The great debate, go to your usual spots or look for new

I am headed out in the AM tomorrow but I can't decide if I should go to my usual spot wher I know I'm going to get some fish- ( because I always do) or find a new lake with the chance to be great or horrible. I am torn - I'm thinking playing it safe with known spots - but I got that itch to adventure

Adventure. You learn a lot that way, and surprise yourself sometimes.
Getting skunked here and there is the cost for knowledge.

I always think the same thing. It’s a hard call but drew is right. I’ve never had a opportunity to explore the unknown but just trying new spots on the same lake you’ve fished for years can give you a surprise

New lake. Love the adventure, and for myself, I get the same adrenaline rush showing up to an un explored lake with fresh ice and no tracks as catching fish. Now the hard part is if you get skunked on the first try. Do you go back?

Going by the number of skunks my buddy and I experience, we are learning at an amazing rate!!

Definitely challenge yourself.. Go to the new spot...
Cheers FM

THATS WHY ITS CALLED FISHING IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT YOUR GOING TO CATCH YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO TO THE MARKET AND PICK THEM OUT OF THE FRIEZZER

LOL

100% agree. The little mystery in adventure of exploring an unknown fishing ground is amazing. Fish would be just a bonus!

I did exactly that over christmas break just before the trout opener. I decided to take a drive up to Minden after hearing stories from my mom about my grandfather going up there ice fishing when she was younger. He passed about 5 years before I was born and was an passionate fisherman from what people have told me about him aswell. Since I have never actually targeted Lakers before I figured it would be great opportunity for me to learn and also retrace some of his footsteps.

I arrived there shortly before noon and found the bay he use to target along with a public access point Success!! Knowing that public access points are getting hard to find I was suprised. Decided to check out the local bait shop to ask a few questions and see what people were using. Chatted for a bit and was greated very welcoming let him and her know what I was doing and they were more than happy to help and actually found it kinda cool. They let me know that its a tight knit ice fishing community there and possibly I might meet some ppl who would remember him.

Im looking forward to going back and possibly making a few trips a year and making it a tradation to do with my son (He's only 1 and half so he still has wait abit longer) but I am happy I decided to adventure around.

Also I found a street with our last name on it!
That's a story I will have to try and uncover over the years hopefully over a few at the local bar.

Not a common last name either

Always choose strange. Strange is always better!

I love getting to the usual spot and hust killing it. But when its a new lake with no tracks it feels even better in my opinion !!!! Might get a few rough days venturing around but thats the thrill of the hunt. Good luck on your hunt

I love strange.

After much debate we decided to go to a regular spot and wait for thicker ice to explore. Turned out to be a great decision we caught 15 lakers and a nice pickerel. The bite
Was o Lall day - next time I'm going on an adventure !!

Nice catch!

I love exploring new lakes that feel far from civilization, but it's extremely hard because I don't have a machine.... yet. I always feel the urge to explore new lakes because its always nice to have a lake to yourself and makes me feel like a pioneer, especially if you're successful haha, but at the beginning of the season I always want to go to a place where I know I am going to get some action mainly because I am way to excited to risk a skunk on my first or second time out. After I get those beginning of the season jitters out, I start to plan new trips on new lakes pretty much for the rest of the season.