Wow. That'll work.

I have a four acre lake below my house. So far, I haven't seen a single duck on it. This morning I saw probably 50-60 birds. I'm guessing the coming front is strong enough to finally push some down.

Noticed the 1st robins of the year today.

I finally pulled the trigger on a new rig. I went out to a place in North TX I haven't hunted in prolly 10 years to get used to driving it. Place was loaded up. I can't imagine the chit show that's gonna go down there Sat am with 20 boats trynna hunt an area that'll hold 3 max.

Isn't that pretty much everywhere in texas these days.

If its close to the metromess it'll probably be Friday morning. Last year I scouted early Friday morning and was third at the ramp. With the water low some lakes are going to be off limits to bigger boats but there's more walk in opportunities. Some lakes that don't allow perm blinds already have them that's gonna be a fun time. Not for me. I'ma get there early and try to stay out of the way.

What did you get, Larry?

Not RR NW arm, normally I got it all to myself!!

I've been hunting a bit with a group of young bucks the last couple of years. They're considering giving it a go and camping out. Not this old dog, been around too long to know how it'll go down. Get the X, fend off other groups the best you can, then have some yahoos come in 15 minutes before LST and setup 75 yards downwind from you with the "it's public water defense"... then sky blast anything within 100 yards. I've had enough of that. I'll be far away where there are less dux, and less hunters, but enough for me and mine to have a good hunt.

Ended up with a 2020 Gatortail 1748 with a GTR 40. I've been in the market for a couple years, just waiting for the right opportunity to come along. Got both kids out of college so that lessened the pucker factor, too. Gotta admit it's a lot more fun to drive than I thought it would be. Now I gotta sell the ole SeaArk center console... lots of good memories in that boat.

They are in fact fun to run. Like a 4 wheeler on the water.

Good boat. I need to upgrade but the wife has a loaded shotgun for just such contingencies...kidding...at least I think I am. All my out of the way places are dry. I'm spending some shoe leather Friday hoping there's water in some new places. It's a mile and some back in there. I'll probably get back there and find somebody's drone hovering overhead. What size shot for a drone? Does it have to be nontoxic?

Anyone else struggling with deciding on where they are going to hunt Saturday morning?

Nope. Ill be on Ray Roberts! Unfortunately...in a bass boat though!

I will be right here on Cottonmouth Lake…. They finally showed up.

Looks good Rockie. We checked our farm last week. Boots, divers, and teal. Basically millet rodents! Lol.
Our boys have a high school tournament on Roberts Saturday, so next weekend will be our opener.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s pics from the weekend. Some good weather moving in.

I struggled until Sunday and decided on the lake. I'm scouting it again tomorrow so I may change my mind.

Thanks bud. Good luck on fishing Saturday!

I would hunt off of past year experience. First good cold front coming in. There will be new ducks in areas you may have scouted in the last few days or week and now there are here.My place birds just showed up 3 days ago.

Hunt #1
Heard ducks flying over head when I got out of the truck at 5am. Had about a thousand yard walk to where I was going to be hunting this morning. Got to the spot with no other hunters. Had ducks landing around me while setting the decoys out. Had gadwall and mallards flying over head 15-20 minutes before legal. As lst approached the action slowed down. Had a few birds catch me off guard and buzz the decoys. You know how that goes, your looking left and they come from the right and are out of range before you can get on em. Overall only a couple dozen birds seen, most didn't really want anything to do with the decoys. Maybe the lack of wind had the birds a little finicky. At 8am had a lone mallard drake work the spread perfectly. Ended with 1 spoonie drake and a mallard drake.

Scouted lake E Friday. Birds flying all day. Geese and cranes working the surrounding area. Claimed a spot about 5 pm, put out a light and went to sleep in the truck. Motored back out when the first boat showed up at midnight. Heard birds flying all night. Had birds buzz the set just after LST but I didn't see them early much less id them. Few teal buzzed by but no takers. With the low water I tried to make the boat look like a big log but in the daylight it just looked like you would expect in flooded stumps. I did turn some mallards from about 1000 yards off and they gave it a couple of go arounds but the blind just didn't cut it. I should have just muddied a sheet and cover up on the shore.

I think they moved out overnight with the north wind and partially full moon. There was a huge flock of birds rafting on the open lake Saturday mid morning. I think these were migrators. The birds I saw Friday were loafing in the flooded stumps.

Hunt #2
Went into a small creek off the main lake. Its normally pretty good for wood ducks but I've never hunted it this early in the season. Needless to say I only saw 2 wood ducks. First skunk of the season.

Saw alot of ducks rafted up on the main lake. It was glass calm. Didnt hear much shooting from the main lake.

Hunt #3
Strughle bus continues.. Hunted the main lake. Ducks still just rafted up in the middle. Lake is low so they have no reason to be near the bank as there is nothing for them to feed on. Its not unusual for them to raft up in the middle due to pressure. But with no food there is little chance they will come the bank or be huntable. Overall saw decent numbers of birds, they are likely leaving the lake the feed and just coming back to loaf in open water.

Scouted lake A this afternoon. Well, sort of. Glassed from the boat ramp. Didn't see birds on the water but birds were in a tank close to the lake. Walking in tomorrow morning. I'll have to look at what's wet and what isn't. Probably going to be a muddy mess.

Saw zero waterfowl at a NE Texas lake this AM - at least where I was hunting. Very few shots heard. 1st time being completely skunked there - actually first time not killing at least 3-4 birds.

Hunt #4
Slow slow slow - had 3 gwt come by at first light. Was hoping they would have worked better but didn't. Had 3 pintail come in but than start to flare off at 40 yards. Not to surprising considering I was hunting a mud flat. With that said I though the panel blind was blended in as best as it could.



Very little shooting on the lake. Very little bird movement.

Per social media, the guys on private that have the managed holes with millet, corn and other groceries are absolutely loaded up with ducks.

With most my spots dried up I'm out looking for new areas, but its been tough going in blind so far this season.

And the joys of hunting with a golden. Spent an hour and half getting all these cockaburs out.