Fished LBDN Monday night for the first time this Winter. Got on the ice later than I wanted, left Kipling and crossed a pressure ridge and set up several hundred yards from anyone else. I was honestly a bit overwhelmed at the number of permanent shacks on the ice and the activity. It was a bustling, busy, fishing community.
I did not mark any fish where I set up, but it was too late to go hunting marks before I drilled. I had just one fish move and look at a Chubby darter, no other action.
Thought a lot about such a crowded community of fishermen and the potential for conflicts. I have seen recent posts that reflect that conflict. We buy a license in order to exercise our PRIVILEGE to fish on PUBLIC water.
Fishing on ice means you are limited to places with adequate ice to support you, this year in particular that is not a big space.
I don't feel that putting out a permanent shacks gives a person exclusive rights to fishing within a certain distance of their shack. In particular, if I go out and mark fish through the ice near and unoccupied shack I would not hesitate to set up there. If it was occupied I would attempt to communicate with the people in the shack and make a decision about whether or not to set up there.
If I am set up and someone decides to set up near my I will help as best I can. Drill holes, whatever to limit the noise and so on to a shorter time. I figure they just want to fish.
When I want a less crowded environment, I will choose an inland lake. There are several that I can have to myself here in the U.P.
Think about sharing folks! I know my 2 year old Grand Kids don't generally like that. I hear a lot of THAT'S MINE! By the time they get to be 4 or 5 they are a little better at sharing.
We are lucky in the U.P. If it's uncrowded fishing you want that's available. Fishing LBDN is not that choice. But it can most certainly be a fun one given the right attitude.
Have fun, share the water (ice).