How close is too close?

[blgoose44]

I'm reading these auger threads, and I wonder how close guys will walk up and fish near someone they don't know. I often fish shallow, and with my camera, I can see the fishscatter when I also hear someone walking in my direction. I avoid crowds, I prefer people no closer than shoutin distance if I can. How bout you guys?

[krt]

I try to avoid crowds too. The bigger the lake, the farther the distance. Obviously smaller lakes are harder to spread out on. Hopefully people understand this when they choose to fish them.

[Chad Smith]

Last year I spoke with a guy out on the ice who was complaining of people fishing to close to him. He said in the summer you're not going to pull up next to someone in your boat and fish next to them. I feel if its crowded than no closer than 10 ft. I usually watch what other people are doing and make my movements off them as far as distance.

[icefishermanmark]

I try not to get too close. But if they're trespassing on a private lake, I have no morals. If they feel they can break the law, then I can surely break the rules. I'm not giving up my spot because some bastards decide not to respect private property.

If it's a public lake, use good judgment. I like staying away from people though.

[GOTONE]

I don’t like to get too close to other people

[jimbo]

10 foot?????????? not even my buddies.
heck, i step in you while pulling in a fish.
give me some elbow room.
even in a crowd. double it please

[chuckwagon157]

If it's public, it's a small lake and it's a hot spot, I try for at least 20ft. But if it it's a bigger lake, The farther the better.

I try not to get too close. But if they're trespassing on a private lake, I have no morals. If they feel they can break the law, then I can surely break the rules. I'm not giving up my spot because some bastards decide not to respect private property.

:yeahthat:

[neil duffey]

last friday i had a guy come as close as 4 ft from me... punch a hole and watch my every move and mimic it... i was tghe only one catching keeper fish... i guess he was trying to figure me out:lol: normaly i would get annoyed... but for some reason i was ammused that day... seamed everyone was getting real close to each other. i hate that.

[DFPotter]

Please get a life guys. It's called fishing not crying

[neil duffey]

Please get a life guys. It's called fishing not crying

please stick to not posting... its doign you much better than your friendly alternitive:rolleyes:

[nick 74]

4 feet!! Your a better man than I am. I would have had some words for that guy. Its one thing if he came up and asked, even though it is a public lake it shows no respect. I wouldnt hang my treestand in the same tree as another guy just cause it was a good spot. Lots of water out there.

[Ticketripper]

About 20 years ago, at Tip UP Town, my dad put our shanny 2 feet from another one. I was spudding tip up holes and went crazy. Might have been the first and only time I yelled at my dad. I said, how in the world do you know if he knows what the heck he is doing? The guys came out and asked for a bit of breathing room. Still gets my hart pumping thinking about it.
Monday I got a bunch of gills and reported it to my 71 yr old dad. He told me you have to get next to the other guys out there if you want to keep it up. I just said hmmm I will keep it in mine. Somethings never change. Don't worrie guys I own all the ice fishing gear. he can't go without me.

[blgoose44]

I asked cause I was on a large part of the lake, and before I knew it there were 6 guys fishing within 20 ft of me:yikes: and the bite got slow.

[chuckwagon157]

I try not to get too close. But if they're trespassing on a private lake, I have no morals. If they feel they can break the law, then I can surely break the rules. I'm not giving up my spot because some bastards decide not to respect private property.

If it's a public lake, use good judgment. I like staying away from people though.


minimum of six more lines and lots more commotion. :rant:

[Moss_835]

seems like this appears each and every year...so I once again must give my 0.02 worth ....as long as you don't cut my boot when you cut your hole I don't care how close you get to me....the odds are you won't catch any fish anyway...and after you leave I will still be catching fish:lol:

Moss

[bucknduck]

last ice fishing season I had someone set up within a couple of feet from me in their shanty. I guess it was because my kids were being a bit loud with excitement each time they caught a fish which happened to be quite a often. Well it must have caught the attention of one person because next thing I know there was a shanty parked right next to us with just enough room for a person to walk thru or at this point for a kid to run past. My kids wanted to take a break from fishing and burn off some energy so we stepped outside to play, run around our shanty, throw snowballs, and build a snowman. There was no way that this person was going to catch fish while my kids we at large. Careful who you set up on top of cause it might come bck to bite ya. I've had people set up close enough where we make light conversation and that's ok, but this person was just flat out rude. Shanty town on Higgins is a different story, if your closterphobic(sp) don't fish there becuase shanties are parked next to each other.

[chuckwagon157]

^^^^^:evil::lol:

[Ferris_StateHunter]

Shanty town on Higgins is a different story, if your closterphobic(sp) don't fish there becuase shanties are parked next to each other.

This is so true. We almost had our shanty catch on fire cause the bright guys next to us had theirs go up:dizzy:.. But I can not resist going it is so much fun being up there when the bite is on

[fishenrg]

If I can spit on you, you know you're too close.:lol:

[ehansen300]

Please get a life guys. It's called fishing not crying
yes it is called fishing but there is something called courtesy. if im in my shanty and i have a tip up 20ft away dont set up inbetween. you might as well pull my tip up out and fish that hole. heck want me to open my shanty door and you can use my holes? ill just watch. give me a break. have some scruples son.

[wildcoy73]

Fish where you want, all I ask is do not block the veiw of my tip ups.
Now if I am going to be near you I will ask if you mind if it is a spot I like.
You may even get a jig or one of my secret baits for allowing me to set up.

[nick 74]

I still dont understand it. I hope I never become "that" guy. Unless im walking up to someone to say hi or ask how things are going I'll use the same rules as in the summer and walk around them. just as you would give a guy when boating. Shanty towns are different though you have to expect there. I think s-towns are more of a "social" area of the ice and that can be fun too. I dont want anyone to think im anti social I do enjoy talking to people out on the ice, but drill next to my boot..... I'll pack up and move. Although if the guy is a member of michigan sportsman I would stay. Any way I can tell? Maybe a secret handshake?:lol:

[FishDaddy09]

Wow! You guy's better stay away from Branch CO. down here some guys will try to fish in your hole. LOL Our hot spots are usually not very big so you will see 1-2 dozen guys in a small area. On a lake south of me in Indiana there was a really hot bite the only area that was frozen was about 1 acre one sunday there was 500 guys on that 1 acre. Now not everyone caught fish, only the ones who concentrated on their fishing not the crowd.

[WMUAngler]

I honestly couldn't care less if people surrounded me as long as I could see my tip-up, and after they drill their holes, they don't make a lot of ruckus. I've had people pull right up to my shanty and dig in, and I thought it made it more fun. If I was catching and he wasn't, I'd share some tips/baits. If their catching and I'm not, I usually hope for the same. There is a lot of fish in the lakes, and I'm always up for sharing them with fellow ice fishermen. If any of you guys see a Clam 5600 with a 25 lb propane tank sitting outside of it in the Kent/Montcalm County area, come on over!. The more the merrier. Share some tips, and I might even share some brews.

[newaygogeorge]

I honestly couldn't care less if people surrounded me as long as I could see my tip-up, and after they drill their holes, they don't make a lot of ruckus. I've had people pull right up to my shanty and dig in, and I thought it made it more fun. If I was catching and he wasn't, I'd share some tips/baits. If their catching and I'm not, I usually hope for the same. There is a lot of fish in the lakes, and I'm always up for sharing them with fellow ice fishermen. If any of you guys see a Clam 5600 with a 25 lb propane tank sitting outside of it in the Kent/Montcalm County area, come on over!. The more the merrier. Share some tips, and I might even share some brews.

right on WMUAngler, especially if you are fishing alone and a newcomer to the lake.

[ESOX]

How close is too close?

All depends upon your gender.

[lawnguy]

I try to stay 25-30 feet at least. I hate being surrounded so I show the same respect for others when I set up.

[Passmeabrewski]

Several years back one summer, a friend and I were staying at a cottage in Northern Lower Peninsula. Every evening there was always a couple of boats (including us) that would head out to our respective spots, anchor, and start the routine.

Night after night like clockwork we'd watch this one guy leave his dock, head across the lake and anchor at the exact same location. We'd watch him from afar and sure enough, he'd be pulling in the fish one after another. He'd stay out there until quite late too- pontoon boat lit up with lanterns like a tiki hut; he definitely had his system perfected.

After several nights of catch and release rock bass, we decided that we had enough of the damn rock bass and wanted to see what so great about this guy's spot. So, we carefully circled his location, meanwhile marking waypoints on the GPS. Feeling confident we could identify the location we fished some more and called it a night with a plan to beat him to his spot the next night.

The next day we pre-loaded the boat, everything was ready- all but the minnow bucket that needed to be lifted aboard. Binoculars in hand, scouting the "Master Angler's" dock we see him carrying down his gear. Well, that was good enough of a sign, we better get moving! We started up the boat and headed out to the spot navigating with the GPS. Once we arrived, we dropped anchor and started to fish doing our best to act like we just happed to choose this location. :rolleyes: Sure enough, the fish finder was marking them, and we were pulling them up. Perch! And in numbers! It wasn't long before we look over our shoulder and right off our bow was the other boat, maybe 10 feet from us! Of course, he obviously knew what we were up to but my buddy decided to take the other approach and yells out, "Jesus Christ, why don't you just toss your anchor in our boat!" :lol:

Fun times.

[SPITFIRE]

If he's close enough to ask me if I want my hole drilled,he's too close.

[old school]

yes it is called fishing but there is something called courtesy. if im in my shanty and i have a tip up 20ft away dont set up inbetween. you might as well pull my tip up out and fish that hole. heck want me to open my shanty door and you can use my holes? ill just watch. give me a break. have some scruples son.

:yeahthat::yeahthat:

[Passmeabrewski]

Perhaps we need to get caution tape and setup a perimeter? Or develop some kind of submersible radio controlled device with a pair of scissors on one end. Snip.

[wally-eye]

If I get up from my bucket and take 2 or 3 steps and take a whiz and you get wet then you're tooooooo close.........:rant: I'm not shy and if you're that close and weren't invited to be that close then you're going to get wet...........

[nosleeptillbrooklyn]

I dont really care if someone sets up shop next to me, I think at least 10ft is close enough. Do any of you guys hit the Maumee river in the spring? I have actually bumped elbows with guys down there. Or even the Detroit river in the trenton channel, some days you can jump from boat to boat.

[PerchOnly]

I think a 5' circle around me is mine, the rest is yours.

When your in a boat with friends, you've got many other lines in the water near you.

[WMUAngler]

If I get up from my bucket and take 2 or 3 steps and take a whiz and you get wet then you're tooooooo close.........:rant: I'm not shy and if you're that close and weren't invited to be that close then you're going to get wet...........

Getting pi-sed on is definitely where I draw the line. You can set up shop right next door, you can catch all the fish in the area, you can even drink a couple of my beers; but if I get hit with a drop of your urine, we're fighting. :tsk:

[ih772]

It depends on what you are fishing for. When fishing for smelt on Higgins, guys will be within a few footsteps of each other in smeltville. They do this to concentrate as many lights in one spot as they can to draw in plankton for the smelt to eat.

In other places, give people their space. On a lake, I don't like anyone within 50 - 100 yards. Fishing a river is a bit different because there isn't as much space but I like having about 50' between me and the next guy.

If you see a guy off in the distance away from the crowd, stay away from him. He's fishing there because he wants to be be himself and to enjoy peace and quiet.

[Coldwater Charters]

If I catch a fish and it tangles with your line, you're too close. Other then that, fish where you like. That's what I like about ice fishing, the comradery. When guys I fish with get too serious and competetive I go back and wack there rod tip simulating a bite. Dat does tend to make them boil, especially if they just had a nib. If they get really mad, I wait a bit, then throw a 3 incher in the bucket or bag while there not looking.

This is suppose to be fun, don't get so damn territorial

[basskiller46]

If they can knock you on your A** then your are to close:lol::lol:

:bonk::bonk:

[krt]

If I get up from my bucket and take 2 or 3 steps and take a whiz and you get wet then you're tooooooo close.........:rant: I'm not shy and if you're that close and weren't invited to be that close then you're going to get wet...........


lol. How far can you shoot?

[kcarlson]

I'm a loner. If you come sit next to me thats no problem, I'll just pack up, and find another spot.:cwm27:
I need 100yds between you and me. :cheeky-sm

[William H Bonney]

Kinda depends on what kinda mood I'm in,,, sometimes I get pissed, sometimes I don't.

One year out at Metro I had a guy pull up on a ATV pulling a trailer with all his and everyone else's gear,, he' literally blocked me inside my shanty..:mad: He left the ATV running and started to make some small talk,, then he shut's it down, hops off and starts setting up camp..:SHOCKED: Finally I said,, "uh dude,, I can't get outta my shanty":lol: My partner was FUMING,, this yahoo pulled up like right in between us.:lol:

[6thMichCav]

Ice fishing: The level of my irritation for company is inversely related to the number of people fishing the lake already. If it's just me, and you walk, slide, or drive up within 20 feet of my spot and start drilling, I'm irritated, plain and simple. My favorite is when you're on a lake with public access and you hear someone say, "Well, I live here, and I was fishing here yesterday, so that's my hole." If possession is half of the law, then possession of a fishing spot is part of the right to fish there without bumping shoulders.

If it's 5 people I don't know, we're going to draw a crowd because we look like we know where the fish are...even if we don't. Quite often, this is where you find either a great bunch of guys to fish with, or some jerk who you can't stand (whether I'm that jerk is yours to judge, too!). It's weird, but it always seems to be one extreme or the other.

If you're on a lake where there are 20, 50 or even 100 or more guys fishing, all bets are off. Live with it or go home.

Oh, and by the way, slamming 15 power auger holes in a spider web around my two hand-drilled holes just upset the juju, and juju will make you pay.

Boat fishing: If you're within casting distance, in any situation, you are out of line. Like the power boat laws, my philosophy is, "the one who isn't moving has the 'right to fish', i.e., you don't get within a long cast of them at any time. As you can see, I don't do the dam fishing or crowded steelhead runs, so I'm not casting judgment on those who do.

Bank fishing: You probably didn't see me anyway, and I'll move if you get too close.

Stream fishing: If you're within 100 yards, or you hole-jump, I'm leaving anyway to enjoy a little more sirenity.

Here's a sobering thought: If someone pulls up too closely and harasses you, then they are guilty of violating the law for sportsman's harassment. Wonder if that one's ever been to court over an ice fishing spat? :lol:

[blgoose44]

Had em all around me tonight, every time one got up and moved it was like fingernails on chalkboard for me. Best part was gills were hitting someone walks up and starts to BS with everybody, but I am the only one in a hut, so he never talked to me. I dont think they caught a single fish while he was there.

[swampbuck]

On Higgins Lake, Us locals just sent all the flatlanders(no offence) to a spot with just enough action to keep them away from our good spots. Thats the purpose of smelt town, when there got to be too many there, we started sending them to the north park. I think we need to find you guys a third spot.;)

[treboryenaws]

Please get a life guys. It's called fishing not crying

Welcome to the site. Can't wait to share my knowledge with you!

Good luck,
Chef Bob

[sirslurpee]

I'm a loner. If you come sit next to me thats no problem, I'll just pack up, and find another spot.:cwm27:
I need 100yds between you and me. :cheeky-sm

I kinda feel the same.. I have bad social anxiety and for some reason out fishing it bothers me when people are real close.. It's kind of to the point where I met someone from the site and I was really awkward and I think it might have weirded him out a little bit :lol:

I like to fish lakes that aren't busy either. Usually they aren't busy because no one ever catches anything.. but I prefer the experience of being out there and if I do happen to do good, it's more rewarding, and no one has to know..

I kinda made a mistake the other day too.. it was dark when I got out, and some guys had some tip ups set up.. I walked within 30feet of it and was like "Sht.!" also I was between the tip up and their shanty. I felt kinda bad but I didn't catch anything so I guess it was an even trade because I didn't apologize..

[WhiteTailHunter87]

I pike spear alot and I hate it when they think im gill fishin and start drillin holes 10 yards from me:mad: but any other time what ever in just like deer huntin on STATE LAND LOL some one hangs a stand 30 yard from me :rant:LOL So I bought a climer and I spear out of a portable NOW:lol:

[chuckwagon157]

I had mentioned this in another thread, but if you leave an empty rifle case leaned against your shanty, chances are, no one will come within 500 yards of you :lol:

[N M Mechanical]

Last night while fishing I had I guy come and fish next to me without asking and when my latern ran out of propane I still had plenty of light:mad:
Give me at least 15 feet.
And I with Danon this one If nature calls and you are within my circle you are wet.