duckydoty

Yeah, I had the same bright idea this morning for Table Rock. Launched and got out just fine. Just no birds flying. Only shot 2 golden eye. Called it quits by 9:30 a.m. I did not see one other boat on the lake this morning??????

Nice birds Marty! Scott, Im thinking about heading down your way on Friday. You gonna be available and able to brave the elements? If it is not too bad, I will be picking up Mona Chari's daughter in Fayetteville around 2 in the afternoon. It does not take much to twist my arm.

Thanks JohnP. Hows your hunting been going? Did some scouting on Upper Bull Wed. but did not see the numbers of birds I would have liked too. Water levels sure do look good though.

LOL!

Yeah, we got up early to be sure we would get the close spot I wanted to get to. Wanted to make sure DD'sMC maiden voyage in the layout boat was short and simple. She was a little nervous about getting out in it. She's a little more comfortable in it now and we can go to some further boating spots now that she has the feel for it. Sounds like you had a great day of shooting. Cant wait to get these things up to 4 Rivers and try them out.

Been getting quite a bit of hunting in since the South Zone has opened. Most of it has been working out the kinks and bugs of trying to hunt 2 new layout boats. Opening Day, a buddy and I tried using the big boat to tow the layout boats about 2 miles up Lower Lake Taneycomo to a spot, deploy decoys, drop layout boats and hide big boat. Seemed like a good idea, but not really. It was a lot of work trying to figure out a way to load and tie down the layouts on top of the boat for transportation to the launch site. A lot more work to unload the layouts at the launch and rig up the towing system. We almost lost one of the layout boats while in tow. It tried to torpedo under the water. I managed to drop 2 gadwall a green wing and a lesser. Will not try this method of hunting again. Friday we tried just using the layout boats and trolling motors from the launch at Rockaway Beach to a spot up Bull Creek. This was way easier! Great hunt. Lots of birds working early and very comfortable hunting out of the layouts. Saturday, I had a crappie trip up the James River Arm and did not get to hunt. Decided I had most of the kinks worked out of hunting the layout boats and asked the wife if she would like to go. We got up at 2:45, dressed and out the door with tailer and truck loaded for the hunt by 3:15. We were the only ones at the launch at Rockaway at 4:20 this morning. Quickly unloaded the layouts from the trailer and were on our way. We set up 2 dozen decoys, 3 mojos, 3 swimmers, and 2 wobblers. Not a bad spread for being carried by layout boats. Backed the boats up to the shore, unrolled the ghilly tarps over them, and then put just a little of the surrounding grass over the tarps to top off the concealment. They looked good. DD'sMC took a little nap due to the fact we were set up almost 2 hours before shooting time. 5 minutes after shooting time, a group of gaddys came right in. I took a shot and missed, second shot dropped one. MC never even fired. 10 minutes later, 3 shovelers came in. MC shot and dropped one, I missed again. 15 or 20 more minute until the next group of gaddys came in. I dropped one out of the group, but it swam to the weeds before I could get to it and was lost. A few more birds made a couple of passes but would not commit and we called it a morning by 9 a.m. It was an easy pickup and short boat ride outta there. DD'sMC said she really liked her new layout boat. Had a lot of fun hunting with her today. Taking a little nap to kill the time Disappearing into the surroundings The spread Motor boatin Todays bounty

That is funny! Is she gonna cook the mojo wing up for ya??? If you shoot it you gotta eat it, right? LOL. Had to take a break from the duck hunting this morning because of a crappie trip on Table Rock. We caught a bunch and all but one were shorts. Did manage to boat a bunch of spotted bass though. Could not keep them daggum things off the hook today. DD'sMC and I will be chasing ducks on lower Taney out of the layout boats in the morning. Looking forward to a hunt with my wife.

Hunted lower taney on the opener. Two other groups out there. We were the last ones in and played nice. Gave them 4-500 yards. Everyone else played nice too. Got to watch them work birds and got to work our own birds. Had few issues trying to tow layout boats out there but still a good hunt. Yesterday was better. Put in at Rockaway and no one else was there. Got out early and had a lot of birds work us. We were enjoying watching the birds work so much that we did not even shoot the first 20 minutes of shooting time. Must have had 40-50 ducks swimming in the decoys by then. Ended up with 6 gaddys and 2 shovelers between the 2 of us. Chasing crappie today and back to duck hunting tomorrow.

yup…..boot lip

Pine squirrel sculpins in black, olive, and the chartreuse along with white mink sculpins are my go to flies on Taney both day and night. Very simple flies to tie on a size 10 3x long streamer hook with a 5/32 bead. Just leave about a 3/4 in tail and palmer the rest up to the bead. White chammy worms and white mega worms to go with the san juan worms. 3 shades of grey sow bugs in 4 sizes ( 18, 16, 14, and 12's). rusty midges, zebra midges, prim rose and pearl midges, and a solid black midge with black nickel beads all in size 18's, 16's and 14's. Red, black and olive soft hackles and some crackle backs and egg patterns. If you can't catch fish on Taney with that selection, there aint no fish in there.

duckydoty deer camp went well down here in Branson West this year. We had 6 family member down and managed to tag 3 does and 2 bucks in the wind storms. Not as good as it could have been but can't really complain. Im tagged out and can concentrate on the up coming duck season.

I have heard around the docks in that area is good. I concentrate on the James River Arm and have not had much luck finding them in the Indian Point area. Ive only tried over there a couple of times though and once duck season starts, that is what I spend all my time on.

There is one in Blue Eye Gettcha some!

Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the area you are talking about. I hunt it a lot. Do some scouting and find where the ducks want to be. Google earth really helps a lot, but you still need to scout to see what the water levels are compared to the satellite view on Google Earth. Look in the Beaver Creek area down to K dock. You should find some fun stuff there. Being able to hide is the most important thing. See ya out there!

I hunt the Corps land around Table Rock. Just the bigger chunks though and at least 300 yards from any houses. I know a 223 is legal in Missouri, but I don't know about a 22.

Dont shoot the decoys!

I enjoyed the lesser rules. 4 a.m means 4 a.m not 4:01 If you show up at the ramp at 4:01 you won't get to hunt with me that day.

Sounds like a fun weekend

welcome to the forum

Ive been know to bring the portable grill and do brats on cold days. Nothing better than a hot brat when its 20 degrees out.

Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow brothers/sisters in arms that have served and are currently serving this country. Thank you for your sacrifices that give us the freedoms we have today. Duane Doty B co 82nd Signal Battalion 82nd Airborne Division Desert Shield/Desert Storm 1989-1993

Again, mouth watering

not "Happy, Happy, Happy."

DD'sMC and I got out on the lake for a few hours yesterday in pursuit of some crappie. We fish from Cape Fair up stream to the Bridgeport bridge and just fished the MDC signed brush piles with 1/16th oz. jigs and bluegrass Bobby Garlands. We probably caught 50 crappie with most of them just barley being shorts. Did manage 10 keepers with the largest one pushing 12 inches. A few more of the bigger slabs are starting to move into the brush piles. I keep getting told to fish the pole timber but having too much fun fishing the brush piles. DD'sMC did catch one short walleye and i think we caught 3 or 4 short spots. Great day to be on the water. Don't think it is going to be as warm the rest of the week.

Marty my mouth is watering!