I couldn't get my pickup in to hook onto the hitch. I had to hook my tow rope on and drag it backwards to get enough room to hook it on. The worst was I was the last house in a sting because I didn't want to sent mine as close as this person did to me. So he easily could have went south of me for about 2 miles and still have been on the same shoreline break I was on. Because I wasn't on anything special for structure just a shoreline break. I think the funniest was that he had just set up that day and I was moving my house because the spot had been dead the last few times out. I bet he was thinking oh great I picked a bad spot again.

[Bulldoggr]

Quote:

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Quote:

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Drilling Holes

What is considered "reasonable" space, 10ft, 15ft, 20 ft, more.

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Here is what I would consider reasonable. If you are traveling by foot don't drill a hole within 20 feet unless you ask the other fisherman if he or she minds. If you are traveling by motorized vehicle, then back that off to 100 yards. You can still walk over and say hello, and ask.

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I personally try to stay farther away. I certainly wish others would, Unless i know em.

I think 20 yards is about right. that way it is less likely electronics don't interfer with each other.

[picksbigwagon]

Here is my question, with two young ones at home, I can't get out until after bed time (8:30) on the weekends. I usually set up farther away from people or find an area where all the lights are off in the ice houses. Am I cruisin for a bruisin with showing up that late and popping holes? Not like I am drilling 20-30, I usually shoot my marcum through the ice to find fish and depth. but with another guy along, I need to drill 4 holes....

[Corey Bechtold]

When it comes to distance, I try to give other anglers plenty of room. If they are on the "spot on the spot" I will ask if it's ok before drilling. I have never been told not to drill yet, I feel other anglers appreciate the effort we take before drilling therefore don't mind if we drill in the same area. I just try to get the holes dug ASAP so I don't upset them.

I would say that using courtesy is always key!

Corey Bechtold

[Corey Bechtold]

Thought I'd add another one to the list... Loud Music. I like to listen to music, don't get me wrong, I just might not like your music Listening to music is ok but sometimes fish can be really spooky and blaring your music can turn the fish off!

To quote Milton from Office Space..."I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume"

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[caseymcq]

I have another pet peve, the weatherman with all of his "Unseasonably Warm Temperatures," and the "Jet Stream Remaining at Higher Latitudes." He should be fired and they should replace him with someone that will make it colder