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Open Water vs Ice Fishing

hansyfishing02

By hansyfishing02
in Fishing Minnesota - (Spring, Summer & Fall)

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hansyfishing02 Enthusiast

hansyfishing02

Posted
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What do you like better, open water or ice fishing?

BobT Grand Master

BobT

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Open water. A lot less work and far more options available.

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papadarv Mentor

papadarv

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Both are equal each having their own unique pleasure with new challenges to look forward to. Eliminating either would be a great loss.

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guideman Veteran

guideman

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No contest, open water is the best, ice blows. JMHO

"Ace"

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Tom Sawyer Veteran

Tom Sawyer

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Open water! Ice is for cocktails and playing ice hockey. I ice fish to help pass the winter months.

 

 

 

ZachD Mentor

ZachD

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Ice ice baby... But I just think that is because I get to get out more during Ice season due to work being busy in the summer.

rundrave Mentor

rundrave

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ice fishing just for the fact that you dont have to deal with mosquitos, flys and gnats. and also no annoying PWC's or wake boarders to put up with ;)

  • Thumbs Up 4
timjones Rising Star

timjones

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23 hours ago, papadarv said:

Both are equal each having their own unique pleasure with new challenges to look forward to. Eliminating either would be a great loss.

Couldn't agree more.

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Fish Head Mentor

Fish Head

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Absolutely no comparison... OPEN WATER!!!

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ANYFISH2 Veteran

ANYFISH2

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Love both, however, open water is my choice.  I spend far more time in the boat or on shore during open water.

paceman Grand Master

paceman

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Easy one for me. Open Water hands down.

  • 4 weeks later...
Freedom81 Apprentice

Freedom81

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Absolutely love both...

Give me warm weather, sunny skies, with a gently blowing wind, slightly rocking the boat! Add being able to cover so much area so easily makes the decision an easy one:

Open water hands down!!!

On a sidenote, there have been some absolute gorgeous, choice, hot summer days, where I've turned to the wife and enthusiastically proclaimed, "just think, in about 4 months we'll be out here ice fishing!"  She usually tells me there's something wrong with me. :)

  • 1 month later...
Juan Grande Experienced

Juan Grande

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Open water, no contest. I hate the cold and love being mobile when fishing. 

  • 1 month later...
drscholl14 Enthusiast

drscholl14

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Personally I like ice fishing better currently, but that's because I have all the gear for it.  However I'm hoping that changes next Fall when I purchase a fishing boat after saving up for awhile.  It'll be great not having to rely on friends with boats (and kids, which means I don't fish as much as I'd like to) to get out and fish.  

That being said I still absolutely love ice fishing.  I think it's the surprise of not really knowing what you've got until you see it coming through the hole.  

Luttes Explorer

Luttes

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ICE ICE BABY!!! ;) There's no better feeling than crunching across a frozen lake in the dead quiet of the morning, sun barely starting to wake, steaming cup of coffee at the ready and a slab crappie on a tight line.  mmmmm... can't wait!

  • Thumbs Up 3
Luttes Explorer

Luttes

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On 4/26/2016 at 9:05 AM, rundrave said:

ice fishing just for the fact that you dont have to deal with mosquitos, flys and gnats. and also no annoying PWC's or wake boarders to put up with ;)

Or those obnoxious wake surf boats that throw 5 ft waves all around the lake?!?!?

  • Thumbs Up 2
fivebucks Mentor

fivebucks

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Depends on the time of year:lol:

BobT Grand Master

BobT

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On 4/25/2016 at 10:12 AM, hansyfishing02 said:

What do you like better, open water or ice fishing?

During the summer I prefer open water but during the winter months I prefer ice fishing. :)

Oops. Fivebucks beat me to it. 

  • 1 month later...
FishingEJ Newbie

FishingEJ

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Both are fun, but walleye and pike are much more active in the winter, therefore I prefer ice fishing (cant wait)

  • 1 month later...
slipbobbin Enthusiast

slipbobbin

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Like both equally.... Day in the boat or in the house is better than a day at work...

  • Thumbs Up 1
Ray Berg Enthusiast

Ray Berg

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I think I like open water more, real close though....  If I didn't ice fish probably go loco in winter.

  • 2 weeks later...
Vitreus Community Regular

Vitreus

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Love both but… Nothing like walking on crystal clear ice - seeing fish come up to the hole. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
John Mickish Grand Master

John Mickish

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Open water hands down. Some of the very best lakes to fish are rarely safe for ice fishing, Green Bay and Erie for example.

 

slammer Experienced

slammer

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Open water for me.  Hard to launch a boat on ice;)

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • 1 month later...
OldBear Contributor

OldBear

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Everything has its season so I'm happy with either.  Only thing I don't like is the Tween time.

  • 2 months later...
Jighead4914 Contributor

Jighead4914

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Both for me!

Fishing Frenzy Community Regular

Fishing Frenzy

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Like ice fishing better, but anytime out on the ice or boat is fine with me!

LoonASea Experienced

LoonASea

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I almost exclusively fish Lake Superior ,,,Since the lake doesn't always have ice I would have to say Open Water is my preference,,, that and the ice fishing season can be rather short 

  • 2 weeks later...
megofishing Rookie

megofishing

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When I was a kid, I used to ask my dad to take me ice fishing--he would always say "wait 'till it gets warmer"...... ;)

Stick in Mud Grand Master

Stick in Mud

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Open water for me.   Many more ways to catch fish.  Easier to find them. 

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