9-7&8-2013

[Feathers and Fins]

9-7 sucked for birds but great for walleye, crappie, catfish and white bass. Teal moved out between thursdayish and Friday and we saw only 40 birds total with afterburners on heading south. Geese made a brief appearance but interrupted a good white bite, sucked for them:)

Whites are good size and in Rocky Branch area hitting spoons in 15 to 25fow.

Sunday saw a few birds but nothing to write home about did manage a couple teal and the stupidest goose in history it really was a removal of the gene pool deal. When you are standing on shore with a gun in your hand and a dog next to you and it comes and lands and starts walking toward you it just needs killing. Just proves People are not the only things that are Stupid! But I fixed stupid in this case.

[npierceuark]

Saw the same thing with the teal, don't know what persuaded them to leave but there was definitely a mass exodus from the surrounding area friday morning. Had 2 ponds and an area on the lake that I felt pretty good about (75+ birds weekend before), scouted them friday evening and saw maybe 15 birds total. Decided to shoot doves instead. Been having any luck with crappie? I haven't been out in a few weeks and need to restock the freezer.

[Feathers and Fins]

Plenty of crappie around all open water stuff size is great on them no need for the golden rule to be used on them. We need the lake to cool down at least 8 to 12 degrees for them to come shallow and also for it to clear up. I had 2 to 4ft of visibility from surface down to 25fow in many areas. I am not sure where all the murk is coming from to be honest.

I'll pray for teal this weekend but hopes are not high the front coming doesn't look to be strong nor does the Jetstream drop enough to really push birds in. Geese have been hard to come by this year, I know where they are but most the farmers I talked to are not receptive to allowing people on their land this season several told me after all the trespassing and even those with permission trashing the place they just do not want to let anyone on it anymore. I know them and have hunted those lands before and they told me its " kids whooppping and hollering and acting stupid "

I hate to hear that and am lucky I have a good report with them but I have a good idea where these people are getting their idea what waterfowling is suppose to be. I cant wait to see these people try hunting the big water this season or pull those stunts in the Delta.

[showmebass]

The crappie bite was AWESOME on Saturday. I had a good limit (11" - 12" average) by 9:15am. Bobby Garland Minnow Mind'rs was my magic bullet. I found most of them in one location. They were stacked up in 37 fow, and I was getting bites all through the water column.

[npierceuark]

It is a shame that waterfowlers are getting a bad image, being a younger hunter myself I can feel the uncertainty in many of the landowner's voices when I approach them about hunting. Not sure how or why this trend of hard core rockers and tatted up wrestlers all of a sudden became the poster children for my age group of hunters. Hopefully it is a fad like many other things and will pass with time. If only guys like Lester Capps or Jim Ronquest were the role models of my generation instead of guys like Chad Belding. Oh well.... Good to hear about the crappie though, I may have to give it a whirl

[Feathers and Fins]

NP, The role models many of us had were are Grandfathers, Fathers Uncles and Their friends. All were Hard Working and respectful to others and appreciated greatly when people allowed access to their land. I actually grew up being able to go hunt land without even asking permission. Seeing a property posted was almost unheard of and when it was a knock on the door typically gave the answer and directions to a new field. Land Owners were not so worried about Liability risk back then nor were they confronted with trash and parties. The biggest worry back then for many was a gate accidently not latched properly or a few hulls not accounted for.

It wasn't really until the mid 90's I started seeing issues and Four things happened or was happening about that time.

1st was the passing on of many of the elder generation ( grandfathers ) which lead to the demise of leaders for many youths who taught them respect for others properties.

2nd was the cost of living increasing that took many ( fathers ) out of the equation as they had to work harder longer hours to make ends meet.

3rd was the internet which had many forums where people inadvertently or intentionally gave areas the game was at and the younger hunters without the above two leadership rolls started invading property and trashing it up

4th that same internet started seeing more ( Personal videos and combined with Cable TV ) started giving ever Tom Dick and Harry the thoughts to video the hunts and add a rockstar mentality to everything. Where making money off the resource became more important than the resource.

I am going on my 39th year of hunting and have hunted in 5 decades now, I have seen many changes ( Heck I remember lead shot and 1/2 hour after sunset ) some changes have been for the betterment but sadly many have not. I hear every year from someone how we need to go back to a 3/30 hunting season. When asked its because they want to get a limit or they know it will reduce hunter involvement. I just shake my head at these excuses as they are pure greed. We need more hunters not less as our numbers insure the survival of our hobby.

But we need more mentors that will show the younger generations how to hunt and that means respect for others and especially land owners. We need people who will teach the younger hunters a limit is just a number and is not the measure of a hunt " some of the older hunters need that lesson refreshed " and finally we need to mend fences with the land owners who use to be our friends and that is a big hurdle.

[npierceuark]

Very true FF, can't agree more. Keep me updated on your pursuit of the little feathered rockets, hopefully a few more of them show up before the season ends.

[J-Doc]

Nick I was wondering if you were still around. F&F has herded all the big crappie into a big pile somewhere in the lake and won't share. Lol

[Feathers and Fins]

Hey im sharing ( with my brother ) andI told you where I found Jurasic Parks Crappisuarusrex, not my fault you cant get deep enough for them

[npierceuark]

Jason, still around, just haven't done much fishing. august - january is pretty much reserved for preparing for football, football, preparing for hunting, and hunting. Between all that I usually have time to make it to a creek or two or combo some fishing with scouting but it's minimal. Sept 21-22 I'm hoping to get out but who knows, I'm not real confident on my deer locations so I may be better off scouting for the opener the weekend after. Jeez, the struggles of hunters and fisherman.... haha