ice or open water fishing???

[ChenBassHead]

I'm gonna say open water, because I love bass fishing so much, and I can't fish for them during open water. But ice fishing is close...very very close.

-Zach

[Browntrout08]

Open water for me, although I love to icefish.  When I'm icefishing I think about open water fishing. When I'm fishing during the summer I never  think about icefishing.

[TGF]

I have 2 boats and still like on ice (which I'm still on). Never see any of those pesky mosquitos, no-seeums, blackflies, horse/deerflies either when I'm on ice. I likes fishing for burbot and in summer I would have to wait till midnight to fish in the dark (as that is when they are most active) Winter its dark at 4:30. Different strokes for different folks. I do like river fishing though as you are free to move around unless of course that space is occupied by a grizzly.

[Riverjet]

Both have there unique merits. Would not do without either.

[wny angler]

i'd have to give a slight edge to open water fishing, theres a lot less gear to pack and lug around .it's nice to be able to just grab my rod and vest and head out fishin for an hour or 2 when i get home. another few weeks of ice fishing and my spine would have been permanently curved from all the sight fishing i do on the ice.

[icefishnfool]

ICE .....ICE ....ICE ...

[fishbreath]

I never seen a snake ice fishing, but I do see bugs but less then open water. I'll say ICE #1. Also less boat traffic and not so hot.

[Fat Boy]

I really love all fishing.  I guess I look forward to icefishing a tad more simply because of the limited amount of time that I can do it.  I gotta cram as much time on the ice as I can before the ice melts.  And, the techniques are different than those that I use during the remainder of the year that it is just special.  Please don't take any of them from me...or...I'll...just ...

[dogfish]

Ice fishing all the way

[bussman]

Ice Ice Baby!

[thedude]

the one where you get to fish.

[big walleye]

Both are equal. As long as I am fishing it does not matter.

[operaman]

Put me on the HARD WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TroutFishingBear]

narrow-minded folkes, both have advantages.
I prefer open water river fishing because, hey, I can't ice fish the rivers around here! they are too big and too strong and don't freeze much!
I prefer ice fishing a lake, the fish are much easier to find and much more willing to bite when you get something in front of their face. Also, a morning bite has been there 100% of the time while icefishing a lake and not necessarily 100% of the time while openwater fishing a lake. Also, during icefishing season, the weather doesn't matter as much. It can be an awful blizzard but them lakers will still keep coming through the hole, but in summer, a huge, terrenchial (sp) downpour will put the fish off. Also, water temperature is not an issue because it is always the same. also, the fish are more predictable.

Overall, they are equal because I love river fishing (openwater) which is my true passion, and I love icefishing, which is just plain convenient, easy, and great.

[wkules]

Open or hard, water is water......get me on it!