Where Were Ya Fishing?

February 5, 2009 by admin

By Chris Hustad

For as long as I can remember, a man’s fishing spot was something to be respected. I have memories as clear as yesterday of our neighbor down the way, Bob. He was always the first one out in the morning, and the last one to come home in the afternoon, and I don’t think he was ever skunked a day in his life. He was one of those who wouldn’t clean his fish right away, but threw them in one of those water cages next to his dock. This was fine with me, it gave me a glimpse of what I missed that morning if I wasn’t out myself. Just for the sake of tradition I’d always ask, “Where were ya fishing?”. If he did respond he’d turn and point towards the center of the lake and maybe murmur, “Out there.”

Over the years I am amazed as to some of the stories my buddies have told me about stupid stuff we did growing up. The just plain, flat out, embarassing type stories that I can’t even attempt to repeat. That time him and his girlfriend……Stuff so crazy, you’re thinking, why are you telling me this? You could turn and then ask him, “Where were ya fishing yesterday?” And you know he’d respond, “Hey, some things are personal…”

One of the most notorious, spot guarding, sneaky fisherman I know is Fargo/Valley City native Brad Anderson. When given the opportunity, he will spend every moment on the ice. The last time I checked, he has 4 permanent houses out and they move more often then the school of fish he’s tracking. You never know if he’s sleeping in one of them, or if he’s even in the state. But you know he’s ice fishing. We grew up in the same neighborhood, and fish a lot of the same lakes, so we run into each other from time to time. I could stop by his house with his truck out front, honk, and when he comes out he’ll still say he isn’t fishing there. Just in transition of moving. Brad is a friend and a heck of an ice fisherman, but he’s a perfect stereotypical match that I just have to poke fun at.

Ice fishing is really very similar to all types of fishing and hunting. Those who spend the most time scouting and just being out there are the one’s in the know. Sure you can get lucky and have the first spot you stumble upon in a lake be productive for awhile, but not normally. And there is a big exception with ice fishing compared to any other sport and that’s the ability to be crowded. You’re not trolling or walking, you’re stationary. And when the word gets out and new people come to a lake, where’s the first place most go? Typically to the first house or group of houses they see. And this is the biggest reason for tight lips from fisherman.

I know some who say the best way to find out where the fish are biting is to go to the local bar and keep an open ear. Like in the show Seinfeld, this would be the, “…key to the vault.” But if you want to get the most out of your ice fishing experience, get out there and find your honey hole. Nothing beats the satisfaction of dropping bobbers when you worked all day to find the fish. And when the fishing is hot, don’t ask where the fish are biting because nobody likes a liar.