If you’re interested in the best new movie, which local sporting goods store is currently having a great sale, or what restaurant offers good portions, better taste, and the best prices, just listen to the grapevine gossip and then follow the crowds. For the most dependable ice fishing spots, however, a sport is better off listening to the whispers and avoiding the crowds. A nearby lake may offer the opportunity to catch fish, but everyone and their brother knows the place, and fighting a throng of ice drillers for a place to fish is frustrating. Serious ice anglers are far better off to make a few accommodations that will lead to more consistent action, larger fish, and occasionally a real trophy.

When time constraints are involved, and only half a day or less is available, an outdoorsman may have to settle for fishing a popular neighborhood waterway. Keep in mind that a short outing is better than no fishing at all, and adjust your tactics to beat the throng of tip-up troopers who are sure to show up. First and foremost, whether visiting a rural pond or a remote lake, try to avoid fishing on weekends. Since most folks have Saturday and Sunday off from work, families, friends, and a wide field of ice fishermen of all ages and abilities mob every handy hot spot.

Some fishermen will be out during the week, since those that work weekends usually have a couple of weekdays off and enjoy outings on those days. Folks that are retired can fish any day of the week, and visiting ice anglers from southern Maine or other states will often take their vacation days during the week to coincide with the lightest fishing pressure. Some ice anglers are always out and about no matter what day you fish.

With the vast number of lakes and ponds open to ice fishing, weekday angling numbers are still low enough to keep sportsmen spread out. For example, Aroostook County has 60 waters open to ice fishing, Piscataquis offers 88 frozen jewels, and Penobscot allows a choice from at least 168 frozen fishing spots. With this many choices, even easy-to-reach waters get minimal pressure during the week. For whatever reason, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays generally offer the least angler competition on urban, rural, or even remote lakes.

No matter which day you fish, but especially on weekends, another method of beating the crowds is to get out very early. Many ice anglers tend to arrive around 8 or 9 o’clock in the morning, and another bunch will work all morning and then head out after lunch for a full afternoon of fishing. The best choice of fishing spots and dependable action can be enjoyed if you’re augering holes and setting tip-ups at first light.

A few years ago a friend and I were loading our gear on the tote sled at about 8:30 one morning. We had driven about 45 minutes from Presque Isle to Meduxnekeag Lake in New Limerick. Just as we were heading onto the ice a couple of old pros were returning to their truck, so we stopped to see how they had done. I figured the fishing was poor and they were quitting, or perhaps had forgotten some gear in the truck.

No way! They had a limit of trout and salmon, some pickerel and perch, and had even released several fish. The pair of aged anglers had drilled their first tip-up hole by fading starlight and actually had a flag before all the traps were set out and before full daylight. I’m not a big fan of rising at O dark hundred o’clock, but for fast fishing I’ll make an exception. It has paid off on more occasions than not to beat the crowd, so give it a whirl.

Other ideas to avoid crowds when fishing lakes situated close to town is to brave the weather. When temperatures drop below 20, the number of ice anglers diminish as well, and when the mercury plunges or wind-chill factors lead to negative numbers, few venture out to fish. Snowstorms and blustery winds also yield a proportionate decline in avid ice drillers. I don’t recommend any long-distance excursions in poor weather conditions to reach a lake, but dress warm and use the 4-wheel drive to brave the weather and visit a neighborhood pond and you’ll often have it all to yourself. It’s a bit more work to keep tip-up holes cleared, but the frigid weather doesn’t bother the fish and action is often primo.

To select a lake with less pressure, just travel farther away from any nearby community. A lot of outdoorsmen are more interested in convenient fishing locations than enduring long rides, which can often lead to more fish and fewer fishermen. Some other lakes to investigate may be only a half hour drive or less from home, but require a 15- to 20-minute snowshoe walk to the shoreline from the nearest plowed road. If other approach tracks are minimal or nonexistent, it’s definitely worth an exploratory outing.

Avoid lakes that have a large complement of ice fishing shanties set out. These waterways will be fished heavily day and night in all weather conditions thanks to the comfort and accommodations of the heat, light, and protection of a fish hut. If the rumors of large fish or a particular species drive you to try such a lake, at least drive, snowshoe, or snowmobile to a spot far from the small city of smelt huts. Uncrowded spots lead to better fishing results and far more relaxed fishermen.

Quite a few ice fishermen want to enjoy lots of flags, so they visit lakes that have multiple species or have been stocked with a lot of moderate-size fish. Instead, select a lake with one favorite species and fewer fish, so the action will be slower but the chance at one trophy is possible. Another option is to visit a lake with strict length limits and reduced bag limits, and be satisfied to hook, play, catch, and release fish. These two types of lakes are seldom crowded, and I’d rather enjoy the fast action of catch and release, or bring in just one bragging size fish all day, than endure mediocre fishing and a carnival atmosphere.

The final option for ice fishing solitude is a dark-to-dark, daylong outing, or a weekend campout to a remote back country lake. Select a frozen jewel with few or no shoreline camps, and one that lacks plowed approach roads. A fairly long snowshoe hike or snowsled trek will further reduce visitors. The larger an isolated lake is, the more distant nooks and crannies are available to explore just in case a few other anglers are also on the same expedition.

If you’re tired of every ice fishing trip turning into a three-ring circus, make a few changes and enjoy more relaxed outings with exciting and consistent action. Travel early and travel far to carefully selected lakes and ponds, and be very selective where tip ups are set out on each waterway. Three- pound trout, five-pound salmon, and 15-pound lake trout aren’t just rumors, these are common catches on various ice fishing lakes and much larger trophies are caught more often than one might expect.

Anglers catching bragging size fish on a regular basis are the ones who have learned how to fish far from the maddening crowds. Shouldn’t you?