DON'T YOU HATE?

[FISH AWAY]

You find a lake full of fish, eye's, perch, slimmers. You go out to fish not a lot of traffic, then the next time you go it is plum full of people. You see people taking a limit of fish leave then come back that same day to take more.Then you see them on thier cell phone calling all thier friends. They do this all weekend. I understand this is public water but can't some people keep a secret.Rip me if you want but this has happened to a few lakes I know.They get fished out in no time.What happened to catch and release.I keep 2 meals of fish in my freezer when I'm down to 1 meal I'll go out with the intension to keep one meal.Can't a person just fish for the fun?I live by this lake and watched it escalate from the start.

[BIG ISLAND DUDE]

I wish everyone in the world was exactly like me, then things would be just riiiighhht. Oh well.....

[hanson1287]

Ya know fish some of those same dayers might be worth a poaching call. If they're just taking them home, cleaning them, then coming back and taking more they're going to be over on their possession limit, if they are taking their limit every time.

[FrontenacPike]

Thats the reason I never talk about my success. If I do you can gurantee my location details are very sketchy.

I also live on a small lake and the last couple years have been horrable. This year the lake has finnaly started producing nice ones again and my lips are sealed. Too many times as soon as someone catches em, the next day you will see all these people from out of town keeping everything they catch, its kinda sad. You sure did hit the nail on the head...what happend to catch and release!!!!

[BobT]

This may have been a bit on the mean side but one time a buddy and I went fishing and picked up a few crappies. We then went onto a local pond that most assuredly froze out every year but we drilled a couple holes, scattered the few crappies around us, and then sat there for a while and had a couple beers.

Within the next few days, there were others giving it a try.

Bob

[biggieroth]

Bob T...

That is awesome, and if I had found out that you would have tricked me into that, I would have tipped my hat to you and gave you a high 5, shame on me!

[Coach1310]

I would for surely make a TIP call on the guys who go home clean up a limit and come back. We pay some good solid money to have our resources taken care of and no one has the right to abuse that. As far as people calling buddies, etc. that is the way the community is. There are posts on this very site about stuff like that. The bite, conditions, where to go, what to use. I don't get to worked up. There are lots of lakes and I just enjoy fishing to much to let stuff like that bother me. If I had to catch them everytime to enjoy it, I would just go to the grocery store!!

[Gordie]

daily limit means just what it states. same dayers yea I'd call TIP.

[shorefisher]

If you are on a hot spot and you fish it day after day people are going to notice. No one keeps going to the same spot and not getting fish. I notice who is fishing and I will say he must be hitting something if it is the same person for a few days in a row. If I do not need fish for a meal I go and try to find a new hot spots thats the real fun. And if I need some to eat I can go back. Long story short do not keep fishing the same spot everyday as people are looking and some keep track

[huntingmaxima]

That just burns my ash, that is why i never tell anyone the lake i am on. i will tell them the area but name a different lake.

[Hammer Handle]

My family lives on a lake. People follow us wherever we fish and we seldom get privacy. Rather annoying. We seldom fish on our "best" spots unless we may go un-noticed. We hide our limits when we leave the lake in case other fisherman stop us to see our catch.

Yes, it is public water. But some people are downright rude. Especially on the ice. Some people can't sit still or keep a secret. Then, your spot is ruined.

My family puts out a fishhouse on a good spot and lets the crowd gather. The other fishhouse is separate and keeps on moving around the lake. No one follows for they thing we keep moving due to no fish. There is many spots in one lake...find one. That is half the fun of fishing. No one has figured out that we seldom fish in the "crowded" house.

[BobT]

I'm one of those that prefers to avoid the crowds. I rarely will fish where everyone else is. Sometimes this works for me and sometimes it doesn't. I just like my solitude.

Bob

[T-ProGuy]

BobT, I couldn't agree with you more...

For me, the fishing is about the solitude, peace & quiet, and relaxation. If I have a good day and get into some fish, then it is a huge bonus. I just don't want to fish a spot with tons of people on it...more often than not better fishing can be found elsewhere, away from the crowd. I was out on Mille Lacs on Sunday the 11th...had the spot all to myself, it was a great day. I even came home with a couple fish. This last Saturday, I went up there with the intention of going to the same spot and there were at least 30 people on it. Instead of sitting there with everyone and all of the noise, I just ventured out and found another spot about a half mile away. Nice and quiet, I was never bothered all day long. I even caught a fish or two.

[cotfish]

i hear ya bob.seems like theres always someone that wants to talk.u dont see this on open water.im there to fish enjoy some peace and quiet,not talk to some yahoo thats just too lazy too look for his own spot.thank god for clams call me what u want,but i do it my way

[Coach1310]

I love fishing by myself in the peace and quiet. That is by far the best way to go, but I don't get upset when people come fish by me or try to see how I am doing. All of us at some point have gotten a tip from someone or noticed "Hey, he is catching 'em over there, " or overheard, "I heard Bill was getting some nice ones on Round!" etc.... Just enjoy each minute you have, that is the way I look at it. Fishing without another sole in sight or in the middle of 50 people, is still better than most things in life. Don't forget how much you enjoy it no matter what. If you only enjoy it when you are by yourself, then I would suggest keeping on the move and not drilling very many holes. My Grandfather worked 7 days a week for 50 years to be set for retirement. All he could think about was fishing the rest of his days. He died 7 months after retiring. Cherish your opportunities. They won't all be perfect, but it sure beats work!!!

[McGurk]

Warning: Devil's Advocate ahead.

A slightly different take on this: I have the Lakemaster Contour Pro, and the spots that look interesting to me on winter lakes typically have houses on them. Now does that mean I am one of those "followers" because the spot looks good on paper, and there are others already there? Am I supposed to go to an empty spot even if it's not where I had planned on going? Honest replies, please.

Case in point, I was one of the first to an area I knew to hold fish this winter. I fished it last year, and wanted to get there this year too. Is it mine? There are houses scattered to a fro the next time I went out. I walked out to the middle of the housed area due to the fact that that is where I wanted to be. Drilled holes, Setup, started fishing, all while feeling like I was on others toes (not a house within 100'). Had good luck, left.

Went to another interesting spot on paper on this lake, walked to it via GPS, got the flasher out and a water bottle and started looking for structure. There were houses here, but I never got within 50' of any houses while scouting. Found a desirable spot, setup, no fish, left. Is that spot-stealing?

Last I checked, shantytowns were a kinda cool and unique deal, when people are cordial, anyways. I'm still looking for a way for other browsers here to know that I'm a member while on the ice, and vice versa.

[blue_healer_guy]

I guess I don't understand fishing a lake strictly C/R. I can't see myself saying, "Im gonna go out today and try to catch a bunch of walleyes and release them all". If I want some fish to eat, I'll try to catch some. But to go out and catch fish just to catch fish?. I guess that's why I don't bass fish.

[blue_healer_guy]

I should also mention that I don't keep everything and we have as a family self imposed slots on all fish.

[jiffypop]

When my buddies and I go fishing it is purely for the enjoyment of being out of the house (the house on land, where I keep my none fishing belongings, and wife), It is funny to see people migrate towards us when we are pounding the itty bitty sunnies. We make all sorts of havoc when we are off by our selves just to see the fish houses get closer and closer, I figure it helps draw the mini sunnys away from us. I also like to go out to get some use out of the expensive equipment I hardly ever use.