I went to east canyon yesterday.. Hit the ice around 7:30 and fishing was Great.. Well for a few any ways.. A steady stream of people poured on to the ice.. A couple walking out on the ice noticed that I was catching fish.. So they decided to set up camp 25’ from me.. Well after firing up there power auger ( that was in big time need of a tune up ) They managed to drill 8 holes in about 25 min. [crazy] Well what do you think happened to the bite ?? GONE !!!
People there are fish all over the lake.. Just not under one hole… All I’m saying is give the other people out there some courtesy & respect…
But it is good to see all the people out there..
I have attached a few photos…
I hear you!!! that makes me so mad. They only good thing about that is when the other guys move in on you and they still can’t catch any fish. I had a guy at Strawberry come into about 20 feet ans set up his whole family. They only caught 3 or 4 fish and the three that were in my group pulled fish out left and right. Every time we caught one, they would all look up and stare then you could hear some spanish mumbo jumbo. As soon as we packed up to leave they ran right over to our holes.
How deep did you fish and how was the ice conditions? Was there alot of slush on top, could you take 4 wheelers up there?
You didn’t mention if they had youngsters with them or not. Maybe they were new at fishing the hard water and it might not have been very enjoyable for them to set and watch you catching fish after fish, some times showing a little kindness in helping people especially younguns that may be new to the sport to catch fish can be very rewarding. I have made many friends thru the years that I have met in the field and was willing to share info with. I’m sure you are no different than the rest of the public that have moved into a spot that some one else has occupied and left whether it be fishing or setting in a good flight path, that’s just human nature and I really don’t see anything wrong with it after I leave the area. Groups of fisherman fishing close together can actually hold fish in an area especially Kokanee, of course you have to keep the noise down and that can sometimes be a problem especially if there is any “HOOPENSOCKER” involved. Just my 2 cents worth.[:)]
Thinking back I guess that is why I quit icefishing. Or at least one reason. Many times on bear lake on the rock pile. You could be the first ones there and before long you were surounded. And that was before every body had scooters and snow mobils.
At least a guy doesn’t have to put up with the skiers,wake boarders,& pleasure boaters. Always seems to be a “Trade Off” in life I guess. Guess it’s time to go watch some football. Hopefully the guys in green and gold can make it to the Big Dance.
Who cares if they have kids with them. Setting up close to someone, without asking if it is ok, is rude and unsportsman like. If they would have given him some space and then when he leaves use the same holes thats fine. It’s when they crowd you and then take it…it’s like eating in an empty restaurant and having somebody come sit at your table without even asking. I think (especially if your using a power auger) you walk (or ride)an extra minute and set up.
yeah its hard to say but if you are out on a lake (wide open area) I would say around stay 100 feet out or so but in a crowded area I would think at least 50 sounds good to me.
The ice is 5-6 in. thick with no slush on it.. Plenty of 4 wheelers and snow machines out there.. Fish are suspended down around 10-20’.. All different baits seem to be working.. Chartreuse is the color for me..
I did hook into a NICE bow using a green 2"radical tube.. Lost it at the hole.. 18-20 " i would say. It might have had ice shrinkage but i don’t think so..
In my story, there were no kids just adults. We were fishing off a point over some structure that I had found earlier in the year. There was not one person in sight then those guys came up and camped right on us. Given their attire and gear I would guess they were beginners to ice fishing and had no idea of the structure I was fishing. I really don’t mind if someone comes over and asks what’s working and how deep, and so on. I was there once too, and I usually give them some tips when asked. It just made me mad that there was a whole bay that was wide open and they decided to fish the same hole I did. Oh well it was long ago and many fish ago. Point is just be courteous and respect other people’s space.
I’ll tell you, my experiences show that for whatever reason, EC is the home to some really rude anglers. We’ve had that same type thing happen to us multiple times every year.
I’m with you F4TH !
Yesterday at Echo I was at my truck taking off my boots to drive home when a guy in a pickup stopped and asked me how the fishing was. I gave him a brief rundown and without even a thanks he drove off. What a #?@*
Probably saw your BFT sticker and he was from one of the “other boards”. Some of them do not know how to play nice.
Never any excuse for rudeness. Sad, but many kids today never learn how to use the words PLEASE and THANK YOU. Lots of adults could use a refresher course too. We just take too much for granted and are not properly grateful when people try to help us. Then again, some of us are beyond help.
Just to add my .02 Your camera may be playing tricks with my eyes but they look farther away than 25 feet. but still bugs when others get real close without asking. I have found that EC and most other places i like to fish it is often well worth the effort and time to walk and get away from the crowd. If you walk down the main road or trail and walk out 100 yard and set up camp…your going to get company. i fish EC alot, and i dont fish the crowd, ifi get moved in on…well i’ll relocate if i’m being bugged. You absolutely right, it is a big lake and alot of fish, if your into them in one spot you can get into them in another, chances are you may have already educated the fish in the area and it may be time to move ayway. I’m not real convinced that it is the power auger that causes the fishing to drop off. I’ve had many 50 fish days, sometimes i don’t need to move but 2 or 3 times. Some days it may take more. I know one thing if your not getting a bite and your throwing everything but the tacklebox at them move, if your still not getting them move to another lake. Time and time again i see people set up camp in one spot sit there all day and then complain that they were catching them left and right then it died, and they didn’t get much the rest of the day. I know i’m rambling but i use the same tactics on the boat or the shore as i do on the ice. I liked the pictures of the turkeys, i know that gate real well, our family owns that property. at times i have counted more than 85 hens and toms there. Any way glad to see they arestill there.
I did not take a picture of the people who moved in on me.. The photos were of just how many there were out on the ice.. True, I don’t know either if power augers spook fish away.. It just might be a coincidence that the bite dropped off just at that time… But I waited 1 hr to see if the fish moved back in.. They did not.. So I did move and managed to pick up a few more fish.. Anyways enough of this one.. Point made.. Pleanty of room for all..
I feel your pain. We were up at Yuba Saturday and someone drilled holes about 4 feet behind our ice hut =. I guess the fact that we couldn’t see them meant that it was alright.
even though we could see them through the plastic window
one of the meny reasons i like to fish the out of the way places.. i know not everyone has time or places close to home that are out of the way. but sure is nice to have a lake all to your self on most any given day! [sly]
on the flip side fishing for perch it’s better to have a big group that way ya can keep the school around and know what way it’s moveing by other fisher men sounding off.. [sly]
I think we can probably agree that there are some variables on the noise vs success factor. I know I have had times when the fishing has been slow and I have drilled a couple of other holes to explore a bit. Sometimes as soon as the new holes are drilled a bunch of fish come in to see what the excitement is and you are back in business. That can be true of perch or trout.
But, when it comes to walleyes or crappies…or some other species…it pays to use a hand auger to drill holes quietly, and then let them sit for awhile before expecting any real action. And then, do not stomp on the ice or drop any gear on it. Walleyes, especially, will rocket away from unnatural noises. Crappies too are very noise sensitive. I have had too many times when I was sitting quietly by myself, spanking fish, and some friendly folks decided to join me. Just their stomping on the ice was often enough to make the fish marks disappear from my sonar screen. And, if you are fishing around a dock, and someone comes tromping out on that dock, you can plan on moving somewhere else for awhile.
The good thing about having a group fishing the same area for perch…especially in Yuba…is that they will tend to keep the fish around for the tidbits of bait. And, as we know, the predators usually stay close to the perch. Having a grundle of active perch under you can be a good way to tease in a toothy critter.
Probably saw your BFT sticker and he was from one of the “other boards”. Some of them do not know how to play nice.