? about river hunting experiences and techniques....

[millineum mallard]

Guys...I have hunted on smaller rivers off of the MS. but never off the river itself....what are the pro's and cons of hunting off of it? Let's list some stories of past trips and what has been seen by ya'll that hunt it regularly throughout the years....I know that I have heard that it is jam up at different times of the year and at different levels, but what have ya'll experienced? I found a new hole to me that "looked" like it would be a duck magnet...only ducks I've seen work all year piled in on this "oxbow" and I'm wondering if it would be worth the effort to try to get into it....
Thanks, I'm not asking for locations...just experiences...

[Caller1]

Better go with someone who knows something, otherwise u can REALLY wind up D.O.A

[Anatidae]

St. John the Barq's? Can it really be the Millineum Mallard?

Welcome back, fella!!

I've never hunted the big ditch, myself. But I'm sure someone will help a brutha out, here. How 'bout it, Capn'T'?

Good to hear from you again, MM.

[Unlucky Ducky]

Second time I river hunted I was with a friend and the river we were on was out of the banks and rushing pretty good. We had hunted there a few weeks earlier and had tied off on the bank, walked thru the woods into the slough/marsh and hunted, this time it was different. The water was too deep to walk to and hunt out of their blind so we were going to have to hunt out of the boat. The only way to get to the slough was to go through the trees. When we got to the point where tied off the previous hunt my buddy said hang on here we go. We busted through the trees, banging limbs, hitting trees, I was in the bottom of the boat, popping my head up on occasion, while one buddy drove and the other sat up front with the light. What a rush!!!!!!! They told me if we got hung-up in the trees and the current started to pull the boat under on one side that we all needed to shift our weight to the other side to keep from sinking. I didn't mention this earlier, but the fog that morning was as thick as pea soup, you could hardly see 5 ft in front of you. We made it and had a good hunt. The guys I was with had over 20 years of experience doing this. They discussed the plan, we all talked and prepared for the worse, and all had on life jackets.

I know I wouldn't attempt to do what they did on my own, experience is invaluable. As many times as they had done this over the years they still went over every detail to make sure everyone was on the same page and safe.

[millineum mallard]

Yes...it's the Barq Man himself....I have been here, just keepin' my keys off of the keyboard. Last year was real bad....got divorced after 10.5 yrs of marriage, sold the house, my SBE, my boat, gave the dogs away, and have been living with my best friend and his wife ever since. I'm building a house now and about to get engaged tomorrow....Duck hunting has been so bad the last two years that I haven't much desire to even go. I became a fireman with Gulfport back in February and have been recovering since. I found a place off of the river that looks like a gem and just wanted some input, as that we will have to travel the river about 3-5 miles to get to this spot.
Merry Christmas,
St.John

[chance]

Watch out for current, barges and large floating debris. Have even seen the time I had to watch for floating ice in river. Learn the color code of channel markers. I would not tie off to a tree and walk in to a spot to hunt. Some land owner may take offense and call the game warden or sherrif on you.