Too much to like in this post. If I never see another "what are the conditions and what are they hitting" FB post, I will die happy. Love the Atlantic Salmon, I've been fortunate to fish for them a number of times. All in the US and CA, dreaming of an Iceland trip when I retire.
Arkansas Opener Video from Public Land
- Thread starter Eric Patterson
- Start date
Rick Pierce
Well-known member
Eric,
No idea, other than that 1999-2000 season was a barn burner....I mean, one of the best seasons in a lot of people's hunting history. I think there was a record flight, and the weather worked out to provide one of those glory years.
After that, the numbers just started climbing. And duck hunting started becoming a "thing" again for people to do...with more disposable income, more reliable vehicles, gps, cell phones, and tech, it was easier than ever to find places. I can remember buying USGS quads to look at areas, or the maps put out by the refuges.
Plus, you have to add in social media...Facebook showing where people had killed limits a few hours ago, YouTube showing homegrown videos of limits of ducks.
Where people used to come here for a week or so on vacation to hunt, now they would leave South Carolina on a Friday night, drive all night to launch Saturday morning, hunt, sleep Saturday afternoon, hunt Sunday morning, and drive back to SC to be at work on Monday. And as I've said, the locals used to hunt "their" spots - the guys from LIttle Rock hunted Bayou Meto, Dagmar, etc. Jonesboro hunted Rainey, Black River, and so on.
Now, the guys who live in SW Arkansas will leave at 10 pm to drive to NE Arkansas to hunt if the ducks are there. And I thought I was nuts for driving 2-1/2, leaving at 2:30 in the morning from my house to go hunt the Cache.
Rick Pierce
Well-known member
Iceland? Wow. I've seen some of the footage from Iceland and it looks amazing. Crazy tiny flies, too....stuff more for stream trout than you would think big salmon.
I went with my Dad. He's been to Newfoundland and up into Canada above Sault Ste. Marie chasing them.
I'd love to to to the Gaspe' peninsula just for the history of it...
One thing I'm careful to do is shut off my phone GPS if I want to take a photo in a "secret" spot. Otherwise, internet scouts can sometimes harvest the metadata.
The rivers I've been to are several in Maine, the Margaree, Cheticamp and North Rivers in Nova Scotia, Restigouche in NB/QU and one I can't remember the name of on the north shore of the St Lawrence. I have not been in close to 20 years however. I had an open invite from a young friend doing his PhD in fisheries in Newfoundland in the 2012-2016 timeframe and blew it. Big regret.
Interesting you mention the small flies common in Iceland. The peculiar thing they do is put a hitch on the fly, so it skids on the surface.
Rick Pierce
Well-known member
Yes...a riffle hitch. It's done elsewhere, but Iceland it seems to be almost an art form bordering on religion.
I'd love to go fish the Margaree! My understanding about Nova Scotia is that the rivers have a good deal of public access, unlike other countries which require a guide and/or you having access to private beats.
My father fished the St. Mary's, and then fished Pacifics a little further into Canada on some tribal lands that an outfitter had worked out with the tribe. I think the tribe and outfitter parted ways so it isn't available anymore, but sounded like a great time catching chinooks and pinks....they were actually starting to get a run of Atlantics, too, I think, but when Covid hit and everything fell apart, it became immaterial.
His trip to Newfoundland almost didn't happen. At the airport, TSA asked what was in his rod case because the x-ray was coming back odd...he said, "it's a custom built bamboo flyrod for salmon." The lady pulled it out, said, "oh"...and then started shoving it back in the tube like a muzzleloader ramrod when it wouldn't go back in. Dad went over the counter, and there was a pretty heated discussion with all involved about what would happen if she broke that rod. My mother was trying to keep things on an even keel, and they finally allowed him to put it back in the case and hand it to them.
Of course, the last leg into Newfoundland was horribly turbulent; I don't remember if the masks dropped, but I think they dropped 500 feet almost instantly at one point, people were praying out loud, and Mom said, "great...we are going to die before we even get to a river...." They did land, and promptly discovered their luggage didn't make it with them. I think it got there a day later; the guide let them borrow rods in the meantime and it was basically, "we might as well fish...your luggage will get here or not..."
Dad tells the story better since he lived it, but it sounded like a heck of an adventure...
I really enjoyed learning a basic Spey cast; the guide probably didn't since I'm a lefty and everything is backwards, but once you get into a rhythm, it's surprisingly relaxing.
To be honest, Atlantics are the only thing I would consider giving up duck hunting for...I was really taken with them. My goal for our return trip is to ask the guide to let us fish our flies for one day, win or lose. I don't mind using his knowledge, but I'm not the type that wants a catered trip...I want to learn and struggle around with it a bit on my own....and if I hook one up, then the victory is even better.
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Total thread hijack, but I can't resist!
So I stumbled on the riffle hitch as a teenager. I knew nothing of Iceland or what a riffle hitch is. I had a fly tangle, stripped it in quickly, and BAM! I tried it from time to time in ME rivers, and it worked for bright salmon. Dark fish, not so much. I just tied a granny knot behind the head, that's all I knew.
The Margaree is in NS, the river is mostly Crown water where you can fish without a guide. At least it was 20 years ago. NB requires a guide for everything up to and including wiping your butt. Most of my fishing was in or below the Forks Pool, the salmon are mostly bright there. I had good success on Blue Charms, a ME favorite. I fished as far up as the Little MacDaniels Pool (I think is the name???). The Kid (my PhD friend) clued me in years later about how the salmons eyes change in the river, from seeing blue to red. Eh, screw the science. I'll throw what I want at them, and they'll eat it.
I have never played with a spey rod. Learning the spey cast was on the itinerary if I had gone to Newfoundland, well, crap. Now he's a biologist in Idaho F&W, Atlantic Salmon are apparently on the most hated list in the Columbia River system so no Atlantic Salmon spey casting for me.
If you want to use your own patterns when you return to your salmon lodge, do it. The guides get really stuck on tradition and fish count, but it's your money. My only suggestion is to use blue-ish patterns for bright fish and red/orange-ish patterns for dark fish. I do think smaller is better, as a rule. But then, they are Atlantic Salmon. They play by their own rules.
1999-2000 was the best year, hands down, no questions asked, I had in my 22 years duck hunting Coastal Alabama.
Numbers and variety of ducks was amazing that year.
A strong cold front every 4-6 days.
New birds coming in every week.
Limits were the norm.
First time I ever saw a duck (gadwall) tornado trying to get into my spot.
I remember a conversation with my hunting buddy going like this on a Saturday afternoon back at the ramp: "I really don't want to shoot 6 gadwalls again tomorrow, lets go up river to one of the potholes and find some teal or hunt the open water for divers".
"The good ole days".
Mark W
Well-known member
I guess I have a different take.
When I was younger my Dad, his best buddy and his son would hunt a very popular place on the Mississippi backwaters down near Wabasha MN. Opening day at the ramp was exciting and filled with adrenaline. The ramp was small and the line long. Everyone, for the most part, were respectful. Once off the trailer the fun began. The first couple of channels weren't even 15' wide and this went for a mile or so and then you came to a bigger channel for a mile and then back to small channels. Then from the small channels to pushing through weeds to get to cover.
There were literally hundreds of boats in this very large area. That morning always reminded me what it must have been like when like storming Normandy.
As shooting time approached you could hear the sounds of the hunters doing last minute adjustments to their boats and decoys. When shooting time came, the swamp became alive. One could see for miles and watch the ducks come in. Hundreds of shots being fired. Depending upon your spot, it was mostly pass shooting with some ducks decoying in.
After the hunt the trip back began. This was when it was really fun watching all the returning duck hunters and the gear they were running.
Back at the ramp, there was always either a Fed or Local CO there to check things out. The camaraderie after the hunt was something to be seen. Tailgating and cook outs right there. Ducks stories of the hunt rehashes many times.
I wouldn't trade this experience for anything and miss hunting this particular hunting. Not my style anymore but hope everyone gets a chance to experience something like this in their lifetime.
Paul Taylor
Active member
Before I die I'd love to witness mallards dropping through the trees in flooded timber in AR. I would not want to be involved with that mayhem in the video in order to so though. I just got back yesterday from camp in S. La and we will paddle or push pole as far as it takes to avoid hunters. The type of hunting in the video doesn't appeal to me but if a duck has committed to the decoys, I've beat him at his game and a water swat can result in a clean head shot vs. breast full of pellets. Here in SC folks pass shoot Wood Ducks (50% of the waterfowl bagged) and I would bet they cripple or lose 1/2 the ducks they attempt to wing shoot. It's sickening to me to watch or hear of a "wood duck shoot". Youtube is full of "hunters" pass shooting at Woodies, not my style of hunting.
I have followed Beau for the last couple years. He's a social promoter, influencer and an extremely skilled caller. Sadly social influencers are now the mentors to the masses, Beau has 85,000 "followers" on Instagram alone. Companies utilize these influencers to boost sales, exactly the purpose of the video. Duck Dynasty debuted in 2012, coupled with social media's appeal to the younger generation we now have 35-40 year old's who worship social influencers and the new hunters of today are drawn by the appeal of adrenaline rush, colorful LED lighted boats, blinding light bars, hopped up mud motors, stereos blasting through the marsh or woods.....it's the sad state of affairs that duck "hunting" has become. While my son and I were pulling out of the launch at 2:30 am yesterday morning to head home a "hunter" could not resist blaring his boat stereo, switching on all his interior LED lights and firing up his light bar and revving up his hopped up mud motor as he launched to head out to hunt. Meanwhile folks have waterfront camps all along the launch.....zero respect, the new generation?
I have followed Beau for the last couple years. He's a social promoter, influencer and an extremely skilled caller. Sadly social influencers are now the mentors to the masses, Beau has 85,000 "followers" on Instagram alone. Companies utilize these influencers to boost sales, exactly the purpose of the video. Duck Dynasty debuted in 2012, coupled with social media's appeal to the younger generation we now have 35-40 year old's who worship social influencers and the new hunters of today are drawn by the appeal of adrenaline rush, colorful LED lighted boats, blinding light bars, hopped up mud motors, stereos blasting through the marsh or woods.....it's the sad state of affairs that duck "hunting" has become. While my son and I were pulling out of the launch at 2:30 am yesterday morning to head home a "hunter" could not resist blaring his boat stereo, switching on all his interior LED lights and firing up his light bar and revving up his hopped up mud motor as he launched to head out to hunt. Meanwhile folks have waterfront camps all along the launch.....zero respect, the new generation?
Magazine articles ruined places before social media, it just happened slower. Just ask anyone who hunted Lake Seminole for ringers and cans in the early-mid 90s. Then DU published an article about how great it was. Had an old hunting buddy who witnessed what followed over the next two years. Became a madhouse.
As other’s expressed, if I do my job so well that ducks land in the decoys before I can ID or get the gun up, I’m not opposed to a water swat. Especially when hunting areas with tons of birds with tight limits, like redheads, cans and scaup.
As other’s expressed, if I do my job so well that ducks land in the decoys before I can ID or get the gun up, I’m not opposed to a water swat. Especially when hunting areas with tons of birds with tight limits, like redheads, cans and scaup.
Paul Taylor
Active member
There was a writer I met in S La back 2003. He wrote outdoors articles for a newspaper in Mobile. Remember when y'all had 1,000's of Greys on Mobile Bay and the hunting was epic and then it got covered up with hunters? I'm thinking it was in the 90's. It didn't take many news articles and y'all were ruined.
Carl & Paul
Magazine articles point existing hunters to specific locations. Social media on the other hand can recruit hunters and for many it fuels their competitiveness and drive for recognition, notoriety, and even fame.
Magazine articles point existing hunters to specific locations. Social media on the other hand can recruit hunters and for many it fuels their competitiveness and drive for recognition, notoriety, and even fame.
Paul Taylor
Active member
Social media fans the flames of lunacy for sure. Like the "Tide pod challenge" or "hood surfing" on the roof of cars. Definitely different than magazine articles.
I've enjoyed reading through this post.
1. I'd only learned of a riffle hitch knot when I took the family the first time to Colorado for a little fly fishing.
2. I really enjoyed Rick's writing on Arkansas hunting. Of course I left Arkansas in 1996 to move back to Illinois so I didn't get to see the ducks he was talking about. My dad was diagnosed with Leukemia and I my wife said you need to hunt and fish with your dad before he goes. I remember 1999/2000 being an extremely good year for ducks here and never to be seen that good since. My dad passed a few days after Christmas of 2000 but I cherish the memory of being able to get my youngest son in the blind with his granddad for a few hunts.
3. Several of you have great stories of Newfoundland. I was born in St. John's, Newfoundland. My dad was stationed at Pepperrell Air Force Base. He was honorably discharged when I was 3 months old and they came back to the states so I've never seen Newfoundland. I want to go there before I die.
4. I learned as a youngster from and old Arkansas duck hunter my dad knew what the term "Arkansasing" them meant. He told me if you set your decoys right and they bring the birds to the water to never be ashamed to leave them on the water.
1. I'd only learned of a riffle hitch knot when I took the family the first time to Colorado for a little fly fishing.
2. I really enjoyed Rick's writing on Arkansas hunting. Of course I left Arkansas in 1996 to move back to Illinois so I didn't get to see the ducks he was talking about. My dad was diagnosed with Leukemia and I my wife said you need to hunt and fish with your dad before he goes. I remember 1999/2000 being an extremely good year for ducks here and never to be seen that good since. My dad passed a few days after Christmas of 2000 but I cherish the memory of being able to get my youngest son in the blind with his granddad for a few hunts.
3. Several of you have great stories of Newfoundland. I was born in St. John's, Newfoundland. My dad was stationed at Pepperrell Air Force Base. He was honorably discharged when I was 3 months old and they came back to the states so I've never seen Newfoundland. I want to go there before I die.
4. I learned as a youngster from and old Arkansas duck hunter my dad knew what the term "Arkansasing" them meant. He told me if you set your decoys right and they bring the birds to the water to never be ashamed to leave them on the water.
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The pressure in Mobile was tolerable, the gadwalls had thousands of acres of SAV to feed on, lots of areas to raft and rest on.
Pressure wasn't the issue, 2 bad hurricane seasons followed by drought that killed back the grassbeds, then warm winters, is what changed things.
At least on Mobile Bay/Lower Mobile Delta.
don novicki
Active member
I have read that all the surface drives now get to places you could only dream of getting to in days gone by, and ducks get no rest spots anymore. This video would seem to bear that out. All the whooping and hollering going on is ridiculous and helps cement the "typical hunter" stereotype. This is everything hunting is not supposed to be IMO.
Steven Alexander
New member
That video is the same as any other video that's pimping a product out there today. I would have thought they would have cameras that could pick up first light ducks better, but it is sometimes tough to do. I don't condone any of them. And don't try and sell me on any specific brand of decoys if you're hunting first light in flooded timber. You don't need ultra realistic decoys. You need to be still and quiet when the ducks are looking, and you need to kick water. That's it. Quit over-thinking it.
I've hunted almost every AR WMA in the east half of the state at least once. I've hunted many, many days/weeks/months at some of them. "BahMeetuh" is the largest joke of a WMA circus I have ever witnessed. @don novicki nailed it with "This is everything hunting is not supposed to be".
There is a much smaller WMA that used to be lights out good hunting. It's size kept it mostly out of the lime-light of the "serious" poo-faced youngsters. Then came the mud motors. Who in the hell needs a mud motor in 3-8 foot flooded timber is beyond me, but it began declining more and more once the wicked-cool skinny hulls with overzealous lawnmower engines showed up. The reverberations run the ducks off of the rest area. I've stood there and heard the ducks get up as the mud motors fired up. What happened to being quiet and slipping in unnoticed? You wouldn't fire your rifle continuously while you were walking out to a deer stand. Why would you want a muffer-less engine on your duck boat?
All that dumbness is why I no longer hunt that state. AGFC will not get another dime of my money. I'll stay off the soapbox about the irreparable damage the AGFC has done to the old hardwood timber with constant flooding from NOV-MAR. For now...
I've hunted almost every AR WMA in the east half of the state at least once. I've hunted many, many days/weeks/months at some of them. "BahMeetuh" is the largest joke of a WMA circus I have ever witnessed. @don novicki nailed it with "This is everything hunting is not supposed to be".
There is a much smaller WMA that used to be lights out good hunting. It's size kept it mostly out of the lime-light of the "serious" poo-faced youngsters. Then came the mud motors. Who in the hell needs a mud motor in 3-8 foot flooded timber is beyond me, but it began declining more and more once the wicked-cool skinny hulls with overzealous lawnmower engines showed up. The reverberations run the ducks off of the rest area. I've stood there and heard the ducks get up as the mud motors fired up. What happened to being quiet and slipping in unnoticed? You wouldn't fire your rifle continuously while you were walking out to a deer stand. Why would you want a muffer-less engine on your duck boat?
All that dumbness is why I no longer hunt that state. AGFC will not get another dime of my money. I'll stay off the soapbox about the irreparable damage the AGFC has done to the old hardwood timber with constant flooding from NOV-MAR. For now...
I've said this before, and I know it's controversial, but there is a lot to be said for no motor zones, HP limits, and the like to address these issues. To give just one example, Maine's Merrymeeting Bay has been heavily gunned for many generations. For as long as I am aware, it has had special rules: (1) No permanent blinds; (2) no operation above headway speed except in marked navigation channels; (3) No duck decoys can be left out overnight. These rules were, according to historic accounts I have read, quite controversial when first implemented. I don't think any of us who hunt the Bay--and it's still a lot of us--would change them now.
And, if only I could have one of those ass-blaster motion decoys, I'm sure I'd enjoy my hunting a lot more.
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