Hows the ice? Anybody been after pheasants in the cattails?

[BLACKJACK]

I'm not talking ice fishing here, I'm talking about getting onto the big sloughs/small lakes with that 30 yard ring of cattails around the edge and going after pheasants. Not so concerned about the open ice, guys are starting to ice fish around here (Willmar area), more concerned about in the cattails, sooner or later when the dog gets birdy I'll get lured in. Thinking about getting out tomorrow afternoon - could be good with some new snow!! Anybody been out in the cattails?

[bigdog]

Was out on ice Sunday and busted through a little bit. Was out yesterday around Glenwood and busted through alot in the thicker tails and thick grass, went in almost to the waist. With these temps it isn't going to get better.

[chub]

Just got back in. Open ice is alright, interior cattail clogged stuff is kinda ugly in spots. Dropped a leg through a couple of times. Saw quite a few birds but man are they spooky Managed one rudy for the effort though

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks for the update guys. Plan on making it out this afternoon and a couple of other times this weekend, its my last shot since I have to head over to Wisc next weekend to the inlaws. Think I'll follow my first instinct and wear hip boots. Hopefully I won't go over them!!!

[Wayne Ek]

BlackJack, We have been hunting the sloughs all this week, the deep water side of the cattails seems just fine, but once you start into the heavier stands you get wet. Each day I've been out I've gone in one or two times. The birds are starting to use the sloughs now, and are extremely spooking, maybe because of all the yelling as cold water hits my body ??? Good luck.

------------------
Wayne
Agape Fishing Guides
www.agapefishingguides.com

[orngruffee]

I have been pounding them down here in Ia.
We are so dry I just wear regular hunting
boots.Last 4 time out,shot 13 recovered 11.They are like,"what are you doing in here!"

[SouthernMinnyRookie]

Where you located in Ia? Are you in the cat tails?

I've been going down lately almost every weekend but still only able to get on WMAs. Haven't found any cat tails to hit yet. I've been around the Lake Mills / Emmons area.

My cousin is buying a license on 12/15. This way he can use it next year as well. I was hoping to take him down the last 2 weekends of the year. Any suggestions where?

Thanks,
Jason

[juddfish]

fell thru the ice many of times today (from benson) and im not a very heavy guy! little bit cold! few wild birds around anyways. shot 5 today with 4 guys hunting. not to bad for late season.

~juddfish

[SouthernMinnyRookie]

They were in cattails and drainage ditches today. Kicked up 14 hens and 3 roosters (too far to shoot) in Iowa. Then kicked up 12 hens and 4 rooster (got 1) in Mn.

Dog is dead tired and so am I.

[chow]

Ice is iffy in WMA's in North metro area. Both Sat and Sun fell through many times. A couple times over the boots and the water is pretty cold. If you stay on the lake side it will support you no problem. If you get into the cattails and are over a soft, muck, boggy bottom watch it. (Only problem is the birds that I found this weekend where where the ice is iffy) So make sure you are safe out there.

chow

[BLACKJACK]

Found out the same as you guys, the open water ice was good, anything in the cattails was bad, went thru everytime I ventured into the cattails, a couple of times almost went over my hip boots. My feet are sore from wearing the hip boots all weekend, but my feet stayed dry!!

Had a grand weekend though, two each on Friday, Sat, and Sunday! Nice way to end the season - if I don't sneak out some day during the week (can't hunt next weekend, inlaw commitment). Theres birds out there, my advice would be to find those sloughs/small lakes with a ring of cattails around them, get on the open water ice and go, let your dog run the cattails. And not just any slough, find one with some cropland around it. You still need to put in your required three miles per bird, and you'll bypass any birds farther into the cattails, but with a good dog, you'll get some birds. Good luck!

Speaking of good dogs, what would we do without them? By Sunday, my 7 year old female lab was bleeding from multiple abrasions on her legs, bleeding from her titties, was all red around the eyes and nose, yet if I came home today and brought out the shotgun, she'd be yipping and turning circles, ready to go. I dropped a couple of birds in the cattails that I thought were lost and she found them, plus the great work she did rousting them up. I heard one rooseter try to flush out of the cattails twice before he made it. But I guess if I had a yellow monster with teeth on my tail, I'd flush too. Gotta love a good hunting dog! And you gotta love that pheasant hunting! When I die and go to heaven, I'm going to find an old female lab that works 20 yards in front of me, and we're going to hunt pheasants for the rest of eternity! Or if I end up in hell, I'll find a young male lab waiting for me and every rooster that I see will be flushing at 80 yards and the lab will be looking over his shoulder wondering whether you're coming and why are you puffing so hard?

Good luck to all on the last week!