Etiquette, Some of us are new and want to know

I get if he's coming real close, but otherwise, the lakes public property, he has the right to be there just as much as you.

Not saying he can't be on the lake. We talking etiquette here. Driving by me once or twice 100 yards away I don't mind. But zipping around doing circles around my hut every 5 mins is annoying.

500 feet away it is wide open. Why not take it out a bit further?

Not saying this is the case with everyone, but 2 years ago I went ice fishing with a buddy, never had the opportunity to drive a sled, when he asked if I wanted to go do some circles I jumped at the chance. I was that guy making circles. I wasn't going fast, don't think I broke 30 km/h, but the fact is I didn't want to stray far due to knowing nothing about the machine. Might not be the case with everyone, but I'm sure a few are in the same spot. Would I go roaring at like 100 km/h around your hut for hours on end? No, but the 30 minutes I took off fishing to go toot around with it was my choice. To me, there was nothing unethical in what I was doing. But, everyone's got the right to there own opinion. Tight lines guys.

I would be more worried knowing someone who never been on a sled driving circles around my pop up. Regardless you went 30 km/h. That thing has to potential to go 100+ km/h. I don't know you and how competent you are. But ask this question before you do it to others. Would you not worry if someone never been on a sled do circles around your pop up?

So here is the etiquette to this... don't do something to others you would not like done to you.

^ I couldn't agree with F4D more.

There has been times where I am ice fishing away from the pack with no one around me within 1-2 miles and doing well. Marking fish all day below me. Next thing you know guys come flying right to me in a sled/ATV doing circles around my portable hut. I look down at my sonar and its blank. Fish moved on due to the noise. If they had no choice but to pass my hut to cut across the lake I have no issues with that. But when there is no obstruction within a 2 mile radius around me, they should drive around me and pass through and not do circles around me all day when the lake is this big. I've had ATV/sled tracks literally 2-3 ft away from my portable a few times. Mind you these people were not fisherman, they were just out cruising and showing off their machines doing wheelies. They interrupted and disrupted my legal fishing.

On a side note, if your new to sleds or ATV, you should practice somewhere that has minimal obstruction/risk of hitting something or someone. No difference than learning how to drive a car. Most people start learning how to drive in a large open car free parking lot to reduce the risk of S*** hitting the fan.

I get if he's coming real close, but otherwise, the lakes public property, he has the right to be there just as much as you.

Not saying he can't be on the lake. We talking etiquette here. Driving by me once or twice 100 yards away I don't mind. But zipping around doing circles around my hut every 5 mins is annoying.

500 feet away it is wide open. Why not take it out a bit further?

Not saying this is the case with everyone, but 2 years ago I went ice fishing with a buddy, never had the opportunity to drive a sled, when he asked if I wanted to go do some circles I jumped at the chance. I was that guy making circles. I wasn't going fast, don't think I broke 30 km/h, but the fact is I didn't want to stray far due to knowing nothing about the machine. Might not be the case with everyone, but I'm sure a few are in the same spot. Would I go roaring at like 100 km/h around your hut for hours on end? No, but the 30 minutes I took off fishing to go toot around with it was my choice. To me, there was nothing unethical in what I was doing. But, everyone's got the right to there own opinion. Tight lines guys.

I would be more worried knowing someone who never been on a sled driving circles around my pop up. Regardless you went 30 km/h. That thing has to potential to go 100+ km/h. I don't know you and how competent you are. But ask this question before you do it to others. Would you not worry if someone never been on a sled do circles around your pop up?

So here is the etiquette to this... don't do something to others you would not like done to you.

By "circles" I meant atleast 100 yards from any hut. That's about 300 feet, I was no danger to anyone, I know how to brake and give it gas, not like I was accidentally going to pin it and run someone over... so again, I feel like I was ethical to all my surroundings. But that's just me

View above post, I guess my definition of circles is different, I was 300 feet away from other huts, doing literal circles, so I was basically in an open area, other then the noise could have been heard by them. I didn't venture further due to one the machine not being mine and if it stalled I didn't know how to start it. I know the basics on braking, accelerating, wasn't going to run no one in a portable up. On the side there was also no portables on perms, not that I'd want to hit one of those either lol

Some people seem to object to peeing on the ice. I see no harm in that. It might be unsightly if you don't kick snow over it, but it's quite sterile so it doesn't pollute the lake.

Yeah, I'm not fond of guys on sleds and quads ripping it across the ice right beside my hut. Don't really mind if someone setup by me, say 20 yards away, if we are fishing in shallow water. But give some room in the deeper water so we don't get tangled up, if the fish decides to bite someone's line and make a big loop. I even like meeting guys that "WALK" up to my portable to say "hi" and ask how's fishing been. But guys on machines please keep your distance.

^^^ This ....please.

One of my pet peeves is when ATVs and sleds come flying by very close to my pop up hut while i'm fishing... if i'm fishing shallower water, the noise and vibration often scare the fish for a while... I understand that sometimes it's unavoidable, but generally, try to steer clear of the huts

Kier, no one is saying you have done anything wrong as no one was there. Don't take this personally as we are just talking about etiquette in general. We all have lots to learn, some more than others.

[QUOTE=Kier,Jan 10, 2017 - 08:25 pm][/QUOTE]
I didn't want to stray far due to knowing nothing about the machine.
I didn't venture further due to one the machine not being mine and if it stalled I didn't know how to start it. [/QUOTE]

Just quoting what you said. I've seen so many Youtube vids where ATV's or Snow Machines getting away from the operator flying across the lake/trails with no one on it at full throttle, and they don't stop until they hit something. The first thing to learn before operating any vehicle/equipment is how to turn ON and OFF the machine.

Good points. I always try to be friendly with other anglers I meet. Some folks are pretty grim out there. That's one thing I notice. Relax, enjoy the time you get to do what you like. Other stuff, keeping too many fish or fish out of season, too many lines in the water, generally illegal activity bothers me.

If I can hit you with a snowball you are fishing to close! Other thing that gets me is when an operator pays someone to plow a road to their huts and you get some tool drilling a hole right in the middle of the road..wall on it to get out on a clean road but stay clear of it and don't flood it..

I usually have the feeling that I'm forgetting something behind, But when you pack up your hut and set out to leave, you should just see nothing but slush and snow. it's hard to leave behind a Timmies cup or a coke can without noticing it against an all white backdrop. This drives me crazy, roadsides, snowbanks and fishing spots tend to look like really bad Tim Horton's advertizements.

Good thread!

How Close?
It would be useful if they actually set some guidelines in the regs. in regards to how close is too close. The problem with this issue being governed by etiquette there is many that, even when questioned, will quote they are within their rights. There is nothing in there that says they can't drill a hole RIGHT next to you. This 100 feet talk is great as it gets ppl thinking about it but really that is still way too close. Well, perhaps when fishing in 10 feet of water! So minimum 100 feet, double the depth after that and double that again if you get out late! It's a huge lake!

Tight lines,
Steelhead