What to do this weekend?

[Granny]

I am planning on hitting the water early saturday morning to do some bass fishing. I have never fished during duck season. Is there a problem between fisherman and duck hunters during this time? Obviously I will stay clear of a hunters area if I see decoy's out. What kind of a distance do hunters consider "far enough away"?

Thanks in advance,

Granny

[Gissert]

If you are hitting the water early tomorrow, it should not be a problem. Legal shooting does not start until 9am on opening day.

It is refreshing to see that there are people concerned about disturbing a hunt on public waters. I have had people troll through my decoy spread.

I'd try and stay at least a 1/3 mile from any decoy spread. If the lake you are fishing on has lots of developed shorelines, you are unlikely to run into hunters there.

[hanson]

Granny-
I had a boat pull up on the outside of my decoys once, drop anchor, and start fishing. I was not a happy camper about that. To this day, I still think they had to have seen us on the shoreline. No way were we camoflaged that good.

I would just say to give the hunters a little space. When I used to hunt this particular lake alot, I knew there would be boat traffic, I just didn't think we would have people fishing that close.

[Granny]

Almost every lake I fish could have duck hunters on them. During the "take a kid hunting" day a friend and I came up on a couple guys duck hunting. We were in a canoe and it was so foggy that we couldn't see their blind or decoys. I didn't know you had to wait till 9:00 to start shooting. Why is that?

Thanks again,

Granny

[bigbucks]

Just 9am on Saturday, opener used always be noon. They figure one more day not shooting at first light will give the birds a chance to get a little educated when they can see what they're doing & also so you don't really slaughter then that first morning.