Ice fishing etiquette. Positive only+++

[DDSBYDAY]

     Ice fishing etiquette really should be  quite simple.  I see a lot of complaining on other sites about other anglers and think that often the problem is that an angler is not aware that they are over stepping their bounds or fishing too close.  Things have changed with new technology.  I purposely did not call this thread ice fishing pet peeves because complaining is not an effective way to bring about change.  Everyone hates trash left on the ice.  That is a no brainer and it is so simple I hate to bring it up.  I would like to go to a different level.

        1)    If I go out and turn a sunken island into swiss cheese should I be able to claim the entire sunken island as mine because I plan to hole hop?

        2)   If I drill 30 holes should I be angry if someone comes out to fish in the area and fires up his auger right at sunset inbetween a couple of my holes?


              I bring this up because I don't know the answers.   I know what I would do.   I would be interested in what you guys think.

           

[JECAMERON]

Personnally I've never had a problem with folks fishing around me. I've drilled holes for strangers to fish 10 feet from my house.
On the flip side I might ask somebody if I felt that I was encroaching on "their" spot.

[FireRanger]

Personnally I've never had a problem with folks fishing around me. I've drilled holes for strangers to fish 10 feet from my house.
On the flip side I might ask somebody if I felt that I was encroaching on "their" spot.

I am of the same opinion.....I think if you go out and drill 30 holes then you obviously increase your 'invitations' to have people fish around you. I find this happens on more heavily used lakes. I know I have used other peoples holes quite often....more often when they aren't around or even close. I am careful not to intrude and more often ask if it's ok if the hole driller is near. I think it's up to the individual who is looking toward the spot your at.....same as when your in the boat, there is a certain amount of distance that is acceptable and casting a lure in another guys boat is not the way to go . I think you'll always have that person that comes around and invades your personal fishing space, but alas, it is a free country right! Tolerance is key I guess.

[DDSBYDAY]

    I agree.  I have never had any problems  on the ice either.  Had a guy withing inches of bumping my boat last summer.  In his defense the boat is camo so maybe he didn't see me  
    I have met a lot of nice people ice fishing so I was suprised reading some of the bad behavior listed on some other sites.  I think a lot of it can be avoided with common sense.

[FireRanger]

      In his defense the boat is camo so maybe he didn't see me  
   

Mine too.....you should let me know whenever you go out as to where your going.......don't want to run into each other by mistake!

[22lex]

I went on an excursion last year ice fishing Burntside for trout. We listened to the locals the first day to find a good shelf and sit tight and caught one measly fish.

The next day, I got the prairie dog mound itch and must have burned off 70 holes during the day (ended up catching fish due to this).....then these two kids came rolling out on the lake with a small car, hand auger, and just a little ways away from us. After watching the kids for about 5 minutes struggle to punch through the 20 inches of ice with their beat up nils hand auger, I walked over there and showed them the prairie dog holes I had made, and how they are more than welcome to use any of the holes. I didn't claim them by any means, and I didn't want them to feel that they couldn't use them, especially with their crappy hand auger. It made their day and they were very appreciative to the tune of a couple beers.

Anywho, no, you shouldn't expect to claim all 30 holes you drill, or claim a sunken island. I haven't had much issues with people on the ice. I think the problem is people have become so worried/scared about talking to other people, that they just turn their back (whether they feel they are being encroached upon or not) and sit and stew about how it makes them mad. Then they turn around and annonymously post on a sporting site how it makes them mad and what they will do "the next time" this happens. I don't know why some people are un-social like this, maybe afraid someone will get the word out about their spot.....who knows.

A handshake, smile, and small conversation goes along ways.

[thunderpout]

I agree.... to me, claiming an area or all of your drilled holes is like claiming a deerstand on public property to a certain degree.... BUT in both circumstances... there should always be some etiquette in the invading of ones personal space..... you know.... its a big lake/big forest, how bout a little elbow room, Eh?   Got yelled at once for drilling holes between a guys portable and his tip-ups that were 150' or more away(during the day).... I said sorry, but if your fishing a metro lake on a weekend you cant be seriously thinking you can "claim" a sand bar to yourself... if you want one to yourself, get to one of the many large lakes up in northern MN.... maybe Canada!

[kcarder]

I have really only had one instance where it was rather annoying that someone had fished too close to where our fish house was.  It was a permanent/wheel house fish house that was left out on the ice and the day before someone had drilled a bunch of holes all around it after there was a heavy snow causing it to flood about 2" to 3" deep all around the house.  When we got there we had to get some more blocks, lift the house up another couple of inches and get snow from about 30 ft away to rebank the house.  What a pain. 

As far as your questions:
1. I don't think that you could claim all the holes as your own

2. I don't think that you should be angry if someone fires up the auger to drill some of their own holes because they need some way to get to the fishing as well.

I do however believe that if you are gonna be that guy that comes in and wants to start adding holes next to someone already fishing that you should at least go over to them and let them know what you intend to do.  This will usually help any feelings of resentment or anger towards you that someone may have for doing so.  Who knows maybe they will tell you that you can use any of the 20 to 30 holes they have drilled and save you some fuel.