CAnderson
Well-known member
Thelma reached her next destination this past Thursday safe and sound. After spending some time with CraigF elsewhere in NJ she was carefully packaged and on her way a little further south. Originally the dates would work out great as I had a long weekend trip planned with some friends from Central PA and Mass coming down for a visit. Last minute this week I received a phone call that the second boat owner had a confirmed case of the flu and was out of the hunt. Unfortunately, that cancelled his plans and two others. That left my son, and a friend on LBI to hunt over Thelma. I called up my friend in LBI and checked in to see what his plans were. He took a drive out to check on the Bay (Barnegat Bay). He informed the Bay had 3-5’ers and looked angry. The next day he took a drive around to find most of the roads covered in ice and most of the Barnegat Bay frozen over. With a look at the forecasted weather, he told reminded me how much he hated the cold and was going to call it a season and head home. He closed up his shore house and drove back home to be with his wife and stay warm.
Now it was time to find another plan. Some others friends were planning some hunts just south of where I was going to be so we started making alternative plans for this weekend, next week, and the following weekend while Thelma was going to be available. Forum member Shawn Linn and his son Connor were up for a hunt today. We agreed to meet up at a ramp and see what we could see. We got the boats ready with morning temps around 14F with a good West wind blowing at a steady 15mph. We headed out into the marsh in search of open water, ducks and good fortune.
After some time we found a place to setup. We put out a spread of hand carved Blacks, Mallards, Pintails and Thelma. She was in good company with many birds carved by other local South Jersey guys and forum members. After a bit of time, Shawn’s son Connor, took the first bird for the day, a beautiful hen Black duck. After Shawn’s trusty lab made the retrieve, we were also surprised and thrilled to hear that Connor got his first band! And over Thelma nonetheless.
Shortly, after Shawn took the second bird for the day, a drake Hooded Merganser. Unfortunately, the Hoodie landed on a mud flat back against the bank. I sent my pup for the retrieve and could not get her on a line to make the retrieve. We agreed to leave the bird and make the retrieve after the tide came up enough to get to the other shore.
Things slowed up a bit and after watching several birds come through but not commit we decided to make a move. The tide had come up enough for us to move, but still not make it to the other side. We decided to find some shelter from the wind that was hitting us in the face. We picked up and moved to another creek opposite of where we were. Once we got set up and out of the wind we eventually had some birds moving again. We got a drake Mallard to commit to the spread and Shawn took the fancy French duck with a nice shot. Again, his trusty black lab, made a nice retrieve. Things seemed to die down again so we decided to make a hike out over the marsh in search of the Hoodie from earlier. We took both pups with us and walked out to the spot where he came down. Unfortunately after a good bit of searching we came up empty handed. Disappointed we headed back to the boat. We sat for a while until the tide shifted and we started losing water. With the thought of getting stuck out in the cold, we decided to pick up and try one more spot.
We hit the third and final spot of the day. We decided to set out a long line of Buffleheads along the mouth of a creek along with the mixed spread from earlier. It didn’t take long before birds were flying again.
Next up was my son, Tyler, he shot at Mallard which we all swore was a Black duck when it as coming in. It wasn’t until the bird was back in the boat that we realized it really was a Mallard. The head was very dark, but green. The belly was not the traditional lighter color, but a dark mottled color. Pleased to know that we still had three Black ducks available, we continued the hunt. Again, a couple of Black ducks committed to the spread and my Tyler took a nice size and well furnished drake. No band though.
At this point birds were really starting to fly. Blacks were coming in every 10-15 minutes in singles and pairs. Shawn took the next Black duck, putting us at 3 Blacks, 2 Mallards and a lost Hoodie. Somewhere in there Shawn took another Hooded Merganser. This time the bird landed in the grass on our side of the shore. After some good handling work with his retriever, the bird was recovered and brought back to the boat.
Now the pressure was on. Four guys were on this hunt, and I was the only one sitting there without a duck. Finally, it was my turn. A single drake committed to the spread and he was taken down. Unfortunately he didn’t come down cleanly. He was stunned when he hit the water and drifted across the main channel and hung up on the opposite shore. My son and I picked up the anchors and motored across the channel. When we got close enough, I let my pup out for the retrieve. The bird saw her coming and tried to make a run for it. She was on him quick. She made a nice retrieve and was back in the boat.
With everyone taking a Black duck, we had a four man limit of Blacks with one wearing a nice piece of silver. What a great day. A little cold, but a great time enjoying time in the marsh with friends. We sat in the boats chatting it up and laughing for a bit as we watched a number of birds flying with several more Blacks committing to the spread and landing in.
At one point we thought we might have to give Thelma some back up. A flock of small shore birds landed on a sandbar opposite of us. We joked that Thelma was going to get mugged by those little guys. We decided to call it a day with smiles on everyone’s face. It was time to head for something hot to drink and warm to eat.
I would say that was a pretty good first day for Thelma deep in South NJ.
Chad A
Now it was time to find another plan. Some others friends were planning some hunts just south of where I was going to be so we started making alternative plans for this weekend, next week, and the following weekend while Thelma was going to be available. Forum member Shawn Linn and his son Connor were up for a hunt today. We agreed to meet up at a ramp and see what we could see. We got the boats ready with morning temps around 14F with a good West wind blowing at a steady 15mph. We headed out into the marsh in search of open water, ducks and good fortune.
After some time we found a place to setup. We put out a spread of hand carved Blacks, Mallards, Pintails and Thelma. She was in good company with many birds carved by other local South Jersey guys and forum members. After a bit of time, Shawn’s son Connor, took the first bird for the day, a beautiful hen Black duck. After Shawn’s trusty lab made the retrieve, we were also surprised and thrilled to hear that Connor got his first band! And over Thelma nonetheless.
Shortly, after Shawn took the second bird for the day, a drake Hooded Merganser. Unfortunately, the Hoodie landed on a mud flat back against the bank. I sent my pup for the retrieve and could not get her on a line to make the retrieve. We agreed to leave the bird and make the retrieve after the tide came up enough to get to the other shore.
Things slowed up a bit and after watching several birds come through but not commit we decided to make a move. The tide had come up enough for us to move, but still not make it to the other side. We decided to find some shelter from the wind that was hitting us in the face. We picked up and moved to another creek opposite of where we were. Once we got set up and out of the wind we eventually had some birds moving again. We got a drake Mallard to commit to the spread and Shawn took the fancy French duck with a nice shot. Again, his trusty black lab, made a nice retrieve. Things seemed to die down again so we decided to make a hike out over the marsh in search of the Hoodie from earlier. We took both pups with us and walked out to the spot where he came down. Unfortunately after a good bit of searching we came up empty handed. Disappointed we headed back to the boat. We sat for a while until the tide shifted and we started losing water. With the thought of getting stuck out in the cold, we decided to pick up and try one more spot.
We hit the third and final spot of the day. We decided to set out a long line of Buffleheads along the mouth of a creek along with the mixed spread from earlier. It didn’t take long before birds were flying again.
Next up was my son, Tyler, he shot at Mallard which we all swore was a Black duck when it as coming in. It wasn’t until the bird was back in the boat that we realized it really was a Mallard. The head was very dark, but green. The belly was not the traditional lighter color, but a dark mottled color. Pleased to know that we still had three Black ducks available, we continued the hunt. Again, a couple of Black ducks committed to the spread and my Tyler took a nice size and well furnished drake. No band though.
At this point birds were really starting to fly. Blacks were coming in every 10-15 minutes in singles and pairs. Shawn took the next Black duck, putting us at 3 Blacks, 2 Mallards and a lost Hoodie. Somewhere in there Shawn took another Hooded Merganser. This time the bird landed in the grass on our side of the shore. After some good handling work with his retriever, the bird was recovered and brought back to the boat.
Now the pressure was on. Four guys were on this hunt, and I was the only one sitting there without a duck. Finally, it was my turn. A single drake committed to the spread and he was taken down. Unfortunately he didn’t come down cleanly. He was stunned when he hit the water and drifted across the main channel and hung up on the opposite shore. My son and I picked up the anchors and motored across the channel. When we got close enough, I let my pup out for the retrieve. The bird saw her coming and tried to make a run for it. She was on him quick. She made a nice retrieve and was back in the boat.
With everyone taking a Black duck, we had a four man limit of Blacks with one wearing a nice piece of silver. What a great day. A little cold, but a great time enjoying time in the marsh with friends. We sat in the boats chatting it up and laughing for a bit as we watched a number of birds flying with several more Blacks committing to the spread and landing in.
At one point we thought we might have to give Thelma some back up. A flock of small shore birds landed on a sandbar opposite of us. We joked that Thelma was going to get mugged by those little guys. We decided to call it a day with smiles on everyone’s face. It was time to head for something hot to drink and warm to eat.
I would say that was a pretty good first day for Thelma deep in South NJ.
Chad A
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