Lake Taneycomo Duck Hunting Update

[duckydoty]

This is the 1st day in 8 days that I have not hunted so I got a little time to update you all on how it has been.

Opening week was ok on Lake Taneycomo. A buddy of mine, his son, and I got out on lower Taney for opening morning. We scouted the day before and found ok numbers of birds from Cocklebur Cove on down. We set up on the main lake about 1/2 mile down from Cocklebur Cove and used the big boat to tow 2 layout boats. Once decoys were deployed I anchored big boat across lake and putted back across to the hunting spot in the 8 ft. Beavertail Final Attack layout boat to begin the hunt. All this took a little longer than expected, so we were ready to hunt about 10 minutes after shooting time. I ended up with 5 birds. The boy got 1st shot and killed 1st bird of the 2013-2014 season, and his dad had gun issues and just helped the son hunt. Decided it was too much work to tow layouts and a little dangerous. They wanted to torpedo under the water at speeds any faster than an idle. No more towing for me.

Got to take DD'sMC out on one of the warmer days for her 1st hunt of the season up in the Bull Creek area of Lake Taneycomo. We just launched layout boats from Rockaway Beach and motored on in. We each ended up with one bird.

Since the snow storm, we have picked up a few more birds on Lake Taneycomo and the hunting has been pretty good. Water levels have been a key on deciding where to hunt. If they have been generating lots of water and the lake levels are high, the birds want to be back in the coves. If lake levels are low (below 708) the birds have been sticking to the main lake. Some of the coves are starting to freeze up and this is pushing more of the birds to the main lake too. While hunting the main lake, the birds are getting in the habit of landing in bigger water now and swimming to the shore. If you will just let them swim in and leave them alone, the next group that flies by will be more likely to come into the decoys. The birds are also responding less and less to calling everyday. At this point in time, with calling, less is more.

Sundays hunt was my first limit of birds this year on Taney. The last 3 or 4 days, it has been 5 or 6 birds a day with some mallards in the mix. The mornings have been cold! Most of the action is done by 9:30 or 10. Once the birds find a safe spot, they pretty much stay there the rest of the day. My party has been splitting up and each one of us has been hunting a different location. This seems to bounce the birds around a little bit longer and all of us have been bagging more birds than if we would be as a group in the same spot.

Being able to hide and not be seen has been a key issue for being successful. The little layout boats have been perfect for this. They just tuck right up next to the bank and hide with minimal effort.

It has been a pretty good season so far in the south zone on Lake Taneycomo. Table Rock Lake has been a little tougher. Still not seeing the numbers of birds I would like and have not had as much success on the big lake. Even though all the ponds up north are frozen, Im getting reports there are still good numbers of ducks up that way. They still have lots of food and are sticking to the creeks and rivers. Another week of some cold weather and fronts coming through should give us some fresh birds to play with.

This is up in the Bull Creek area on a warmer day

DD'sMC waiting for her 1st bird to come in

The rewards of the day

Tooling along in the layout boat

The day of the snow storm hunting on the Rock

Things starting to pick up on Lake Taneycomo after the snow

Another good morning of duck hunting on Taney

Snow has started to melt along the shores of Lake Taneycomo and the snow suits are starting to stand out rather than blend in

A cold morning spread

The importance of being able to hide is critical!

I had an epic cripple chase last week and uploaded a video to Facebook. Some of you could not view it, so I am now trying to upload it to youtube. If I am successful, I will link it to this post also.

[duckydoty]

Ok, I think I got the video to upload and linked properly now.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=em-upload_owner&v=NKeY2152_jY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNKeY2152_jY%26feature%3Dem-upload_owner

[Feathers and Fins]

Weed-eater?

[duckydoty]

Brother Dave's 2 hp mud motor. Works great and will be an upgrade next year for sure for me and DD'sMC.

[BilletHead]

hahhahaha Love it! Makes me glad I am stuck with dry fields now. Well done friend!

[duckydoty]

Thanks Marty. It was a challenge!

[JohnP]

Great report as usual DD. Bull Shoals in the Cedar Creek / Snapps arear has been similar except for very few if any mallets according to my sons. Lots of divers, hoodies-buffle heads-and a few golden eyes with gads and shovelers. Seen quite a few woodrows first week but they've pushed out with the cold snap. Its early and hearing good reports of large numbers of birds still north in nebraska and iowa yet. Need a good snow fall up that way to cover up food and push em south just a bit .

[mhowerton]

Great Report. I have always wanted one of those layouts. Much fewer ducks on Norfork past few days. I have gone by myself and killed just a couple each day.

[duckydoty]

Thanks guys. The layout boats have been a game changer!

[duckydoty]

I use a 35 lb trolling motor to propel the layout boat and a deep cycle marine battery. Today I travelled over 4 miles in it and it felt like it could go quite a bit more.