cpriest

We floated all around today, mostly above the bridge. Found a few, but nothing like it should be. If it doesn't turn on quick it may be over before we realize, it's starting to get pretty late. All I have caught the past week have been males ready to party with the ladies. Seen very few females so far.

I hooked up with a few but saw a lot of them. It's been a spotty run for me this year so far. I haven't caught a female yet, but in general the males seem above average size. As long as we dont get any major rain the next couple weeks should be on.

Hoglaw - that was scary as hell as it was me. I've been running that boat for 3 years in everything from duck marsh to our tailwaters and never had anything like that ever before. However I was not wearing the kill switch, and I knew better. I will never make that mistake again. Glad we found a few fish, even though I was a little shaken up after all that. Even more glad it made for a good laugh than something worse.

Scott this is great. I am curious where walkers bluff is. I have always thought it was near the old dollar hole but would love confirmation.

Hoglaw - how far down? May have saw you at the tail out of a gravel bar. I was fishing solo in a Gheenoe - think flat back canoe with a small outboard. I did decent, got out at 6:15 and managed to find a few males

Anyone hunt between OKC and Tulsa? I'm looking at a lease and would like to talk to someone experienced in the area. Thx!

That's an awesome hunt. Well done.

I appreciate your report. This morning I got out and all my spots were frozen solid. I've broke ice plenty before but this was too much. Drove down to the river. Have a little bit of a hike, and remembered your post. Took a dozen deeks. Had to even break a little ice at the eddy we set up in. Dropped 4 mallards and off the water by 9:15 as I had promised the wife I would be home early. Great quick hunt.

That has to be the most unique testimony I have ever heard. Did we find out what's in the bottle yet?

We have not been to NE AR yet due to poor reports and lack of water. Not to say people aren't killing birds, just mostly on private land where they can pump water. The WMAs have been slow for sure.

Found out something interesting about the property we hunted. The neighboring land is nothing but huge peanut fields. Apparently the birds are in the fields all day eating. I knew the guys in SE AR got them like that in the rice but didn't known peanuts attracted ducks!

Thanks guys. It was a unique hunt for sure. Hopefully this weather and rain gets some new birds here in AR.

Have a buddy with a deer lease that's been telling me he has some ducks out there. He's never duck hunted but I figured it's gotta be better than NWA right now. Set up Saturday morning real early on a shallow pond named the Honey Hole from the previous group that had the lease. Well....had 1 small duck land 75 yards out of the spread. Decided to go drive around. There is a lot of water on this property. Managed to jump a big group of wigeons off a pond and got 2. Then we found it. An oxbow that birds were just falling in non stop. It was so densely covered in cattails it took us 30 minutes to walk maybe 150 yards. Finally see water with hundreds of birds. Bingo. Set up there Sunday morning and jump a lot of birds. We wait, and wait, and wait. Nothing flies in that morning. At this point I know there are ducks all over the property but not sure what to do. We decide to leave the spread and come back early afternoon. About 4:15 it starts. There is 4 of us, I'm the only one who has ever duck hunted. A few singles fly in and the guys were stoked. Then the groups get larger with 7-10 flying in. Then it was on. Groups of 20-30. We limit out within an hour. Mostly greenheads with a few gadwalls. Still 30 mins of light picking up the decoys and the birds just keep pouring in. By the time we got to the truck hundreds of birds roosting there. I have never had much luck late in the day, but that was something special especially for the 3 guys who's first time it was out there. Had a good lesson teaching them how to clean the birds then fired up the grill for a quick dinner. I made it home by 1am and it was a long day at work but well worth it!

Thanks guys. Taking it to mobile marine and was able to use a trailer that was at lake Fay. I really appreciate the offer on the trailer!

My grandpa has an aluminum boat on lake fayetteville that has sprung a leak. We don't have a trailer for it so was wondering if anyone knows of a boat repair shop that will pick up. Called several of the bigger shops today, non of which will come get it. Thanks.

I have an opportunity to buy a dozen super mags from a buddy for a good price. I mostly hunt farm ponds in northwest arkansas and make 1 trip a year to the timber. We have hunted magnums in the woods and they seem to work well, but are they overkill in smaller farm ponds? Or is it the bigger the better? These bad boys are 22" long, the size of most Canadian decoys!

Never worked with it but hunted out of a blind with it, quite nice. Here is a website my buddy bought from http://www.huntersdesignblinds.com

Anyone have one? Likes and/or dislikes? Specifically looking at the goosebuster and wondering if it uses pins or not. 17 days till the AR opener!

Appreciate all the info guys. I will give roger a call, works good as I am in fayetteville. Will let you know how it ends up.

J-doc that's what I was leaning towards. Did you have to do extensive sanding? Did you repair from the inside or outside of the hull? How big of an area does the kit cover? The impacted area is about 3". Thanks.

Anyone have a local contact that does fiberglass work? I have a Gheenoe (think stable flat back canoe) and I cracked the bottom of my hull and have a small leak. Read a few DIY articles but it's more of an issue of time as it's busy at work and duck season is right around the corner. Thanks!

Ness - I'm in a similar position as you, just one year ahead of you. I have a little land with a spring fed pond that never froze last year. I have a dozen decoys (cheap ones from cabelas) that are Texas rigged. I am poor at calling, but like the haydel 85, and only call if the birds look and start leaving my hole. The jerk string is pretty cheap, i actually bought a pre rigged set up for under $30. I managed to kill quite a few ducks late December through January when the weather was awful. I think it would be awesome if we had an OAF hunt. I have property in NW AR, but sounds like you guys are further north. Always an option.

Ok thanks, I didn't realize we had that many birds here. 14dz is still quite a few! How does the law work in regards to shooting around residential areas? Not trying to hunt in someone's backyard off the lake but I imagine you have to be some distance away?

F&F appreciate all the info. Looks like I have plenty to keep me busy. The nice thing is I have a very shallow water boat so I can explore some of the mud shallows others may not be. I can't believe people have rafts of decoys at beaver. Seen those for the northern guys but never thought we had that down here.

Alright guys I am looking for any advice. I am a fairly new duck hunter and I have been spoiled as majority of my hunts have been at a flooded timber lease in NE AR. In addition to that we have a small family farm that held some birds late season when everything froze up last year as it is spring fed. This year I would like to start looking for birds before I get an invite from a friend or when the ice comes. I have a small boat that the previous owner used as a layout blind. I live in fayetteville and very familiar with the upper portions of the white river and somewhat beaver lake, but all as it relates to fishing. With such big bodies of water what types of areas do you look for? Or even more stay away from? I realize we are not in the duck capital, but I know there are birds here. Just looking for some advice on how to do this on my own.