Who hunts open water with a big boat?

P

Paul W

Well-known member
I am interested in doing this in my big water boat this year, especially when I won't have a hunting partner with to run the layout boat that is yet to be constructed.

Do you run short hard side blinds? How do you recommend doing it/ any tips of the trade.

(EDIT: Edited title for clarity of the question. )

Thanks in advance,


Paul
 
Last edited:
What type area do you plan on hunting? Big open water, marshes or river/creek.

I hunt about 50% of the time by myself. When I hunt by myself I use my 16ft aluminum vee bottom. I have a scissor blind for it that is held on with four bolts. I can put in on and take it easily with one other person. I do pretty well it just kind of sucks sometimes retrieving decoys by yourself when your done.
 
I do not hunt from the tender when layout hunting. The focus needs to be on the layout. I do use the tender as a sled to get me to my hunting spots.. On the Mississippi, the Honker sticks out to much. I have tried hunting out of it, but have better success hiding it and hunting from the bank. Now, if I had a lake that I could open water hunt... I would use it and a low to medium blind.
 
We don't hunt from the tender. Like Phil said, the focus needs to be on the hunter in the layout boat. The tender is there for the layout hunters safety. We do on occasion fish for perch or jig for walleys while in the tender...

Safety always comes first especially during the late season when the water is super cold and the snow is flying. In my opinion too much can go wrong if you try to hunt from the tender, especially if you are new to big water and layout hunting.
 
I do not hunt from the tender when layout hunting. The focus needs to be on the layout. I do use the tender as a sled to get me to my hunting spots.. On the Mississippi, the Honker sticks out to much. I have tried hunting out of it, but have better success hiding it and hunting from the bank. Now, if I had a lake that I could open water hunt... I would use it and a low to medium blind.
Click to expand...


We would be hunting from the big boat, no layout boat involved. Only when I had a "trained" group of three would I use the layout, and in that scenario nobody would be hunting from the tender rig . We would be hunting open water from the big boat. (mille lacs)
 
Last edited:
What type area do you plan on hunting? Big open water, marshes or river/creek.

I hunt about 50% of the time by myself. When I hunt by myself I use my 16ft aluminum vee bottom. I have a scissor blind for it that is held on with four bolts. I can put in on and take it easily with one other person. I do pretty well it just kind of sucks sometimes retrieving decoys by yourself when your done.
Click to expand...

I hunt 90% of the time by myself.

This will be on mille lacs. Big open water.
 
I assume you real question is; will hunting from the tender work? If that is your question... The answer is yes. Some will work better than others. As far as high or low blinds. I would say the lower the better, if for no other reason, it will be less of a sail for the wind.
 
The impression I've gotten, especially from people who hunt Green Bay, WI, is that open water blinds are a lot like shore blinds. Lower profile and better camo works better than the other end of the spectrum, but both work.

Ducks will get wiser to a big boat blind faster than they will to a layout boat, but good hunting can be had. So many variables exist - what's the weather like? How stale are the birds? How much pressure are the ducks getting form guys using the same tactic? I wouldn't expect a steady diet of 20 yard - feet down shots.

The general idea is to put the decoys on the "sea-side" of the boat so the shoreline can somewhat break up the outline of the boat blind.
 
The impression I've gotten, especially from people who hunt Green Bay, WI, is that open water blinds are a lot like shore blinds. Lower profile and better camo works better than the other end of the spectrum, but both work.

Ducks will get wiser to a big boat blind faster than they will to a layout boat, but good hunting can be had. So many variables exist - what's the weather like? How stale are the birds? How much pressure are the ducks getting form guys using the same tactic? I wouldn't expect a steady diet of 20 yard - feet down shots.

The general idea is to put the decoys on the "sea-side" of the boat so the shoreline can somewhat break up the outline of the boat blind.
Click to expand...


I was planning on painting the appropriate shade/pattern of grey and "waves" to match the waters I'll be hunting. planning on maybe a 12" blind to hide some level of movement. The long passing shots are what I'm planning on.

Does anybody have pictures of open water rigs they use?
 
Used to hunt divers from an 18' v-bottom aluminum boat with a hard-sided blind. Boat and blind painted gray camo. The key was not to place the boat dead upwind of the rig. Anchor on the upwind end of the decoys, but off to the side so that the birds are decoying across in front of you and not looking at the 18' mass directly in front of them.
 
Is open water hunting allowed on Mille Laqs? I believe, but don't know for sure that it used to not be allowed.

If you are interested in Lake Pepin I can show you a couple of spots where the birds raft.

Mark W
 
I've hunted many times out of a big boat/open water. A trick I learned that works fairly well- think "crossing shots". Put the decoys out with the wind at your side so when the come into the decoys, you're off to the side, not directly in front. I'm convinced it makes a difference.


Jon
 
I run a hard sided blind, aluminum frame and panels. Boat is 18' Bailey Bridge Boat.


That's an interesting pattern, and about exactly what I'd do.

Thank you for the picture! Any of the inside? I am going to try and work decoy storage into the removable blind.
Click to expand...
 
Is open water hunting allowed on Mille Laqs? I believe, but don't know for sure that it used to not be allowed.

If you are interested in Lake Pepin I can show you a couple of spots where the birds raft.

Mark W
Click to expand...

yes, it is legal.


(PM SENT)
 
I've hunted many times out of a big boat/open water. A trick I learned that works fairly well- think "crossing shots". Put the decoys out with the wind at your side so when the come into the decoys, you're off to the side, not directly in front. I'm convinced it makes a difference.


Jon
Click to expand...

I hunt weed patches on waters that are not open to "open water" gunning, and always do this. birds are much more likely to finish all the way when hunting a cross wind in my opinion.


Thanks for the tip!
 
Paul, I have 12" shelves running the full length of the blind inside. Mostly for "stuff", shell boxes, coffee, etc. I keep all my decoys, which stay attached to my loneliness, in "Bags by Diane". I prefer it that way, I can move them around as needed and also they are right at feet when it comes time to deploy and pick up, especially if alone, that way you're not moving up and down the boat trying to put decoys on a shelf. Just my preference.







 
Thanks troy, that sounds like a great plan.

Don't think I can swing any bags for a few years yet, probably going to go the ryobi leaf bag route for now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top