Preseason 2022-2023

[DComeaux]

Heard tell of a big cold push next week.

[Darren]

Heard tell of a big cold push next week.

Yea think you're going to start seeing those typical Arkansas speck vids online next week with that.

[Ducaholic]

DC here at my place Tuesday 18th 48-68 Wed 40-67 Thurs 39-72 I like it. Just needs to be a regular occurrence at least every two weeks. It's dry to our north which is a good thing but as you know the yanks will have their pumps running and they have become real good at delaying things for us

[Darren]

DC here at my place Tuesday 18th 48-68 Wed 40-67 Thurs 39-72 I like it. Just needs to be a regular occurrence at least every two weeks. It's dry to our north which is a good thing but as you know the yanks will have their pumps running and they have become real good at delaying things for us

Note the November 2019 aerial survey comments in my recent post, seems perhaps some fairly clear evidence of that. Yea the weather was stout up there......but they didn't show up here just yet, checked up in ever-improving habitat in MO. Did see that Tony V was putting water on their stuff this week at HF. But at least most of their water up there this year will be pressured water, short on backwaters no one disturbs.


I think we saw last year, though, that dry ag land conditions around Bunkie at times seemed to make things tough on us. When they did find the slim acreage that was flooded and not pressured....they stuck to it even on nasty days we'd thought they'd move around on.

[Darren]

Speck visits MLB playoff game last night apparently

https://www.mlb.com/news/goose-lands-on ... lds-game-2

[Deltaman]

How odd was that? What ya reckon was wrong with him?

[DComeaux]

How odd was that? What ya reckon was wrong with him?

That was my thoughts. May of had some steel lodged in it's gizzard.

[Duck Engr]

It’s a shame they didn’t have a Labrador bat boy like some minor league teams do. Could’ve expedited the goose-removal process.

[Darren]

Report via text this morning from buddy that knows his birds said a significant migration is afoot out over Lake Pontchartrain, mix of divers, teal and "high big ducks" presumed to be grays & pins. (He's out dragging a shrimp net)

Said yesterday morning had similar action as well. Knowing that he knows what he's looking at, safe to call it the first confirmed grays of the season, and that's about right on time, perhaps slightly on early end.

Gueydan area contact I spoke with yesterday reports specks in numbers he thought to be more than usual for right now, and even a small body of snows on the ground by Klondike......Rick: that wishful thinking and actually a pile of egrets!??

[MARSH BEAR]

Darren, I am sure all the ducks sighted were headed for Shell Beach

[Darren]

Darren, I am sure all the ducks sighted were headed for Shell Beach

I like your optimism, MB, I had the same thought/hope. After all, our SAV is awfully strong right now. Still knockin' wood though.....

[Darren]

Looking back through my offseason/preseason notes, looks like today's migration sightings/grays is indeed on the early end of last good many years, with more recent years being more like the 22-28th of Oct or even later.

We're coming off a full moon and some decent fronts with a good one on tap in a few days, sure, but I think map below is also playing heavily into this.

This week's drought monitor update, quite colorful. Obviously would rather not see the PPR getting colorful (again) but we'll worry about that down the road and hope the winter and spring turns the tide up there.

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[Rick]

Specks were reportedly seen over Klondike and Thornwell yesterday. Maybe headed for Shell Beach...

[Darren]

Circling back on forecasts initially showing some punch late this week........models are largely moderating on them. It's going to cool off but no punch beyond what we've already had, as initially advertised. Early to mid- next week, though, is getting some traction with models and official forecasts. A model run is one thing, but the forecasts appear to be buying it as well.

Case in point, current forecast for next Wednesday Oct 19th here in Baton Rouge, LA, a forecast we don't even see for Thanksgiving or even Christmas at times, Xmas 2021 included.

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Models are bullish on this front next week, slipping forecasted lows even lower. Now showing upper 30's in Baton Rouge next week.

Monday morning

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Cannot recall such a low in that timeframe of the calendar, for sure in remotely recent memory. Forecast temp anomolies from average shown below and above, pink basically saying its going to be way colder than average, blue would be just a bit cooler than avg.

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[Darren]

No complaints here, going to be the real deal this week, pretty dang potent for this point on the calendar with some to see record lows. Forecast highs and lows 10 to 20 degrees below average for much of the country.

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And looking ahead to next week, some action looks to be on tap as another one blows down/through

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[Duck Engr]

Hope the weather man keeps em coming!

[Darren]

Will this weather event result in jam up hunting to start our season in a few weeks? No idea, but I sure doubt it hurts. Conceivably might blow out some flyway blue wings that otherwise may have stayed put.

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[MARSH BEAR]

I agree Darren, I think most of the bluewings will head south with this cold front. Nice to have some bluewings the first few weeks of the season.

[Ericdc]

I don't know why they'd leave if they don't leave in January...at least where I've hunted on the coast after similar arctic blasts.


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[Darren]

I don't know why they'd leave if they don't leave in January...at least where I've hunted on the coast after similar arctic blasts.
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For whatever reason, that area you hunt seems to hold more late season blue wings than the entire state because by most accounts they're nearly non-existent elsewhere in The Boot.

Your observations over the years in that area also reminds me of a buddy who hunts near me now but used to be a regular in Creole as a sort of camp hand but able to hunt plenty. He'd see blue wings piled up in small holes with no blinds and just have a ball with them via guerilla warfare into the late season, hiding in the bushes. None of the camp regulars wanted anything to do with them since no blind, so had them all to himself.


Heralded front is as-advertised, rippin up to 30 knots from the north overnight and this morning down at the SB camp.

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Water had been just a little on the high side but this blow should get it down.

[Ducaholic]

Another one in about two weeks would really spruce things up. This may be a bit early to assure a great opening day but it darn sure won't hurt as D stated.

[Deltaman]

Looks like Thursday would be a good day for someone new to a gulf coast tidal area, to study the channels in the shallow bays. That extreme low water visual leaves no doubt as to "exactly where" the channels are located. Also a great time to do some exploring for new fishing spots. That super low water exposes things not normally seen (logs, wrecks, pilings, etc...), and a lot of them can be a fish magnet if located along the edge of a channel.

[Darren]

Another one in about two weeks would really spruce things up. This may be a bit early to assure a great opening day but it darn sure won't hurt as D stated.

GFS still buying into a big one mid to late next week, how much punch is still TBD but the runs this morning put today's front to shame, very hard freeze in Dakotas and some highs in the 50s all the way down here. Will check back on it in couple days.

[Duck Engr]

Looks like Thursday would be a good day for someone new to a gulf coast tidal area, to study the channels in the shallow bays. That extreme low water visual leaves no doubt as to "exactly where" the channels are located. Also a great time to do some exploring for new fishing spots. That super low water exposes things not normally seen (logs, wrecks, pilings, etc...), and a lot of them can be a fish magnet if located along the edge of a channel.

Had a fella tell me that when I first moved to the coast. Best advice I ever got. I didn’t believe water could be “blown out of the bay.” Thought he was pulling my leg at first. He was not!

[Deltaman]

Yessir, and those in a blind left high and dry, are likely to remain that way, in hopes that the high tide 12 hours later actually comes in enough to float their boat

[Duck Engr]

Another one in about two weeks would really spruce things up. This may be a bit early to assure a great opening day but it darn sure won't hurt as D stated.

GFS still buying into a big one mid to late next week, how much punch is still TBD but the runs this morning put today's front to shame, very hard freeze in Dakotas and some highs in the 50s all the way down here. Will check back on it in couple days.

While we’re askin might as well request some rain with this one.

[Darren]

While we’re askin might as well request some rain with this one.

Looks promising, Tuesday morning next week
Plenty could use it for sure

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The chill following that front aren't looking quite as significant as a day or two ago but still looks fine for our purposes, freezing temps in Dakotas, etc.

[Darren]

Well that's noteworthy:

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[Deltaman]

Sure has been a nice change, and glad to see it continuing!
Wonder how Pork Chop is doing with the hard freeze up there, and hope it isn't season ending for him. Really been enjoying his posts, and love the duck videos!!!!

[Darren]

Sure has been a nice change, and glad to see it continuing!
Wonder how Pork Chop is doing with the hard freeze up there, and hope it isn't season ending for him. Really been enjoying his posts, and love the duck videos!!!!

Agreed, his have been welcome additions, especially the vid clips, really takes you to the hunt, perhaps will inspire me to up my game!