"How are the fishing biting?"

[Tankjd]

Whats your guys take on this when someone comes up to you on the ice and asks, how are they biting. It seems that this happens more in the winter than the summer. On one hand it is nice to help the person out but on the other hand you don't want 60 houses on top of you. Plus a part of fishing is having your "secret spots"

Here are some stories I have:

I fished with this old timer and he would not tell anyone where he was fishing, he would go so far to not fish on the weekends so no one would see were he was fishing. A bit extreme.

Last weekend I was fishing out in the open and a guy drives up, almost running over my auger, rolls down his window and yells "how they biting"? , in which I replied "a bit slow too much traffic"

[lovebigbluegills]

Good reply to the guy in your last paragraph.

I guess my response varies with the situation.

On any lake that I fish, the people I see out there frequently will get an accurate report, as I know they won't crowd me at all.

For the people I've never seen, I'll tell them that fishing is ok, but I heard the bite was pretty good out deeper/shallower/by the point/etc.

[WalleyesWest]

I feel your pain!!!! Up here on Lake of the Woods there are soooo many tourists. Thats all MOST people do is look for the Launches in the summer and resort houses in the winter. I can rember a few times in the winter before the Lake Master chip came out people would drive up on there snowmachines and mark your spots and drive away. I am talking remote spots people didn't know about. Darn binoculars. The next time you would go out fishing that same snowmachine would have a portable right in your holes. Kinda sucks but there is nothing you can do about it.

[fishersofmen]

"Its pretty slow"

[Bluegill1510]

Quote:

I fished with this old timer and he would not tell anyone where he was fishing, he would go so far to not fish on the weekends so no one would see were he was fishing. A bit extreme.

Not really, this is my rule of thumb actually, as I try to fish the weekdays as much as I can and not go out on weekends depending the season. For example after fishing Mille Lacs on a saturday 2 years ago in the winter, I'll never fish Mille Lacs on a weekend during the winter season again, its just to much b/s. Some think its a bit extreme but when your on fish and you want it to yourself even in northern minnesota you have to smart about it, and thats why I've been fortunate to caught the big fish that I have.

Also to respond to the question, I tend to go with bigbluegill, in which if I've seen the guy before and hes a local I'll be honest with him but won't tell the whole story or give out every single detail. But if I don't have a clue who the guy is and is rude to me, I usually respond in rude manner back, as an example "Not for sh!t", or "In the lake", or "Where ya from?", usually the last comment gets my point across. If they are polite and considerate I'll help them out into a general direction but I'll be vague. I guess some would say thats being an @ss but I hate crowds and I put the time and effort into finding the fish and scouting spots..no different than bow hunting for deer so why would I wanna ruin it for myself to make it easier for a guy I dont even know or isn't paying me a guide fee?

[Duffman]

Quote:

I fished with this old timer and he would not tell anyone where he was fishing, he would go so far to not fish on the weekends so no one would see were he was fishing. A bit extreme.

Consider me extreme then, not quite old timer status yet, but gettin there.

[TruthWalleyes]

All good responses.. I'm fairly sensitive about asking people. for example, on minnetonka this weekend visiting a friend i drove out on a bay. A guy in a truck stopped on the outside edge of a group of perms and got out with his vex. i parked my car 50+ yds from his vehicle and walked over to him. I politely asked what the scoop was with all the perminants here. Explained how i was out without a vex and just curious why some of the bays were fairly empty..

I don't think he was offended by any means...

As a general rule: Do unto others as you would have other do unto you!

[LaXCarp]

Quote:

I fished with this old timer and he would not tell anyone where he was fishing, he would go so far to not fish on the weekends so no one would see were he was fishing. A bit extreme.

Consider me extreme then, not quite old timer status yet, but gettin there.

I'm only 23 and you wont catch me out on my good spots on the weekend...have learned my lesson too many times already!

[mainbutter]

secret spots.. pshaw. No such thing, unless it's an entirely secluded tiny lake/pond.

I always tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I usually give a brief but exact count of what I've caught, where I've caught, and how long I've been out. And I'm not even one of those people who asks others how their fishing has been.

The water is for everyone to share, and I don't mind company.

[Tankjd]

I guess I never thought of not fishing on the weekend, but I do see the reasons.

Do you guys think people ask more in the winter than the summer?

It seem it happens to me more, but I don't know why... maybe because more people have access to the lakes in the winter.

[Craigums]

When there biting I usually say, "Pull up a bucket!" or if there not I usually say "Slow"

Call me old fashioned but I like being friendly to people and not bull gaurding spots like I own the lake and am the only person that has a right to fish it.

[dan z]

well let me think HMMMM I think thier biting with thier mouths and swimming with thier fins or maybe its the other way around not sure though

[BartmanMN]

I was coming off the ice earlier this year and a guy asks me how I did, I said I caught a few. He then asked about the size, which I said they were OK. Then he asked if he could see one, in which I pretended that I did not hear him and kept walking in. Didn't want to show him the 9+ inch gills.

[jwmiller33]

asking to see one is a little over the edge... i would have ignored him too

[Eskimoman]

Just got here or pretty slow

[BuckKiller]

Just got here or pretty slow

same here.

I think people need to find there own spots... I found this one, go find your own!

[Bigslugger]

Heck what is the difference

There is thousands of fish in a lake so why bother trying to be a jerk about it

I be honest but not to honest. Such as if there biting Ill say yeah.

I really don't mind the company especially if its in the middle of the night and something could happen, then you'll know you'll have a pal to help you out in the situation

[BuckKiller]

thats what cell phones are for

[Bigslugger]

the point is to have some company in the middle of the night incase something does go wrong you wont have to wait hours to get help.......

[BuckKiller]

hours?? how far do you drive to fish? the lake I fish is 15 min from my house.

I don't ask where fish are bitting and I won't give out my exact spot. Ill maybe help people out like say what reef im on or somethin but never give them GPS cord or anything... thats insane!!

IF you wanna catch fish find them, if I can do it so can you.

[Drewski]

I tell them I haven't caught a thing!

[Bigslugger]

I don't use a GPS so I don't have that problem

Even if I did and there was a dad taking his kids out fishing I would help him out and would tell him to set up next to me. Id even show him what Im using. I find that common courtesy and hope someone would do the same when I have kids in the future. And also nothings makes me more happy than little ones having a good time out enjoying a day on the ice

Thats just what I do. Not saying your wrong or anything.

[Maverick]

I am pretty free with information. I know how frustrating it can be to try to find fish on the ice. If it's a dad and/or mom with the kids, I will tell them exactly what to do if in fact I am catching something. Heck, I'll even tie their hooks on if need be. I can honestly say that in all of my 50 plus years of ice fishing I have only had positive experiences with parents bring their kids out. I learned from my Dad and my Grandpa (rest his soul). They were always willing to help out.

If the Swedish Bikini Team shows up and wants to know how they are biting I would probably tell them, if they asked real nice.

[Bigslugger]

I am pretty free with information. I know how frustrating it can be to try to find fish on the ice. If it's a dad and/or mom with the kids, I will tell them exactly what to do if in fact I am catching something. Heck, I'll even tie their hooks on if need be. I can honestly say that in all of my 50 plus years of ice fishing I have only had positive experiences with parents bring their kids out. I learned from my Dad and my Grandpa (rest his soul). They were always willing to help out.

If the Swedish Bikini Team shows up and wants to know how they are biting I would probably tell them, if they asked real nice.

Of course you'd tell the gals how their biting

[shizzy]

I usually answer with

"doing alright, Im not at work so it doesnt matter"

and

"thinking about stopping at Mcdonalds for a fish sandwich"