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Hit Mantua first thing this morning with some friends. Lavaman joined up with us later in the morning. Fishing was not what it was yesterday. Slower than usual, but we still caught fish.
After an hour or so on the ice with the slow fishing, I decided to move. I started at the same spot I fished yesterday. I proceeded to move about 50-60 yards east of where we had everything set up. NO ONE was over there. It was obvious someone had been there yesterday, but that was yesterday, and I wanted to try it. I drilled a couple of holes and got some bites, so I went back to get the rest of my stuff. Lavaman met up with me at this point.
So after about a half hour to 45 minutes of fishing in this spot, I see a couple walking out towards us (no one else is within 50-60 yards of us). I thought it might have been someone that had I had told I would be out there today because I had my flag up, but it was no one I knew or talked to on here. They guy walks right up to us, about 10 yards away, maybe, and I said hello to him. He then said that was his spot that he fished yesterday, and stood there looking around for a good 2 minutes, almost like he expected me to get up and offer it to him or something. Lavaman was catching a few fish, so I turned to him and started talking about his catch. The guy sets his tent up and drills a couple of holes not even 10 yards from me. UNBELIEVABLE! But, I wouldn't expect less from anyone out there. It's a common occurance, unfortunately. I have seen the same people out there the last few years. It's like they think they own the place. I woke up early, I got there before anyone else did, and no, this piece of ice isn't your real estate. The pic below is my buddy and his son. Behind him, you can see my sled and bucket on the ground. Behind my sled and bucket is the little party that arrived.
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Oh well. We fished there for a couple of more hours before we needed to head home. As soon as we were back to our original spot, they immediately left their holes and went to fish the ones we had drilled. Funny stuff. But it just amazes me, wherever we fish, that complete strangers can feel comfortable coming up and setting up camp 20ish feet away from you and expect you to be just a-ok with it. I like K2muskie's post about ice fishing etiquitte.
Now, done with the rant. I am not even worried if they read posts on this site or not. It's just not cool to do that, and everyone I have met on here and talked with, I feel safe in saying, pretty much feels the same way.
But I enjoyed the morning out, even if the fishing wasn't as hot as it has been for us in the past.
Ice was anywhere from 3-5 inches thick. Slush was there in spots, but for the most part wasn't a big deal. The main sled tracks on and off the lake are getting pretty permanent, so it makes for an easy walk on and off.
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They are or were just being neighborly.
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Well didn't you see the signs and markers and fences they put there to prove it was "private access"?
It's say that's funny, but pathetic is a more fitting description.
Even when I'm planning on meeting up with you or others, I STILL ask if folks mind if I plunk down next door.
It's just common courtesy (whatever that is!)
Probably had a big loud gas auger too?
Was at Hyrum last year, closed up in the tent, and a snowmobile drives up and parks RIGHT outside! I'm unzipping the flap collection some choice 'colorful metaphors' to share, and realize - DUOH! It's the ranger! Just checking licenses. Woops!
So - no one busting through the ice today?
So - um - hey, where's the fish-porn? Saw a fat-bass Lava yanked up. Didya get some gills?
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Ha! That guy stood there for more than just two minutes....he was staring at us for more like 5-10 minutes expecting us to leave! Too funny. And then setting up right next to us like that...not like there's a WHOLE ENTIRE reservoir to fish on or anything.
Some people's kids.
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No pics today. Just a handful of bluegills. Here's a pic from yesterday.
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Similar incident happened to me and my bro a couple years ago at Strawberry. We even took a snow mobile out away from everyone, next thing we know a snow mobile pulls up with in 25' of us and starts drilling holes. I was in disbelief. Only good thing about it is that we got a few minutes of entertainment when one of them ended up stepping in his hole and got his leg stuck. I think the only thing that hasn't happened with one of these "friendlies" is dropping a line in my hole. Maybe we all should try snuggling in closer to them when they invade and see if anything clicks??
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I think people on here get way too bent out of shape about someone setting up 30 feet away. Truth is fish like structure, if I know where structure is from past fishing trips I go back to that spot. If someone is already fishing there or near to it I still often set up and fish.
Get over it. And no that was not me this morning btw.
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All we're saying is there's such a thing as 'consideration'.
Kind of a lost art, I know.
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Just shows how inconsiderate people are - whether if there is structure there or not. Especially at Mantua. That whole area where we were is exactly the same. No one is going to come up in a boat and fish that closely. Same concept here. I know it is always gonna happen, but it still passes me off - especially when no one else is around. And no, I probably won't just get over it. Some people out here act like they own the water, and that is what I was getting at. He walked up and said it was his spot. Whatever, man. It's not your spot. It's not my spot either. It's is just where I am fishing for the time being.
I know there are some other places where close encounters get crazy, but I have never personally experienced the jerks of fishermen as I have here in Utah. Luckily, most people I have met and fished with on the forum don't fit into that category.
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Too funny, I would have stomped around on the ice, dropped a few M-80's down the holes and told them "have at it". And went back to the other group, laughing all the way.
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Haha! Too bad I didn't have any. [  ]
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[inline "Alaska 2110 248.JPG"]
Could be worse! There was a vid of steelheaders that came to blows a while back. Someone with a few too many brews to try to keep his balance in a river!
Mantua's been one where I've been anchored on some gill-beds, to have another boat move in close enough I could toss my anchor into their rig. Um - yeah, no. Thanks. I did say something - them moved like 5 ft.
I've fished with fellow anglers to the point that we're taking turns casting across one another. But it starts with a "howdeee hi!" and at least the courtesy of "mind if I. . ." really doesn't take much effort, no pain at-tall.
Usually leads to some nice chit chat while we trade stories and crappie catches!
I know our fly-fishers run into it even more. Lots more to be said for ruffing up a stretch of river.
Though - I have heard rumor that the vibrations of an auger can draw fish - out of curiosity. But I got an electric, so it's super-duper ridiculously quiet. Oh well. Pros and cons. [:p]
Thanks for the fishpix! Lava- lovin' that  ! Somebody's a happy camper! That's not your first bass on ice it?
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I would have a hard time getting over it, if someone walked up to me and said "that's my spot."
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Myself, ah caint see muchuva prob here. Hail man, hit's a publik lake. Now, ifn they'd setted up right tween ya, ya'd had reason ta git pissed same as ya wud if they went ta makin a lotta ruckus an skeerin thu fish.
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Proximity isn't the biggest issue. Like harlin and Coyotespinner said, my biggest problem was some stranger walking up and saying that was his spot. Then without even replying to my hello, how's it going, setting up right there. And after putting things away in my garage, I realized that my 30-ft judgment was more like under 20 feet.
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[quote harlin]I would have a hard time getting over it, if someone walked up to me and said "that's my spot."[/quote]
This.
I'd make it a point to stay longer than them, no matter the circumstances. That, or I'd wait for them to get set up and fishing and then I'd take my auger over and start drilling a hole in their camp. If they say anything, just say "Sucks, doesn't it?" I also like the idea of M-80's... Perhaps a Evanstan trip is in my future. I like that idea mucho.
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One day at east canyon when half the res. of the Wasatch front were out fishing a group of guys thought I set up a little to close to them. Keep in mind I'm the guy who likes a lot of real estate to fish and really tries to respect peoples space. There literally wasn't a spot that day that you could fish without being twenty yards or so from another group. Plus who really gives a s%$# about planter rainbows.
Well these guys did because they start calling me on and dropping f bombs left and right. I'm 6'4" and 250 lbs. Not to much fat. But I'm about as mellow as they come so I just concentrate on fishing. Well my brother (6' 155 lbs) takes offense at their treatment of me. To make a long story short 10 minutes later my brother makes me stop fishing because one of the guys is out cold, one of them is painting the ice red and the other one is on the phone with the cops. Moral of the story. No matter how much of a badass you are there is always somone out there tuffer and meaner. That's why I always try to keep my mouth shut.
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^ ^ ^ Awesome!
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[cool][#0000FF]I used to love to fish Mantua...open water and hard deck. Gave up on the open water because of the power squadron. Gave up on the ice fishing because of the "socialites". Seems like no matter how far I went to get away from everybody, as soon as I put a fish on the ice I had a whole bunch of new best friends. And they were almost belligerent in asserting their right to "help me" in my spot.
One of the "last straws" was a similar incident. I had been doing well a couple of days prior in a deep spot way out in the middle of nowhere. So I went back and picked up where I left off...nice perch and trout fairly regularly. Just as you described a couple of GOB'S...good ol' boys...made a beeline for me from clear across the lake. Before they even got very close one of them started hollering about me taking their spot. I couldn't believe it. Then he pointed at the remnants of the holes I had drilled two days before and started ranting about how those were their holes. Thinking quickly, I reached inside my coat and pulled out my digital camera that I always have hanging on a stretch cord. I held it up and looked at it and said: "Well boys, you are mistaken. I drilled these holes two days ago. And I fish this spot all year...this exact spot...so I guess I got a prior claim on it. But I'll make you a deal. I got the GPS numbers on this spot that I can always come back here. If you can give me the GPS numbers from your files I will move off and let you have this spot."
I doubt those goobers even knew what GPS stood for. They spluttered and ranted a bit more and then I just unloaded on them...telling them it was a big damn lake and the bottom in this area was pretty much the same all over...that it was just a matter of being where the fish were moving through. I said I was willing to bet them $100 a fish that I could move anywhere else within view of them and that I could outfish both of them combined over an hour's measured time. They didn't go for it. And I stayed there for about two more hours. They set up nearby and only caught a half dozen dink perch while I iced several toad perch, a couple of big rainbows and a few stray suspended bluegills. They mumbled back and forth to each other but didn't say another word to me. I was crushed.
As I recall, that WAS my last ice fishing trip there. About 3 years ago.
But, guess what. It happens all over...ice and open water. There are a whole lot of fishermen that know little about sportsmanship...or care about how other folks might feel about them moving in without the proper amenities. Okay to fire off a verbal objection but it will usually only get hostility in return. Those folks don't know how to say "I'm sorry".
Some say that ice fishing is a time for companionship and sharing the ice with everybody else. Okay, that's cool...as long as you know and can tolerate those with whom you are rubbing rod elbows. But there are times when some of us go out looking for a quiet time by ourselves...with the expectation of enjoying the winter wonderland all by our lonesome.
If a guy and his kid shows up asking for assistance in those circumstances, I am done. The trip is no longer about me...but about helping a youngster catch some fish through the ice. I was once that kid and I can still remember the kindness of others who made a point of helping me learn the lessons I think I have learned.
But anymore, when loudmouthed boozed up dimbledorks come stomping up or roaring up on a snow machine...looking to take over my spot...I am liable to make a bid for a spot on the evening news. I guess I have gotten a bit more crotchety in my advanced years. Too bad my rowdy ego keeps writing checks my deteriorated body can't cash.
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Sounds like mud dog or whatever his name was on here he did the same thing to us at scofield last Sunday, funny thing is I wrote a report about scofield and said what happened and he was the first guy to comment about it that's how I know his name.
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