i have a question. Where is the line that separates the east and west. And more specifically, what area does the Atchafalaya and Wax Deltas fall in?

Was fishing down in Dularge yesterday and saw a flock of around 40. Didn't hear any shots so don't know if anyone was hunting in the area.

I've been out 50 miles out of Venice, La. several times in a 22 ft. Champion bay boat. Had problems only one time but made it back. Problem is nobody wants to tow anyone from that far out! We had the cover off of our motor and working on what seemed to be a fuel issue. When we started working on the motor there were around 5 other boats around us. After a while I looked up and everyone was gone! Guess everyone around said to themselves, if you're stupid enough to go out 50 mi. in the gulf with one motor, you deserve to stay there! You just have to be aware of the weather just as another poster mentioned. If you can't get out of the storms that pop up, you better know what you're doing or that can be your last trip. We've been in some nasty seas out there, 3 and 4 ft. seas a couple times. That Champion bay boat can handle some rough stuff. I wouldn't trust an Express in those conditions. You can take calculated risks, but are fish really worth risking a life for? Another thing, if you don't have all the necessary emergency equipment like a radio to communicate to the rigs if something happens, you're better off not taking a chance. Cause sooner or later something will happen and you better be able to handle it! Remember that boat is your life when you're out there! Something happens to it , just one mistake and that's it, you and everyone with you can be, well you know dead, gone, no other chance to fix the mistake! IT CAN GET VERY SERIOUS VERY FAST OUT THERE! Do not take those trips out there lightly!

Water level gauge in Belle River showing 2.69'. Record level is 3.3' So we're about 6 inches from the highest level recorded at that site. I have property on La. 70 in Pierre Part and the water is very high. Don't know what you're fishing for, but when water is this high the fish are usually in the woods feeding!

Try these folks in Gonzales, La.

Frederic Upholstery
43469 Cannon Rd, Gonzales, LA 70737

(225) 644-3535

Catfish is red hot right now! Night crawlers 18 inches under cork. Don't be shy about loading up the hook with the worms!

Yes!

Good job with the Lab! Enjoyed watching how you were able to control her. That retrieve probably gave her a lot of confidence! Nothing like spending a day with good buddies in a duck blind!

I was also told that the possession limit also applied to the home. Wonder how many of us are in violation?
Bet you know a bunch of folks!

Friend of mine told me last night that the sac-alait were starting to bite in the Spillway now that the water was down.

I believe those pillow traps were designed to be fished with the two open flutes down touching the ground with the flutes facing with the current. The traps are usually tied to the tree on a nail with string which is long enough to allow you to dump the trap without interfering. They normally are leaned up against a tree at a 30 to 45 deg. angle but that is not absolutely necessary. It is much more important to have the point of the trap between the flutes touching the ground. You may need to clean the bottom of the swamp to make sure there are no branches or debris, this is important. If you are fishing in 6-10 ft. of water, it better have good oxygen and or current because if the crayfish can't come up for oxygen in oxygen deficient water they will die. There's nothing more disheartening than to dump a trap full of dead crayfish.

I hunted the Wax this year for the first time. The equipment (boat/motor, boat blind, gps etc.)you have will determine where you will be able to hunt or be comfortable hunting. I had never hunted an area that was tidal. You have to be aware of the tide at all times so that you don't get stuck hi and dry. Also you should have a gps. The fog is brutal out there some times and does not lift all day long,and you may need help navigating with a gps. Best thing to do is get out there and figure it out. Any advice you may get from someone else may not apply to your set up or the way you like to hunt. At the wax you can hunt in ponds or out in the bay. I hunted both. I probably hunted 14 days of the second split this year out there and only managed to see a small fraction of the area. I will go scout some new areas next week or so. Just be careful lots of sand bars out in the bay. Also if you don't mark the channel going out into the bay from inland, the channel is not very easy to identify from out in the bay, that's why you should have a gps and extra batteries.

Again I have very little experience in this area, so I'm sure there are a bunch more to help be successful.

Just curious, why would you drive from Golden Meadow and pass many good to excellent hunting areas to hunt the Wax?

It all boils down to respect for another human being.
If you think it's ok to use or abuse something that someone else worked hard for without respect for that individual regardless if you know him or not, shame on you! For these individuals that hold this attitude I would like to remind you of a law that applies regardless of whether you believe it or not, YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW! And if you use someones blind for whatever reason leave it as good or better than you took it, and God help you if you refuse to move if the owner asks or comes to use HIS blind. The blind may be on public land but it is the blood and sweat of a man and his family or friends that put that thing together and like one poster said, you may end up missing or taught a lesson on respect which you need to be taught.

For those individuals like Fishingbud that passes down the teachings of those before us like how to hunt which includes building a good blind after scouting, calling, and when to shoot. God bless you! Many of the problems we experience in hunting situations is because people have not been taught how to hunt and to respect others.

Looks like from reading these comments on this posts that most are good ethical hunters. But some need to think about how what they do affects others.

Hope everyone enjoys a safe and plentiful duck hunting season. And I will see you on the Wax!

Wax ok, hunted there yesterday and today, birds are flying around some. Have to be patient.

castandblasts2121 looks like your hunting in the bay, how far out are you going? The only place we saw decent activity was out in the bays last few times we went. I'm trying to get set up to hunt out in the bay but for now I am limited to the ponds just at the edge of the bay with a pirouge or small flat bottom boat.

Nothing like watching your dog work for you. Duck hunting is just not the same without a good retriever.

I have a 8 yr. old chocolate female approx. 70 lbs. She has never done any doubles but will dive for a duck if it goes under close to her. She's 2 runs short of having a finished title in UKC field trials.

Amen Brother and a Merry Christmas too you too!

I can't recall ever cleaning a gizzard that didn't have at least 1 steel shot in it. I think it depends what the ducks are eating. If they are eating in thick aquatic grass, the steel shot lays in the grass and the ducks thinks the shots are seeds and eats them.

dmbbowhunt, you hunting the bays or inland ponds?

Just started hunting (for the first time)the wax this weekend. Scouted Sat. and saw lots of ducks. Went back Mon. and saw a few flying around, mostly spoonies. Heard quite a bit of shooting, mostly in the bay. Went back today and had only a few birds flying around, heard a little shooting activity mostly in the bays but very slow.