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I LOVE days like this!!!

eyepatrol

By eyepatrol
in MN Duck Hunting - Geese - Waterfowl-Sandhill Cranes

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

Posted
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Well my instinct was right in that this weather has some birds moving. When I left work for lunch I stopped and took a look over the lake I hunt and sure enough there was a flock of 30 or so mallards flying around, so I just HAD to get out there. I was set up by 12:30pm and within 2 minutes of getting the boat hidden I had a flock of about 25 mallards come right in. Picked out two drakes and got them both. A few minutes later a flock of 15 or so mallards comes by, a drake breaks off and I got him. Then a flock of 5 pintail come by and I took the closest drake.

Great day to be out there. Saw a decent number of high flocks headed south, way up in the stratosphere where the commercial airliners fly. tongue.gif

I'll be the first to admit that I'm by no means a good photographer, but I did try and take a few pics.

Today's limit.

pa310502gy7.jpg

Mixed flock of widgeons and pintails

pa310497zl6.jpg

A few mallards that wanted to check things out.

pa310499kz1.jpg

And a small flock of ringbills that decided to land yet keep their distance from the goose decoys after I picked up the duck decoys.

pa310500oe3.jpg

By the way, if you look hard, way in the backround just off the point in the backround there is a iittle bit of white on the water....about 10 swans.

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Jeremiah Johnson Collaborator

Jeremiah Johnson

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good shooting! and nice pics! I managed to get out with my buddy also this morning and got 3 redheads(hen, 2mature drakes) hooded mergi, 2 ringnecks, and hen canvasback. I was limited to shooting til 8am because of class frown.gif no mallards though!

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Guest

Guest

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That it!

I am hunting in the morning!

Those pintails sure are a cool looking bird. I got a nice drake yesterday not too far away from the area your hunting.

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Gordie Grand Master

Gordie

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Great pics and what a hunt . I have to go in the morning

Quack Quack BANG BANG> can't wait till morning.

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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The interesting thing about today's hunt was my neighbor was out in the morning in the same spot I was, he hunted until 11:00a.m., saw some ducks, but couldn't get much of anything to decoy. I get out there 1.5hrs later and it's a turkey shoot.

This is just an observation of mine, and mostly my own opinion, but on days like today when it's semi-cold, the wind is blowing and the skies are mostly blue, the mallards seem to head off the lakes early to go out to feed, then will head south and by 11:00 or later, get to a point where they need to come down to rest. Over my years of hunting waterfowl, it seems the better mallard shooting is later in the morning, at least on the lake I hunt. This is just what it appears to me, and I certainly could be very wrong, but I've had some awefully good shoots by sticking it out until 1:00pm or so while others head in at 9:00 or 10:00 to go pheasant hunting, catch the Gophers or Vikes, or whatever they're doing.

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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That's the prettiest drake pintail I think I've ever shot. Of the 5 that came in, it was easy to see that 4 were drakes and one hen. In my second picture of the mixed flocks flying over head, the bigger flock was all pintails and I could see quite a few drakes in there. I don't recall a year where I've seen this many pintails before. A pleasant site to see. smile.gif

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doser Community Regular

doser

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Awsome shoot and pics Eric. I am now and itching to go especially when I'm sitting at work and that lake is only about 2 1/2 blocks away from my desk.

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hanson Grand Master

hanson

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Nice Job! Great pics!

I'm drooling over that little flock of divers! Fun to shoot and good to eat! Mmmmm! Lots of nice drakes in that group.

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ChuckN Veteran

ChuckN

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Nice! That pintail is sweet! That's one duck I can't get. I've shot at them but they must have feather armor on whenever I get a decent shot. mad.gif

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waterfowlerjm Apprentice

waterfowlerjm

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hey basscatcher, I am a student at MSU mankato. I've been itching to shoot a nice greenhead (haven't got one in 2 years). Can you share some info on what lake you hunt? Awesome pics!

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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Lake Titloe...funny name huh? smirk.gif It got that name for a reason....because that's about how deep it is. tongue.gif It's only about 5' - 5.5' deep at it's deepest, and that's when water levels are normal. Mostly just a mud bottom lake, poor water quality with carp and bullheads.

Because it's a shallow lake, it tends to ice over early on when it gets cold out. Case-in-point....1/3 of the lake is covered with ice today.

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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There were 6 ringies in that flock....5 of which were drakes. They sure are a pretty bird when the sun hits them just right.

What am I saying??? Pretty much every duck is pretty, except I sure wish I could get a bw teal when they have their color, but that ain't gonna happen. smirk.gif

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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Doser....we're gonna have a bit of a "crew" out there tomorrow morning. Keep an ear out...maybe you'll hear us light some up! smirk.gif I know, that's a mean thing to say, especially if you're stuck at work. wink.gif

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hanson Grand Master

hanson

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Quote:

Lake Titloe...funny name huh?
smirk.gif
It got that name for a reason....because that's about how deep it is.
tongue.gif

Good stuff! Is it a coincidence the swamp I hunt is called Lake Shrinkage. tongue.gif Only a couple feet deep. smile.gif

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Ray Esboldt Mentor

Ray Esboldt

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Quote:

Is it a coincidence the swamp I hunt is called Lake Shrinkage.

If you fell in right now, I think you would know why it is called that. grin.gif

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      water levels

      By jparrucci · Posted

      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      water levels

      By mbeyer · Posted

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      By mbeyer · Posted

      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
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      Ice-Out 2024

      By Brianf. · Posted

      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
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      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
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      Ice-Out 2024

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    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Sturgeon Fishing is Hot

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
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      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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