Lake Waconia: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!!!!

[Moose-Hunter]

Howdy all....

Sorry, but here comes a rant!!!!

Over the weekend, we moved my house well away from the crowds. Not another house within at least a couple hundred yards. Great structure, no neighbors. Primo spot!!

We got settled in about 4:00pm or so and had our first small eye about 20 min. later. Then it happened... The highway to hell formed on both sides of us. Cars, trucks and ATV's driving by so close to the house, we could have spit on them. WHAT THE H___ ARE YOU THINKING!!!!

HOW ABOUT A BIT OF DISTANCE HERE FOLKS!!! WE'RE FISHIN' IN HERE!!! AND THAT'S GLARE ICE YOU'RE DRIVING ON YA KNOW!!!

With the speed that some of these jerks were traveling, they would never be able to avoid any sort of hazard. Be it open water, another vehicle, or in my case, A FISH HOUSE!!! Sort of reminded me of open water when the bonehead pleasure boaters cruise past, way too close at WOT...

Due to the fact this is an open forum, my actual thoughts and words for these "people" can not be accurately expressed, but I think you get the picture.

I'll close here. Thanks for listening...

Dan

BTW... To the guy with the really loud Ford, northwest of the island... We did get your plate number and did report you to the sheriff... Hope you got what you had comming.

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M-H (aka: Dan)

[joep0674]

good for you !!!!!!!!!!! yeah lets have a lil respect out there!!!!! i agree

[JiggingSpoon]

I totally agree. It is extremely oughta hand this year. I have never seen so many cars speeding and wipping donuts all over the lake. The ice is very slippery and someone is going to get hurt. Everyone fishing out there, if you have a chance to get plate numbers of any reckless drivers, please do so and report them to the carver county sheriffs, i was in Mase's the other day and there was a sheriff there and that is exactly what they want us to do, so go get'em guys, this needs to be stopped.
JS

[Moose-Hunter]

Thanks for the support guys!!!

As of this writting, I know of five different houses on different lake locations that have all agreed to do the same as I did. I know these folks, and they will be true to there word. So for all you boneheads...

WE'RE OUT THERE AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!

But five fellas just ain't enough for such a big lake and SOOOOOOO many boneheads. Since a cellphone seems to be part of everyone's fishing arsenal these days.... Post the sheriff's number on your house wall or carry with your license. The call only takes a couple minutes and then you can actually say "I GOT ONE"!!!

Thanks again for your support.....

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M-H (aka: Dan)

[This message has been edited by Moose-Hunter (edited 01-18-2004).]

[fishgutz]

Good post and I couldn't agree more. I've been in a few heated arguments with these "people" and they're the kind of guys that think that they own the lake. Not common courtesy at all. Glad you reported to the sheriff.

fishgutz

[unclejake]

You guys should post the Sheriff's Phone # for Carver County...I know I'll jot it down and put it in my wallet somewhere incase I need it.
Thanks.

[danny berg]

Moose-Hunter,
Do you have the green house that was parked by shore for a while? I noticed it was Gone Sat night when I left the ice, wondered where it went. Not only should you watch for dumbA$$'s, but watch for the idiots that are breaking in to the fishhouses. The Carver County Sheriff Dept, is patrolling the ice a little more because of the break-ins, Had a couple of them stop out to inform me of the break-ins and told me take it all with me.

DAnny

[Moose-Hunter]

Hey Danny....

Yep. That's one of mine. That one has spent too long a time being way too shallow!!! LOL!!

Was going to head out tonight, but my honey-do list suddenly became a bit longer. My neighbor's out in the Greenie tonight.

Glad to hear about the sheriff doing his rounds. Exposure is a good thing.

Drop by sometime and say howdy if ya get a chance.....

Dan

[danny berg]

Moose-Hunter,
Saw your address on the house, a neighbor of yours on the same street, is my fishing partner, you have seen him on this site as WalleyeNutz. Maybe some night we'll look for you out there. Don't know when the next time we will be out, shooting for Wed night, but nothing is set in stone right now.

[John Mickish]

I've got the perfect fix for the pleasure boaters and jet skiers in the summer time. Just take a big muskie bucktail, remove the treble hook then when they come by cast in there direction. They only have to see it once before they realize they might be a "bit" to close.

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It still beats workin'

[wall eyell be]

Fguy

Why go to the bother of removing the treble hook ?

[joep0674]

thats just like this guy this weekend i almost got into it with , he comes over by my shack , and i mean like 6 ft away and starts drilling his tip up hole , i come out said c,mon man were gonna get tangled up!!! and it ended up turning into a big argument , for what? he ended up going somewhere else but **** thats nerve . i mean a big lake and he chose to drill along side my shack.... wheres the common sense nowdays ...... some folks just dont give a crap about the sport........

[lindy rig]

I think this goes with the theme,

Saturday on Bald Eagle there were these wind sails whipping around on the lake. Some getting pretty close to the house. Thought to myself, one of these guys is going to hit something soon. Couple hours later a knock on the door. It was the sheriff, wondering if we had been witnesses to the accident. One of the sailors hit a car, ripped the bumber off. I'm all for having fun out there, but some people just don't think.

good fishin...

[Joe's Kid]

Just wondering, do those ice boats have to be registered? If so, a guy could call in the registration number off it. I usually have a pair of binoculars handy for getting numbers off boneheads boats. Those one time use cameras are handy too.

[notanibble]

Hi Joeb, I am a newbie to fishing hard water and wonder what the rules are about fishing around houses. I know that the lakes are big but don't the fish hang in certain areas and usually that is where the houses are. What do we open ice fisherman do to have a chance to fish the good spots. I'm not trying to be a smart *** I really would like to know what an acceptable distance would be to drill around houses.

Thanks in advance

PS I drive realy slow...It's scarey

[parttimer]

I'm with you all. My buddy and I were sitting in his flip over on Saturday evening and some kids in a Toyota car came hauling by between us and a permenant, had their wheels turned all the way and were barely turning the car. I now have a cell phone with picture taking capabilities, if I can catch up with them I will definately report them.
Moose-Hunter,
Thanks for reporting to the sheriff, we need alot more people to start reporting. Take the time away from fishing to get license plate numbers, if we don't bust these morons, someone may not be able to fish again if they get hit.

To all in portables, we can really get hurt should someone hit us, not much protection around us. Keep your eyes open! Hope everyone stays safe.

[InTowneGuy]

We have been keeping in touch with the Sheriff's Dept., and they want you to call the Carver County Sheriff's Dispatch and report any illegal activity. They will do what they can.

Take as much info as possible: Date & time, license plate #, vehicle make, model & color, and any other witnesses.

They say you can remain anonymous, but having a named witness may allow officers to take action on incidents they don't witness themselves.

I would give the number, but rules say I can't post phone numbers.

[Finlander]

What can these ya'who's be ticketed for?
Wreckless driving?
They probobly are liqured-up!

[duckbuster]

If that's the case how about DUI!!!!!

[Gus]

You can get a wreckess or carless ticket on a lake. One of my buddies in High school did. that was 8+ years ago.

[Hoffer]

Thank goodness there is snow now those jerks cant recklessly slide around everywhere - but there is still no lack of people who are out there with no respect. Please give everyone some space - maybe youll find the next new hotspot if you dont corwd everyone else

[HoleHopper]

Notanible, With an attitude like yours, you could fish 6ft. away from me anyday. Heck, come on in, got any refreshments?

[Fishing Queen]

I may be wrong but I thought I heard 14' distance is the legal limit between shelters. I think it is just plain bull XXXX when someone comes even that close to my shelter. I will never forget one year I heard this auger really close to me. I looked around this idiot was drilling a hole two feet from the side of my new truck. If I wouldn't be charged with manslaughter I would have ran the baXXard over. He had the nerve to tell me I was on top of his spot with my truck. I said if I was to shove my boot up his aXX maybe we could claify spot location.
There was no one out there when I set up that day, but I was on his spot. When do we own the lake these days. Well of course I have moved on but I still get peeved when someone parks to close. I always try to go about 75 feet from others or more.

Proud Vet

[Dirtyb25]

In response to the distance away from other houses. It's legal to set up a portable or permanent ice fishing shelter no closer than 10 feet of an already existing shelter. Which is a little close for some people, but the law is the law. So the next time someone sets up 15 feet away from you, before you go out and start chewing on their *** . Remember, what they're doing is perfectly legal.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1072201978

[This message has been edited by Dirtyb25 (edited 02-09-2004).]

[walleyehawk]

The DNR site says 10 feet. However, I think there is a courtesy factor.

I think it is a real judgement call. I have been up on Mille Lacs and had a resort tell us the bite was on a flat where it was dead. All so their prized guide could have another reef we had asked about all to himself.

When we figured out we were in the dead sea, we went to the other reef and sure enough, that is where there was at least a bite.

You just have to try to be courteous. If it is a large structure, give the other person(s) space. If they are packed in, you may only have 10-20 feet. However, in cases like that, going to the outside of the pack usually is the best spot.

However, don't be stupid. Drilling on top of another persons vehicle is not wise for your safety and their vehicle. That and you might get a gaff in the rear.

[SCCO9803]

It sounds to me like the fisherman are the ones who think they own the lake. People have to remember that these lakes aren't exclusively for fishing. People have just as much a right to drive on them or ride snowmobile, and I don't see anybody complaining that fish houses are in their favorite place to drive or ride snowmoblie. For those of us who feel the need to phone the sheriff everytime someone drives too close to a fish house, or does a donut on a lake, we better think about what we allocate those resources for. Think about what is really important; someone messing up your fishing or dealing with REAL criminal activity.

[Dirtyb25]

You have a very valid point, but I don't think I've seen anyone throw a fish house up on an established snowmobile trail. I'm sure it's happened though, and when it does those snowmobilers have a legitimate gripe.
I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I don't own the lake. People use the lake for all sorts of recreational purposes, and I have no problem with that so long as it doesn't endanger me while I'm fishing.

I disagree with you about calling the police for people who are driving recklessly on the ice. They (the police) are there for a reason, to serve and protect. When they respond to a call where people are driving recklessly they are doing both. People get killed doing stupid crap like that. It doesn't bother me so much if people do it out in the middle of the lake, well away from everybody else. But when they do it close to houses, they should get in trouble. They should also know though, that doing that in the middle of the lake where they can only hurt themselves, is also illegal. You can be ticketed for reckless driving anywhere in the state.

[This message has been edited by Dirtyb25 (edited 02-09-2004).]

[SCCO9803]

I'm not condoning wreckless driving, and I'm certainly not saying law enforcement shouldn't be involved when someone is being put in danger. The point I'm making is that it is often the fishermen who think they own the lake and the fishing spots. And I am also saying that law enforcement are often called out to babysit unhappy fisherman complaining about loud vehicles, someones dog, or kids playing too close to "THEIR" fishing spot. And if we want to talk about safety with regards to fish houses, and spots. Maybe we should address the issue of taking out permanent fish houses. It often seems like it becomes a race as to who can get there fish house out to "THEIR" spot the earliest, hmmmm.... seems like a real safe thing to me. All I'm saying is remember that the lake is to be used for more than fishing. While some of these things may not be considered very courteous, they hardly consititute the involvement of law enforcement. Minnesota's law enforcement staff is severely depleted the way it is, so learn how handle situations on your own in a civilized manner. And remember if you don't like the way someone handles themselves on the ice, there is no one saying you can't move. "WE" own the lakes in Minnesota, therefore they are public and there is no such thing as "MY" spot or "YOUR" spot.

[TMan]

"Riddle me this", why does someone have to plow a road 23 feet (Yes one truck length) from my front door? Now I appreciate a plowed road, but its not a neccessary thing for me to get to my house, 4X4 will get me there. I don't even know who did it, as it wasn't right off the main road, so no one take offense (Unless you know it was you). However, there were NO houses within 500 yards of me on that side, they could have gone a little farther away. No one was even driving by me to get to their houses which are past mine a ways. Now I have a 2 lane highway right in front of my house. Last night I had 2 differentportables drilling 20 feet from my house because they can drive right to me. If it sounds like I'm complaining, I am. I just get fed up when you try to find a good spot on a spot after trial and error and hard work. Have some common sense please.