Ice Fishing, How close is too close?

[Deepwateroff]

I just read the post about the knuckle-headed grandpa. And I know we have all been fished on top of. I know we have all arrived at "our hole" only to find someone or many somebodies already there. This seems, at least for me to happen more often during ice fishing than any other time. I get out onto the ice and in my spot at o'dark-30 only to have some "knucklehead" start drilling 20 yards away at sunup. I'm not sure if it's that we are both in ice tents so it must be okay because we can't see each other, or they are scarred so they want to be close to someone. Either way its a big sheet of ice... So how close is too close? Is it situational, if its a contest does that make it okay, or does that make it worse? If there is already a big "community" in an area is that okay? How about a friendly knock on the tent door... And if someone does get too close then what...
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[Jmorfish]

Sorta depends on the body of water...like Strawberry, at least 50 yards would be nice (and still some sort of greeting) Something like Farmington Pond, Kaysville Pond, maybe 10 to 15 yards is all you can ask.....Weekends? maybe a little closer no matter where you are, and hopefully during the week we should be spreading out 50 to 75 yards.....Someone in my spot? Yeah, I might go up and see how they're doing, talking, and getting a 'feel' if it's better to just move further away....But somebody there first? it's their spot 'til next time.....being curteous just might make a new friend......
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[RonPaulFan]

I'll add a related question to your topic. How can we best communicate the answer to your question to other ice fishermen on the big ice sheet?

Some might want to have solitude and an undisturbed fishing area particularly if they were quiet and waited after their holes are augured for fish to become active there.

In my case, I appreciate the company of other ice fishermen and particularly ice fisherladies, so how do I let others on the ice know they are invited?

I understand others have lives of too much people around them and a little solitude is an occasional relaxing treat. But, I work with people with no interest in ice fishing and meeting others fishing on the ice guarantees they are interested in ice fishing. It's also an opportunity to learn from others.

I do have my Big Fish Tackle flag. But, how do we communicate the answer to your question?

Flags?

A pirate flag might scare others away!

But then, I'm a pirate, too and would appreciate ice fishing with other pirates, so how does a pirate flag communicate the answer?

How about a table with mugs of hot chocolate?

Would people think I'm expecting the rest of a larger party and stay away?

Still, none of what I've thought of yet communicates the answer to your question.

I've often brought along my black five sided Cabela's tent which is easy to spot from a long distance, that is if I set it up, but it's still in the unopened box. I keep it handy in case I invite friends, so I would be able to make it comfortable for them should they get cold easily. I'm very tolerant of cold and move around augering lots of holes, so I haven't set it up for myself yet.

Anyway, for those reading this, know if you see my Big Fish Tackle flag, then you are invited to visit or fish close or fish with me.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]There is a wide variety of "types" out there and a wide variety of attitudes. It would seem that some folks just ain't been brung up right and do unsportsmanlike stuff without a clue. Others know dang well what they are doing and just keep on keepin' on to see how much they can get away with...or just don't care.

There also seems to be a "double standard". Some folks will crowd in and stand on your left boot while drilling a new hole right next to the one you are fishing in. And these same folks will scream like wounded eagles if they think you are going to set up within a hundred yards of them.

Probably the worst (in my opinion) is getting set up in your fave spot...and the fish are in and biting. Then some large group...with kids and dogs...sees you on the ice and heads right for you. The whole &#$@ lake and they wanna "bless" you with their company. After all their noisy drilling and stomping scares the fish away...and your sonar goes blank...the kids are screaming and running through your setup and the dogs are munching your lunch, bait and iced fish...and getting tangled in your lines. Even worse, when you "diplomatically" suggest to the "adults" that they might be crowding you a bit they get all hostile and growl something about "You don't own the lake." As if they did.

There are obnoxious slobs in all sports. But there are plenty of decent, considerate sportsmanlike folks too. If we practice being the latter and try to educate the former that's the best we can do. That and carry an AK-47.
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[FishingTherapy]

You forgot the dad that lets their kids spin donuts around your setup on the 4 wheeler all day.

[ice_sled]

I usually get to my favorite piece of ice at an early hour. The first thing I do is mark my perimeter with several yellow signpost. A trick I learned from my bird dog. Some folks think this is not proper behavior in our politically correct world. But this just a heads up for the folks that crowd an old man with active kidneys. I 'm not doing to walk to the little boys room because some lady and kids decided to share my little place on the ice.
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[fish_hntr]

I have never ice fished in Utah, but back east growing up we did it quite a bit and never really had a bad experience on the ice other than watching the occasional idiot wreck his snowmobile or ATV. Matter of fact, I recall on a few occasions even being invited to join someone around their campfire at lunchtime. I was having a similar conversation with someone a while back about crowding in general when enjoying the outdoors, seemed he gained a lot more space on the ice after he started carrying his revolver on his hip instead of concealed.
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[Quicky]

That is a great idea. Just keep a bottle of water with yellow food coloring in it for when people make a scene about it. Personally I drive out of state as much as I can to ice fish. Less people in that state and bigger lakes to fish on.
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[k2muskie]

http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...48;#954448
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[Kent]

I have had guys move close to me and actually start fishing some of the holes that I have drilled! I try to stay at least a 100 yards or so from other anglers and if I feel that I might be a little too close I will holler over and ask them if they mind if I fish there. I have had people let their dogs run over to me and try to eat my bait and get tangled in my fishing lines. Sometimes youngsters walk over and as long as they don't start getting into my gear or tripping over my fishing rods I don't mind at all.
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[dtayboyz]

Made lots of good friends fishing
Some folks shouldn't be allowed in public
If you can't handle the public, don't go out
If you pull a gun on someone, you'll live in a gated community
CJ strikes like that year round
Just a few random thoughts
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[Bmarsh]

I'm a give me distance type of guy. That being said this will be my first year in UT on the ICE.

Ive done most of my Ice Fishing in Idaho on Henry's and Mackay and those two spots are polar opposite. Henrys I get pretty annoyed when some one posts up next to me, its a big lake and there are hogs that have been caught all over it. So I get pissed if some one cozies up close there. Mackay when jigging for salmon its more the merrier. Seem like the more jigging the better you can hold a school so if people cozy up as long as its not so close youre tangling I don't get bothered by it. Kokes are so on and off we have even gone so far as when the school is under us and we finish limiting out inviting those not catching to come over and drop down our holes while the school is under. I think a lot depends on the situation as to how close is too close and it falls back to understanding the situation. Unfortunately too many don't realize they need to adjust based on situation.

Good example was last year 1 of 2 times I got on Fish Lake, I was there early, hit the weed line because honestly all I cared about was catching and felt like hammering perch. (and practicing for the tourney in case I went) and with in a half mile there was two other shantys. About an hour after sun up another group sets up shop maybe 50 feet away, turns on a radio, start drinking at 8 AM, and by 9 were so rowdy that I decided to pick up shop and move. If that's your thing that's fine but realize you should put some distance between your group and others.
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[Jedidiah]

My dog is one of those dogs that likes to run over and see other fishermen if I don't see her taking off first and call her back. She distrusts every other person besides a guy with a fishing pole and will bark, snarl and rush just about anyone that isn't actively fishing if I don't watch out and heel her back. Otherwise, anyone with a pole in the water is an instant friend...sounds like I'm exaggerating but it's true. If you see a short hair, black and white border collie on the ice with a overactive interest in your fishing poles it's probably my dog and she knows all about what you're doing and thinks you're her new best friend.

Ice etiquette is relative...if you're in the tent city, there's nothing you can really say about what other people do around you. If I walk onto the ice from a ramp and head to the nearest point, I expect that if there isn't already a half dozen tents there, there will be. Once you get a half dozen groups around you, inevitably there's going to be a group with kids or some drunks pounding on the ice with chisel or something else that scares the fish off. Once the fish get scared off, the noise gets worse because the people who do that in the first place get bored, are usually lazy and won't move off, and start into even noisier activities. Really the best way to view the tent city next to the ramp is to look at it as a trap for all the lazy, drunk or noisy types.

On the other hand, if I've walked 400-500 yards out to a less-than-obvious spot, drilled a 8 or 10 holes around the area while looking for fish and settled down on some structure that I burned a few hundred calories looking for and someone comes over and sets up 30 feet away, I'm going to get a little annoyed. Sometimes I let my dog go berzerk and scare off all the fish, then pull out the iPad and watch a movie loudly while I wait for doofuses to get discouraged and leave. Sometimes I wait and try to fish, sometimes not, but anyone who squats next to someone who's done the work kinda deserves what they get in my opinion.
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[bigfish6]

I live smack in the middle of the city. If I toeet friends I'll just walk out the door and talk to plenty of people!! The main reason I loved ice fishing was I knew I could go out and spend some time with family, friends, or just alone. Sometimes everyone just needs a good solitude break. But that usually let's me know where I want to go. Certain lakes (harbors) are going to be packed with people and all their critters, and if I'm not in the mood for that I go to bigger lakes that I know I can have plenty of space to myself or my group. I've just never understood why people will see a lonely tent away from the circus and decide to pull right up on it and bring ten people and dogs with them. If I see a tent or people well away from others then I know they went well out of their way to want a piece of solitude. When I first started ice fishing I knew I could pick any lake and not many people would be out on the ice, man I miss those days!! The population in utah has exploded and it makes it that more important for some people to get their well needed time away from others and show their family and friends how nice it can be to just get away. But on the puther hand I have meet some still today good friends while out fishing and if I do want to chat with people I'll go to the more popular areas. Plain and simple folks.
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[Fishsticker]

"She distrusts every other person besides a guy with a fishing pole and will bark, snarl and rush just about anyone that isn't actively fishing"

If you are taking a dog out on the ice without a leash knowing it will behave this way, I hope you are prepared for the consequences. A lot of people a very sensitive to being rushed by a snarling dog.
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[Jedidiah]

It only happens up close and when people don't respect personal space. She's a good dog as long as someone doesn't walk into my camp unannounced and she doesn't approach people in their camp unless they're fishing (even then I watch out and call her back unless they're ok with it.) If someone surprises us or walks up from behind and gets within 20-25 feet, she barks and postures, and I prefer it that way. Also, like I said, the dog responds to all commands and does whatever I say in an instant, and will totally love all over anyone that I have a chance to acknowledge and say hello to. All in all she's exactly as I trained her, and does her job in warning and protecting me. Finally, I totally understand that some people are afraid of dogs and keep her on a leash when moving through groups, then take her off when I'm away and set up. Someone who wants to visit "consequences" upon my animal will end up having to explain to a cop why they thought it was a good idea to continue approaching a barking dog and its owner and then take action afterward.

Last season some guy walked over to my camp while we were in the tent and started tiptoeing over to my jawjackers, I was watching him the whole time...looked like Elmer Fudd sneaking up on Bugs Bunny. I just waited til the dog noticed too and lost it, guy took off like an arrow. People who walk into someone else's remote setup unannounced are up to no good, and deserve a good scare.

Edit: Sorry to have made the impression that I walk around the lake scaring people with my rabid dog. I was assuming that you guys would understand that I was talking about situations where people have come up well within the constraints of personal space while pains have been made to be separate from the group. The times that I've set up close to others in a group and helped their kids catch fish or shared bait/food/tackle with others far outnumber the times we've gone off alone. The dog helps in her own way by patiently encouraging any fisherpeople.
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[RonPaulFan]

Responding to this part:

[quote bigfish6]... If I see a tent or people well away from others then I know they went well out of their way to want a piece of solitude. ...[/quote]

I will go far because I can easily, being fit and athletic from bicycle racing, I'll cover a lot of distance and I auger a lot of holes hunting structure or schools of fish. But, that doesn't mean I'm one who "went well out of their way to want a piece of solitude" because the opposite is true for me, so how do I communicate that, particularly with most people likely assuming I want solitude as you suggest?

That's a likely and reasonable assumption and likely the case most often. But, we still need the creative minds here to think of how to communicate appreciation of either solitude or visitors. I appreciate visitors, so that's harder to communicate.

Sure, obvious communication would be for me to join others clustered at the ramp, but that's not the answer for me because I will be fishing where I find the school of fish or structure that looks encouraging and I do mean "looks" because my Marcum LX-9 will show me charts that hint at good structure and then I drop down it's video camera to actually look at the structure and that also gives me insight to better interpret the charts.

Then I might be, as you say, "well away from others," but I really do want them to come fish with me and they should, not only because I intend for them to be invited and not only because I'll likely have plenty of food for guests, but because I will most likely be fishing directly over a school of fish!

This post is in context with my previous post of me asking if anyone knows a way to communicate that I appreciate others joining to ice fish near me or with me and that they are invited and I like the company of people ice fishing.

Here's a seed of an idea on flag communication. When I was a child, whenever we enter into the territorial waters of a foreign nation on our family boat, we fly a yellow flag to signal their customs and military authorities that we have entered and are seeking customs to authorize port entry.

The idea is a color flown as a flag is that it can be seen from great distance, so those keeping distance out of respect can still benefit from the communication by flag because otherwise the distance and logical assumptions hinder communication.

But, what will work for us to communicate preference of solitude or company invited?

Any ideas?
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[Troll]

[quote FishingTherapy]You forgot the dad that lets their kids spin donuts around your setup on the 4 wheeler all day.[/quote]

I would have to put a stop to that right out of the gate, like the first time.
Next, Ranger/Sheriff, for the live video feed from my phone.
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