I can understand the aggravation. Next time go over and give them phony lures and say this is working :).
Trying to judge from your picture I think they are at an ok distance. If they had come as close as your auger then it would be too close.
Did you leave your auger out to stake out your territory.
There is always yellow crime scene tape and some stakes…
I was alone at the gorge anchored over some macs jigging a boat load of young bucks bee lined toward me and drove a full circle around me then figure 8 and back. Then they bee lined to another boat and did the same thing to him. I couldn’t believe it and I was pretty mad. I was thinking I should pack a gun with me:astonished: After awhile I couldn’t believe I was actually thinking I should pack a gun with me for that reason! I decided it was pretty silly to get mad over something like that no matter how big a nut sac you’re dealing with. Don’t be grumpy:angry: be 
I know when I go fishing I go to get away from people. Some people don’t know what courtesy is, but yet again most of them don’t have any common sense either. Come on people. Strawberry is a big body of water, don’t come fish 20 feet from me.
My rule of thumb for ice fishing distance, is based on if they got beer or not, second rule, is if they are willing to share.[;)]
I feel your pain. I don’t have snowmobiles and will walk a distance from anyone only to have people come on their sleds Nd they could keep going further out but think I must know what I’m doing I guess. Based on your pic I wouldn’t have been too upset but only because I have come to expect that while on strawberry.
I agree with you. Its ice fishing and its all straight up and down.
I have invited folks to fish close to me if im catching fish…as long as we don’t tangle while catching fish im good.
If folks don’t like people fishing around them they need to start fishing during mid week or find a new past time. Better yet go to California for the trout opener in the Serrias. Then you will understand the world of crowding.[fishon]
Now if im fishing offshore chasing tuna and some jack wagon runs across a kelp party im fishing in the middle of the freaking ocean we might have words.
5wtrod get used to it at strawberry!! Happened to me last weekend a guy and his wife fished 40 ft from me. He saw me and my boy hook a few and moved right on top of us. He was so close when he turned on his flasher I had to turn my noise reduction option on high and turn my sensitivity way down on my finder to see my screen. He fished for about 2 hours and caught nothing and moved on. It will happen and it will piss you off. Don’t let it ruin your day, just walk over close to his tent every time you have to take a leak and relieve yourself and tell him he is fishing in your bathroom, if he asks.
It all depends on location. Strawberry is huge but still…if you expect space at the ladders, you will be disappointed. Basically any spot next to parking will be crowded. On the other hand, if you see that someone has taken the time to get away from people, it not likely they want company. It never hurts to communicate before getting close to others that are otherwise " alone".
My peeve is when I’ve sweat to drill several holes in an area and I’m actively fishing back and forth between them, then someone decides to come invade. Ugh. Location still applies though.
Just stay aware of where you’re fishing and understand its popularity with others. If someone gets too close, try diplomacy first. Some people won’t get the hint and never will.
(They all drive in front of me and they all vote too.)
2 things drive me crazy with proximity. Occurring on less crowded lakes far from the parking areas. I’m not talking about Af boat harbor or fishing the rock pile.
1- guys who set up so close I can hear their profane garbage with my kids present. Last year I hiked my kids 500 yards from the nearest fishermen. Half hour later a group of guys set up 60’ from us. They start talking about their nightly encounters in graphic detail. We left.
2-guys who fish holes I drill within 50 feet of me as we actively rotate. Had a guy walk between me and my kids and fish a hole on Otter Cr. He was 20’ from me and less than 20 from my daughter and sons. In between us…
Give people space and allow them to enjoy their day out if it is possible.
“based on whose standards” +100. 4Oft is a huge distance. I don’t own any part of any body of water even if I did get there first. Do I like it when other people find the sweet spot I’m on? Not really, but I would always let them drill right next to me if they wanted, it’s a public water. I think it’s hateful, the way some anglers think they own their spot and the attitudes they give others who go near. I would never do that to anyone regardless if I liked them or not. Not cool, just let people fish near you if they want! If you really can’t stand it, don’t go fishing where there will be people at all. Snowmobile into the uintas and don’t count on anyone to rescue u when u get lost. It’s attitudes like this that can ruin an entire fishing trip when you are unfortunate to run into the wrong person. We should be more kind towards people around us I think. But sadly that’s not how the world works. People always find some way to hate each other across the globe for all kinds of reasons they concoct. Even in recreation, ironically people concoct reasons to hate each other from snowboarders vs skiers to “meat anglers” vs catch and release. SAD!
I see 3 other groups in your photo. It looks to me like you are in one of the tent cities that pop up near every parking lot along the lake. You need to go alot farther than that if you want to be alone.
Common courtesy should go both ways. No one owns the lake, but if the ice isn’t crowded then why set up within a few feet of someone else? I think it is selfish to set up right on top of someone else if the ice is not crowded. Crowded ice, then set up wherever.
My rule of thumb for ice fishing distance, is based on if they got beer or
not, second rule, is if they are willing to share.[;)]
If I was an ice fisherman I’d go along with your rule of thumb.[;)]
Have you noticed that folks are way too sensitive nowadays?
Chill out![fishin]
Exactly!
Invitation:
(My reply is intended to be an addition to the entire conversation and not to anyone in particular.)
I read all of the posts of this subject. This is a tricky one for me because it seems communication might come close to being part of an answer, but for those who truly desire solitude, that can be an intrusion itself and then there’s those who wouldn’t say to not seem unfriendly when their preference is really solitude.
I’m thinking about communication and don’t have any good answers for that yet.
I might tend to go out far, but that’s to find fish and I’m athletic with an abundance of energy and it’s easy for me. It’s not to get away from people, so you seeing that I’m far away doesn’t mean you aren’t welcome to fish with me. I would like that. I like to explore with my fish finder and underwater camera to experience a variety of structure and learn from fishing it.
How do I communicate my invitation to come fish with me?
My profile is basically an invitation, so perhaps I should display my Big Fish Tackle flag more often. It says RonPaulFan, so if you see it, then know that you are invited to fish with me and visit. Learn from me or teach me something, make suggestions or ask advice. Conversations are invited.
I’ve even been tempted to join the social aspect of ice fishing tent cities with producing cooking aromas and giving out hot chocolate to invite people to visit, but so far I’ve prioritized learning and have been fishing with friends.
I understand that many see people all the time and value their fishing trips to get away from it all. Not the case with me. At my work, I don’t see people much. I’ve never been married yet would love to start a family. I’m not into bars and I don’t dance, so maybe I’ll meet my future wife while fishing. Meeting people while fishing is desired. Now you know.
Still, other than this post, my profile here and my BFT flag, how do we communicate fishing proximity preferences?
My rule of thumb for ice fishing distance, is based on if they got beer or not, second rule, is if they are willing to share.[;)]
I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK!!!
After reading your post I couldn’t help butt share my story.
I went to UL pelican bay three years back. There was one other angler in the harbor. He was just 20’ off the boat ramp. Thought I’d ask how the fishing was. He was friendly and told me he was catching some white bass. I asked if he didn’t mind if I got on the same school. He obliged and I set up 15’ from him. We were conversing and catching fish having a good time. That all came to an end when 3 car loads pulled up and 10 adults flooded on to the ice.
The first guy on the ice walked up with a smile and grabbed my auger without saying a word and drilled a hole four feet from mine. Damn rude I thought. We were soon surrounded with out any regard to our personal space. At one point I pulled a fish up, before I could get the hook out someone dropped his lure down my fishing hole. Damn jerks I packed up and moved across the harbor. Making my option known to the group of "claim jumpers"per say.
I have felt encroached on before butt that was a new high for rude angling.
I’m pretty tolerant… but that is more than I would be able to handle. You Sir, are a better man than I!
It is not so much the fishing close to me that I get irritated over. It is coming on the ice at 10:00 am, setting up next to me and then drilling 9 holes. That pretty well ends the fishing in that spot. Especially when the blades on the auger haven’t been sharpened for 5 years.[:/]