Preseason 2023

[Darren]

Come take a ride east, DC. I'm feeling for yall for sure.

[DComeaux]

Them: "You need to be more positive."
Me: "OK, I'm positive we're screwed."

I wasn't raised here, but have lived here long enough to find myself quite uncomfortable wishing for what opening day water would probably take. Which isn't to say I haven't been...

We're probably screwed and I've already come to grips with sitting out another duck season. You've just extinguished my barely flickering light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks buddy...

I saw you mentioned in Eric's post about a Mermentau control gate for that marsh. We had a similar project proposed for our area with the inflow gates entering the property very near our boat launch. It was to use an existing canal that is currently plugged at the Mermentau end. This canal extends to the south for approximately 2 miles and ends just a few hundred feet north of 82 just north of our boat launch. They were to bore large pipe from the end of the canal under hwy 82 into our marsh The salinity level in the Mermentau was to be monitored and if it was too high they would not open the gates. The land owners shot it down as they were concerned with flooding. This is an existing canal which would have a control gate at the Mermentau river rather than a dirt levee, so I don't quite understand the thinking behind this argument.

The salinity level would no doubt be the issue today for us and the gates wouldn't be opened. This may also be an issue currently for any marsh along the Mermentau down there, depending on the land owner and if they would allow salt water into their marsh.

[DComeaux]

Watching the news over the weekend, thought I saw some rain bands passing thru your area with this front, and breathed a sigh of relief for you, but seeing your posts, apparently not or they were not heavy. Time for some rain dancing on the levee's!!!!
I did not hunt this opening weekend, but did take momma over to our causeway early yesterday to beat the heat, and try to catch a few crabs for the pot. Was chilly running up the river at sunrise, and definitely not unwelcome
Boxed a little over 3 dz nice blue crabs, using a couple of old school hand crab lines, baited with chicken quarters Headed home around 10:00, before it got too hot.
Heard a little shooting early, but not a lot of it, and only saw 1 teal in the air all morning.

It sure does feel good in the mornings. Blake and I plan to be back down there this weekend with a boat, so we'll wrangle a few crabs, shrimp, and reds. I doubt that we'll hear any shooting.

[DComeaux]

Come take a ride east, DC. I'm feeling for yall for sure.

I may take you up on that offer. I haven't taken any of my hunting stuff to the camp as of yet.

Hopefully we'll get enough rain in the near future to put sheet water in our pond and the ditches will have enough for travel. If not, I'm okay with sitting out teal season. I'll fill my freezer with shrimp.

[Rick]

The salinity level would no doubt be the issue today for us and the gates wouldn't be opened. This may also be an issue currently for any marsh along the Mermentau down there, depending on the land owner and if they would allow salt water into their marsh.

Miami apparently decided to heck with the salt. Could actually be a good thing when you consider how Walter's millet appears throughout storm surge flooded marsh down there.

[DComeaux]

The salinity level would no doubt be the issue today for us and the gates wouldn't be opened. This may also be an issue currently for any marsh along the Mermentau down there, depending on the land owner and if they would allow salt water into their marsh.

Miami apparently decided to heck with the salt. Could actually be a good thing when you consider how Walter's millet appears throughout storm surge flooded marsh down there.

I've heard tell of sharks are being caught in the "fresh" marsh bayous north of Rockefeller.

[SpinnerMan]

A shark was actually caught in Illinois before all the locks and dams were put on the Mississippi.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/sharks-in-illinois/154988

According to the Illinois Department of Conservation, two commercial fishermen from Alton, Herbert Cope and Dudge Collins, caught a bull shark in 1937.

The journey from New Orleans to Alton is about 1,750 miles.

[DComeaux]

A shark was actually caught in Illinois before all the locks and dams were put on the Mississippi.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/sharks-in-illinois/154988

According to the Illinois Department of Conservation, two commercial fishermen from Alton, Herbert Cope and Dudge Collins, caught a bull shark in 1937.

The journey from New Orleans to Alton is about 1,750 miles.

They head up that river good distances every year, especially those years with low water.

[SpinnerMan]

A shark was actually caught in Illinois before all the locks and dams were put on the Mississippi.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/sharks-in-illinois/154988

According to the Illinois Department of Conservation, two commercial fishermen from Alton, Herbert Cope and Dudge Collins, caught a bull shark in 1937.

The journey from New Orleans to Alton is about 1,750 miles.

They head up that river good distances every year, especially those years with low water.

Not growing up near the ocean, it surprised me how many saltwater fish head into fresh water. The big springs in Florida in the winter are just packed with saltwater fish, especially snook and jacks, but there are a variety of saltwater species. Have never seen a shark in freshwater though.

[DComeaux]

The salinity level would no doubt be the issue today for us and the gates wouldn't be opened. This may also be an issue currently for any marsh along the Mermentau down there, depending on the land owner and if they would allow salt water into their marsh.

Miami apparently decided to heck with the salt. Could actually be a good thing when you consider how Walter's millet appears throughout storm surge flooded marsh down there.

I've heard tell of sharks are being caught in the "fresh" marsh bayous north of Rockefeller.

I wanted to add that IMO if a marsh is predominantly fresh or brackish as normal I see what you mention may be beneficial. These marshes will get flushed at some point in the near future with fresh water. Our marsh's water feed from the south is sea water with no chance of a flush of fresh water from the north. We will be dependent on rainfall going forward. I was told that they will not open the gates to dump saltwater in this marsh. Which is a good thing,unless we have a yearly drought such as this one. I'm looking forward to seeing the transformation.
The marsh degradation down there started many years ago by allowing salt water intrusion to continue. An older gentleman I hunted with down there in the early 80's, who is no longer with us, talked of this happening back then and did what he could (bandaid) to slow this mess in the local marsh he hunted. There are many oilfield canals that were once dammed to the south that are now wide open to sea water, and some of those extend all the way up to hwy 82.

[BGkirk]

The salinity level would no doubt be the issue today for us and the gates wouldn't be opened. This may also be an issue currently for any marsh along the Mermentau down there, depending on the land owner and if they would allow salt water into their marsh.

Miami apparently decided to heck with the salt. Could actually be a good thing when you consider how Walter's millet appears throughout storm surge flooded marsh down there.

You know the first time I’ve seen water let in from Mermentau was in 16 or 17. And I’m guessing they were trying to fight off the salvinia.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DComeaux]

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[Rick]

Hate to see that.

[DComeaux]

Hate to see that.

Me too.

[DComeaux]

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[Rick]

No surprises there. Dammit.

[DComeaux]

I don't have any teal hunts to share but the marsh provides. This over rice sooths the soul.

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Bubbling cauldron

[Deltaman]

Pretty nice substitute there Dave!!!!!!

[Rick]

I don't have any teal hunts to share but the marsh provides. This over rice sooths the soul.

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Bubbling cauldron

Can almost smell it. (Probably helps that Chereaux just reheated some crab stew one of her girls dropped off.)

[DComeaux]

Randall was down at his camp yesterday and sent me this picture from our boat launch. We may have enough water to hunt if we get another rain event, or two. We're way behind on prep work. It'll be a busy begining to November for us.

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[5 stand]

Busy November sounds like a good problem to me...

[Rick]

We may have enough water to hunt if we get another rain event, or two.

Fingers and toes crossed for you.

[Darren]

Wow looking whole lot better for sure!

[DComeaux]

Neat stuff

"This picture was taken at the old Standard Oil and Gas (Stanolin) hunting club on White Lake in the 1940’s. This later became the Amoco properties and then BP. It’s the same property that was donated to the State of Louisiana. None of the people are identified".

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[5 stand]

That is pretty cool...
My grandpa was visiting down there at the time, he's the one in the middle...

[Rick]

Note that the geese are big Canadas. Things have always been changing. (Doesn't mean it doesn't suck.)

[Deltaman]

Cool old pic DC, Thanks!

[Rick]

Dave, did you ever find that new pup? (Marsh and I are going through much the same as you and Ellie. Really just want my old friend to be young, but time passes, anyway.)

[DComeaux]

Dave, did you ever find that new pup? (Marsh and I are going through much the same as you and Ellie. Really just want my old friend to be young, but time passes, anyway.)

Not yet. I'm waiting on a very local trainer to give me a heads up on a litter. Going on 16, Ellie is still acting like a pup in some ways, and like you I would love to snap my fingers and have another round with her. If we get to hunt this year I'll bring to the camp for company and take her out to the blind to use her nose in the thick grass. She'll enjoy the boat rides and time at the camp.

[Darren]

Mallards! and Pintails! and Canada's!

What is this, October in Alberta?