River Deke Setup?

[Schemy]

Here in CO where I live we have some real shallow rivers (Arkansas flows right through town) and I was just curious how y'all would set up a string of dekes for this situation.

[Don Miller]

Barring a freeze up, "river hunting"....setting decoys out in the river channel, is not very common in the delta. Most of the puddle ducks use non flowing water.

[Schemy]

I didn't think about that at all. I will have to come up with some better more universal to all duck hunters type questions. See the river is mainly where most of the duck hunting is done around here, because all the lakes have firing lines so you can't hunt on the water.

[MRDUCKS2]

I river hunt about 90% of our season. I have found that setting the decoys up in pockets out of the main current of the river or if you have a place where you have a old river run or creek entrance where the current is slow these are good places. I put out two dozen decoys and leave a pocket between me and the decoys. Main thing stay out of the swift current. The pocket I hunt I put three decoy spreaders on the edge of the stronger current for more movement. I have had teal land in the middle of the spreaders. You will need to set up and see how they want to work your spread and make a few adjustments if needed. Hope this helps!

[Denduke]

Hey yous guys, thought Lamar CO meant Lamar county, south Mi'sipi....This place gonna be nationwide yet!

There are some fellars around here that hunt Big Muddy with dekes that have Danforth anchors and 60'-100' lines. Kinda a big ribba, huh. Better not get caught on it in just a dingy....

[eastwoods]

shallow rivers we use line and anchors big enough to not drift depending on current. Deep rivers we use a trot line like thing and one big anchor. It's amazing to me how ol'timers can set these long lines of dekes from a motor boat without ever tangling anything and in such quick fashion. Usually they make a V. Dogs learn fast.

[big gumbo]

If your hunting the Miss slack water pockets behind rock dikes can be good during cold weather and bend ins in the river where shallow sand bars can streach out a long ways. I would use EXTERME CAUTION river hunting, I believe thats where most die in Accidents. The Ark Rive here in ARk can bbe down right good during freeze up. Any small sloughs, and tribtaries are great locations also. Expect groups that are spread out over time , We seem to work a group every 30 to 40 minutes or so on the Ark.

[teul2]

I have hunted smaller rivers (like the big black and sunflower) in the main channel. I like to get on a bend and get on the slow side in the shallows. Preferably up against some button willows with water in them. The mallats and woodies like rest in these little hidie holes mid-day.

I usually only use about 1/2 dozen deeks close (no more than 15 yards) to the trees.

[DuckyDan]

From what I've gathered from busting woodies and the occasional mallard on small creeks and rivers around NE MS as a kid was to put decoys in the bends of the river, slightly out of the current. If you ever notice ducks on a swift river, they like to sit out on the side of the channel so they can hang out without being swept away. I'd leave myself some room for the ducks to come in like they said too. I've never hunted in Colorado or anywhere in the mountains for that matter, but I was in Gatlinburg, TN a couple years back in the middle of Jan and noticed a whole boat load of ducks were on that river going through the town. It was very shallow and swift. I don't know if they were tamies or just ducks that found a good spot with lots of food for the winter, but they were all over the place. My cousin and I bought a loaf of bread and sat on a rock on the edge of the river and fed them. They were high balling, chuckling, waddling, and flying all around us. We made some friends that day. I enjoyed that almost as much if not more than hunting. I liked seeing the hens break it down in little five note series for us!

Anyway, back to what I was talking about, if you have rocky banks, it may not hurt to get a "standing" decoy like you'd use on dry land and put it up around you on the bank somewhere in sight. I'd make sure I had a heavy enough weight and maybe even a water keel decoy...or not....I don't know. I'd have me some good decoy gloves up there if I were you though! I'm sure that water be cold maine!

Just an idea. If that doesn't work, go buy some Wonder Bread.

[big gumbo]

Yes Ducky Dan is right, get a box of Flambeau Enticers for sand bars, a couple of shellfs to, If your walking to the spot that may be a bit much but it does really help we always try to find a tree thats been washed out to use as cover, two little metal rods stuck in the sand in front with a camo net across them