Diver hunting with TDB

[JIMH]

I am new to Diver hunting and I want to employ my TDB 14 in open water with a shoreline background. Perhaps 100 yards offshore. I have used the boat on seaducks and it's great but divers (I think) aren't completely stupid. SHould I use the blind or leave it down for lower profile? Grass it up or leave it bare? Snow camo? COnfidence gull on the boat or not? I know that there are a lot a variables here in terms of topography, etc. but any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
BTW, bills, GE and cans will be the target species.

 

[Gene Jr.]

Jim,

Uhmm, yeah. I hunt out of a TDB 14 classic on the rivers here in PA and the Jersey shore. If it is a smooth coast line, ie. not a lot of small islands and rocks I would start with the blind up and no grass. If there are a lot islands such as sedge that have grass then grass up. It is easy to drop the blind if needed. I find it's hard to hide movement without the blind. If you hunt alone, try to anchor so you are shooting out the stern. It will provide the smallest boat pofile. I guess you could try over the bow but I almost always end up over the stern myself.

Let us know what works for you.
Good luck!

Gene

 

[k folkman]

Jim, I often anchor my sneakbox in open water when the tide is too low to bank up to. When I do this I try to place the decoys between me and a shoreline point. I have noticed that sometimes they are startled by the boat out in the water and swing wide while other times it does not even phase them. My buddy hunts out of a Bankes 17' in much the same way and fastens a bufflehead spinner to the boat. My boat is usually grassed up while his is not. If you find a narrow channel off of a point that they like to use you will at least get some passing shots.