Kayser

Paddle holder- I prefer the side-mounted bungee & hook type as opposed to the hard plastic clamps. The bungee can hold different types of gear (fly rods, etc) securely. Paddle leash- you can drop the paddle in a hurry and not worry about it.

One final update to close out the season. I took the kayak out last week to some flooded timber, posted up in 16' of water, hunting in the kayak and hiding in the tops of flooded trees. Setting decoys was a nightmare. Hiding was tough. Shooting was sketchy, at best, shot recovery is almost impossible. Lost the anchor on my jerk rig to a brush pile- the bungee cord broke as I pulled on it, but I didn't capsize. Final assessment- never again from a sit-in. It is now merely transport to wade-and-shoot opportunities, and will never be a blind in water I can't kneel in. I hope some other folks can find this post before having a similar (or worse) experience next year. Sit ins are for hunting shallow water.

Newburg is flowing 481. I would avoid Lane Springs- it's tough to get around safely even at 200 cfs. I fished Vida at 400 two weeks ago, and that is now where I have set my limit.

I found a few yesterday on a dead willow, and I'm looking for something quick and simple for a recipe using them. Most of them are about 3" across, and they're soaking in salt water right now. I normally saute or fry them in cracker meal, but I'm looking for something a bit different from the normal, but still kind of simple. Any suggestions?

Thanks BilletHead. I really owe it to my cast iron, though- it makes crispy duck pretty well. And I know what you're saying about the medium-rare, it starts to taste like liver and chew like leather past that. The orange-ginger glaze on top is something new I tried, but it's definitely at the top of the list now. The kayak has been put up for the week, since I'm club-hunting southern Illinois with my dad to close out the year. But I'm almost preferring the kayak over the brushy monstrosity out in the marsh- I like getting warm from the work, and it feels like a better reward when I do well. Hope you get on 'em this weekend. Rob

While you feed the dog, I'm having dinner. Definitely not a bluebill.

I'll keep it short- the kayak is working, and 2 dozen decoys is more than enough to fool some ringnecks. Managed to get out twice this week, birds both days. I'm not seeing a whole lot, but most of them drop into the decoys. Saw 12 mallards (only ones of the day) as I was paddling out, as well as 3 geese. Might try to go out around 10am on my way through tomorrow if I can borrow a gun, since my gun decided to snap a part in the gas piston. Back to Illinois on Saturday to finish out the season, we'll see if I can get the kayak out over the next month.

I'll give it a shot. Fly TBD. And is Phil going to try them on just trout, or all species? Might change what I tie based on that.

Stashing the gun isn't the problem- the problem is that my boots are a little large for the cockpit (even on an angle), making it uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time. Next one I get will be a 12' SOT that I can slide onto my roof rack, but that's going to be a while yet. Unless they make a layout boat that weighs under 80lbs, then I'll look into that. The paddle leash wrapped around the trigger guard worked well, and didn't interfere with shooting. I'll try it again for the buck brush when the time comes.

A floating case stashed on the cockpit, but I do have a paddle leash I used in teal season. I shoot cripples with #6 before I go grab them, but that's not a big issue since I've been using a full choke this year. I just leave the gun in the bank when I can.

For this lake, definitely. Buck brush sloughs in IL offer a little different challenge, with no grass or cedars to pull into. And that's what I'll be dealing with after Christmas...

I asked a question here a while ago about hunting from a kayak, and got the advice to just paddle to the spot, get out, and hide. So I painted up my kayak for hunting and took it out- seems to work pretty well. I even had a mallard drop in while I was out paddling around, but I didn't have my gun (picking up dead birds). From before deer season- http://imgur.com/hNbRx9d I'm now debating if I'm going to rig it up all the way for hunting out of (stabilizer, brush cover, etc), but I don't know. It's working pretty well as is- with myself, 8 decoys in the back hold, 16 on top, and a gun between my legs. Chair and robo teal are strapped down in front. Very stable as long as my legs are inside. Thanks to everyone who offered advice on the last thread. Going to give it another workout when I get time (maybe even tomorrow).

I feel like the companies serve the same niche for different areas of the country, with Bass Pro being oriented towards the south and lower Midwest, and Cabela's more western and northern gear. If there is a merger, either Bass Pro will take on the gear for the other regions in their own stores (especially online), keep them separate while reducing competition, or they will drop the gear and open up a place for another retailer to step in for people that like walleye more than bass. I'm not overly concerned, but there could be a few years where the gear variety is lacking.

You'll be fine Nov 7, as the archers are pretty far removed from parking lots and walking trails. Stay away Nov 14-20, as the firearms folks will be out in full-force in some of the only public grassland in the county. You'll be better off if try fishing elsewhere during firearms deer season.

Just don't let the conservation folks catch you doing that.

I'm on a budget, got a pair of Cobra Maxx for about $20. Used them in Marco Island, and fished a lot in Missouri. Loved them, until my dad's puppy ate my last pair. Going to get another pair when I make it back to St. Louis.

1. Streamers, general beadhead nymphs, etc. Sight fishing is the preferred method right now, but you can get some attacks here and there. Find a fish, post up, use what you have confidence in, and change until you get a strike. Don't spook them, or you'll be there a while. 2. There is somewhat of a foot trail going down from Baptist- I generally fish down and walk back up. Not sure about the trails around Parker. 3. Pick a gravel bar on the river, it's open camping below the high-water mark. 4. Mid-October, so I would assume so.

Oh, I know it was a joke. But I've always been curious, just never had the tackle or the time for it. I imagine it would take a full week for the one bite. And unlike fishing the Missouri River, the area for the big one is relatively limited there.

I'm just waiting for someone to go down there with a shark rig and use a 5lb dead asian or live common carp for bait.

Realized I didn't have time to process one, and then I didn't even get out to scout for geese. Trying to get everything done so I have time when the weather is right and the freezer has space.

I'm considering hunting Saturday night and Sunday morning. Has anyone had any luck yet?

I'm in, but I might need a PM reminder, as I might skim over the fly tying subforum more than I should. Maybe a trout attractor pattern swap?

Big hatch of #16 PED and #16/18 caddis last Friday, only fished for the last hour of light. Got 3 browns on a #14 orange humpy, saw some big fish rise here and there, but not much else coming up. Fun time, didn't try nymphs. Only one? That's disappointing. Used to be a bunch. And if they're truly moving up for the run, then there should be more big boys in that stretch. Maybe I'll stick it out in the deer stand this coming week and fish after I get a deer.

From last Thursday. No birds worked, but this made it alright.

Went to the teal marsh with my dad and Zoey, his new yellow lab puppy he got from a friend, and our first true duck dog. At first light, teal were everywhere- 60-80 in the decoys at once, and us just waiting for sunrise @ 6:45 to start the slaughter. Around 6:30, a big volley from somewhere spooked them from the decoys, and we just watched. At 6:40, another big volley pushed birds from the marsh. At 6:45, our spread was looking lifeless, until a pair came in 5 minutes later and didn't leave. Then a single fell to dad's 20. Another single shortly after, coming straight in. I shot, the bird fell, and dad celebrated his shot to my confusion. Turns out, we both shot, and both hit. At 5 yards. Not good... But then 7 birds were passing right to left, and dad dropped 2 while I emptied my gun into the sky. I redeemed myself when 3 landed on my side of the blind, where I jumped them and dropped all of them in some sparse smartweed. The puppy hadn't done a whole lot to this point, other than ride around in a boat I pushed around while I tried to get her to pick up birds. This time, she came out swimming with me while I was picking up bird on foot, and wanted me to throw the teal I had already collected, because that's what she's trained so far at home. But then a cripple started making a break for it in the smartweed, and her demeanor changed instantly. She suddenly had no interest in the bird in my pocket, and was churning water towards the cripple as fast as she could hop/plow in the chest deep stuff. The bird dove and bit, and we lost it. We looked for 15 minutes for the cripple she had chased, and nothing. Not the outcome I had hoped, but Zoey was definitely more interested in the hunt after that little chase- almost a night and day difference. Dad shot at one more single, and Zoey was ready to go out and get the bird. Except dad missed, and it was time to call it a day, as I had a wedding to get to that afternoon. As we're transferring the birds to head in, I pick one up and notice something out of the ordinary- metal. It was decided that Dad got his second band ever (first was a Canada a few years ago), as I'm pretty sure it was a bird he shot. I'm still on the hunt for my first. Reported the band, but information isn't available yet, so we'll try again later. Clean the birds, clean the guns, clean the dog. Overall, a good great day! Here she is post-bath, wondering when she gets to go next. She got to go out Sunday with Dad, but I wasn't available (wedding went late). She apparently made 3 great retrieves on 3 birds, and didn't lose any. I think we're all hooked, and I think this is only the first of many great hunts with a new hunting buddy.