This will be my first year and I will probably pond hop for the first few hunts but can yall answer a few questions and give me any advice?

1. Is it better in the morning, evening, all day?
2. Thinking I will use #3 shot with IC choke?

Been reading articles but like to hear it from the people actually doing the hunting.

1) morning
2) good enough.

Depends on how big pond is and what you like to shoot, but #3 and IC sound like a good match for pond hopping.

^^^

Agreed pond hoping can be good into the afternoon too

The morning is usaully best.(depending on location)

Choke selections and shoot is good.

Contact a guide service, some guys are great with taking newer hunters out. A few only charge 150 and one day with them you will pick up alot.

Scout were u are shooting. You want to have ducks were you are shooting

pond hopping...doesn't matter when.

Thanks everybody, looking forward to it!

Some times I like it in the morning too

"Depends on how big pond is"

"Agreed pond hoping can be good into the afternoon too"

"pond hopping...doesn't matter when"

"Scout were u are shooting. You want to have ducks were you are shooting"
----------------------------------------------------------------
Have not figured out how to put a box around the above quotes but every quote is correct IMO.

I grew up jumping ponds in north Texas and all the above is true. I jumped ponds in a different time and there was one other key statistic. How many ponds are being jumped! We drove around and found ducks on one pond and later on ones that were empty earlier. Did this all day. This was a few years back.

Sounds like it's private water. Spend some time scouting them. Nuff said.

Not a good shot I guess.

New guy here: U gotta go there. Just giving an observation.

16 years old with a truck of friends and a single shot. Great days. Didn't have to shoot at every pond. And yes, all private from Whitewrite to Whitesboro. God bless the opportunity I had.

Don't get so sensitive. Sounds like a fun time.

Definitely not defensive Labman. You make a sarcastic comment and I responded. They were good times and hope many more to come.

This just got heated....

But on topic, pond hopping is neat cause you're never too sure what you'll end up with at first.. I agree with the shot size and choke too, btw, this is all the beginning of a new habit. Glad to see another guy hunting waterfowl..

If you have multiple ponds this is what I would do... Scout them them the night before. Whichever pond has the most ducks I would be at the next morning before sun up. If the pond is small enough you dont even need decoys, they will come dump straight into the pond. That is half the rush right there watching and hearing their little jet engines! If the pond is too big to shoot across id get 3-4 decoys and put them in front of you. Then after the hunt there, go hop those other ponds. This may provide more action and definately get you addicted faster!

Yes. This is exactly what I would do. The ducks will usually choose only a couple of the tanks to visit. Find the right one and you will have some easy shooting at LST.