Terms of Use

Last updated September 21, 2026

The Bait Shop is run by Hated Gaming ("we", "us"). These terms are the deal between you and us when you use the site. If you don't agree, please don't use it. Reading the site doesn't need an account. Posting and voting do.

Who can use it

You must be at least 13 years old. If you are under 18, get a parent or guardian's OK first. You are responsible for your account and for anything done with it, so keep your sign-in email secure.

What this site is

A place where anglers share short, plain, text-only fishing reports, like a chat at the bait shop counter. There are no photos, public usernames, likes or follower counts. Reports belong to a lake or river, and sometimes a named spot or stretch, and never carry GPS coordinates. The one exception is markers for shared public places like boat launches and hazards, which are rounded and confirmed by other anglers.

What you can post

Reports are one line, up to 200 characters. When you post, you agree that:

• It is only what you actually saw or caught.
• It has no exact GPS coordinates, links, phone numbers or email addresses.
• It does not point people onto private property or anywhere that is closed to the public.
• It is not an ad, a promotion or spam, and it does not harass or threaten anyone.
• It does not describe or encourage breaking fishing, boating or safety laws.
• Ice reports are only what you actually measured or saw. Markers are for shared public places like boat launches, piers, parking and hazards, never for fishing spots or private property.

You keep ownership of what you write. You give us a free, worldwide license to store it, show it on the site, shorten or remove it, and use it to run and improve the site. We don't show your name or email with a report.

How we handle reports

To protect fishing spots, a new report goes public about 12 hours after you post it. A moderator can approve it sooner, hold it, or remove it. Reports expire after about ten to twelve days and then leave the public pages. Reports that other anglers say didn't work can leave sooner. Our automatic filters may reject or hold a report, and we limit how many you can post. We may remove content, limit your posting, or close an account at any time if we think these terms were broken, and we don't have to explain each decision.

Reports are not advice

Reports are opinions from other people. We don't check them, and fish move. Nothing here promises you will catch anything. Fishing and boating are risky. Ice can be thin, weather changes fast, and water can be dangerous. Use your own judgment, wear a life jacket, and check conditions yourself.

Ice is never 100% safe. An ice report is one person's measurement from one place at one time, and ice changes quickly. Always check the ice yourself and follow the DNR's ice safety guidance. Markers and access points are added and confirmed by other anglers and may be wrong or out of date.

You are responsible for following all fishing, boating, licensing and safety rules that apply where you are, including the Minnesota DNR's regulations. A report is never permission to fish somewhere or to enter any property. Ask the landowner before you cross private land.

Copyright and takedown requests

If you believe something on the site infringes your copyright, email doustd@gmail.com with what it is, where it is, and how to reach you. To report something that breaks these terms, use the flag link on a report or email us.

Our rights and your rights

The site's design, code and name belong to us or our licensors. Please don't scrape it, copy it in bulk, overload it, or try to break into it or get around its limits.

No warranty and limits on liability

The site is provided "as is" and "as available". To the fullest extent the law allows, we don't make any promises about accuracy, availability or fitness for a purpose, and we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses or for anything that happens because you relied on a report. Where the law doesn't allow a limit, that limit doesn't apply to you. Some places don't allow these exclusions, so parts of this section may not apply to you.

Ending things

You can stop using the site at any time. Ask us to delete your account at doustd@gmail.com. We can suspend or end your access if you break these terms.

Changes and law

We may update these terms. We will change the date above, and if the change matters we will say so on the site. Using the site after a change means you accept it. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota, and any dispute will be handled in the state or federal courts there, unless the law where you live gives you other rights that can't be waived.

Contact

Questions or problems: doustd@gmail.com. See also our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice.