Morson Fall outdoor report II

[Wild Thing]

Back from 9 days of duck hunting and it was very, very, very good. Lots of ringbills, redheads and a few bluebills. The ringies were just thick until last Tuesday night when they rode a 41 mph NW wind out of town. We were seeing swarms of thousands of them every day for 3 weeks and then, poof, nothing. (The geese, thick all fall, also seem to have fled south.)

Oddly, very few mallards around. After incredible mallard hunting in late september the locals have fled and the northerns aren't yet down in any big numbers (a few bright green double-curls in the bag but not many) Still too warm up north I guess.

For folks who still are looking, I'd say the northern mallard flight will come when the next big cold snap hits up north. Sadly, I'm out of vacation time!!!

Tons of bluebills on the big water, as they seem to arrive by calendar and not the weather. Had such good luck on ringies that we didn't pursue the bluebills much until the end of the week. Even shot a few buffleheads to round out a limit one day. Don't laugh. Small but tasty.

Totaled 22 days in duck camp this year, including 9 in a row at the end. Dog had more than 125 retrieves! Shot mallards, bluebill, ringbills (tons), redheads (lots,) pintails, buffleheads, wigeon, gadwall, teal and canadas.

Wish I was retired and I'd be back up there in a minute ambushing bills and waiting for the fat greenheads to show up!

P.S. Water temp was 48 as of friday for you angling dudes but it has been cold last couple of nights ane that should drop fast. Saw a few guys trolling for musky around reefs.

[swedishpimple]

Wildthing......where do you hunt up there. We hunt out in the Basil. Not much since Tuesday like you said. I did not make it out thus year but 3 of my parties were up there over the last week and half. Somebody hit the switch and they all went poof. Ten guys just got back with only 15 ducks...they ate them in Canada. The weekend before was hot, then Tuesday they all left.

Not sure where they went. No ducks here in Bemidji.

[dmoore]

We were up to Morson from the 9th thru the 23rd. Limited out in 3 days on Bills. Friday the 19th til Monday the 22nd. Hunted East of Morson, close by our trailer. Never went more than 5 miles to hunt. Bills were streaming west in the AM from Stevens. Buddies shot lots of Ringnecks near Burrows. We didn't hunt for them. Limited out on crappies and walleyes (3 people). Ate a lot of fish and ducks and brought our limits home. Crappies slowed down up in Miles and we finished up at Hay Island in the 50' hole. Walleyes (16-20") were caught in 25-30'. Actually did best dragging bottom bouncers and spinners. Closed down until Jan.

[Sumander]

Not necessarily a Morson report but.....I have been up to southern Manitoba the last three weekends in a row. Results are very similar. It doesn't appear that the northern birds are down. Each weekend got progressively worse for us. A few snow and blues building on the south end of Lake Manitoba, the local ducks are gone and no double curl mallards have shown up yet.

Sadly, like Wild Thing, I am out of vacation. Guess they will have to wait til next year.

[Wild Thing]

It's lucky we have ringbills, redheads and bluebills to count on. I can't think of a better duck season. Which makes two in a row of very great hunting. Only last year it also included northern mallards.

My guess is that this big front may bring them down fast if the beaver ponds near Flin Flon start freezing...

This year we had 3 great mallard shoots in late september/early October, thousands of birds, then the mallards faded fast.

We shot a few neons with double tails last week, but last year at that time we were seeing thousands. But it had froze solid up north by then. In fact, some of our spots froze and then reopened the last week in October in '06.... This year we hardly had a frost.

That's the great thing about duck hunting... every day, every week, every year is different.

Also, this is by far the most geese we've ever seen and shot up there. Hope that keeps up; a nice addition!

I have some western Minnesota pheasants to shoot now and a late goose hunt in December. Probably won't get back to Morson (at least to kill anything) until Dec. 27, so the next report wil be posted Jan. 2 about fat walleyes on the reefs! I hope!!! Hard to think of fish during bird season, though...

P.S. Pimple: drop me a note at [email protected]. I can't give you any spots because they aren't mind to divulge, but we can trade notes...

[Shorelunch]

Thanks for the reports WT. Our group had similar success with the ducks on and off over the past couple of weeks. Primarily rings and blues. Saw many, many geese. Were mostly hunting island points northeast of Morson. I also heard some fantastic dear reports, around Morson and especially around the Kenora area.

Eater walleyes have been plentiful with a few mid-20" scattered in, in the usual spots, same as the crappies.

I haven't drilled holes up there before but would love to get up there for walleyes and/or lakers this winter.

[benelli_dude2002]

Just thought I would add to this post about some great bluebill hunting yesterday. Didn't have to go far, but we found a small bay where some divers got up and as we were setting the decoys they were swinging by us and wanted back in. A lot of buffleheads were out there. When the 'bills came back it was like fallin' skies out there. I thought I was doing good when I got 2 bills in one shot then my dad showed me up when he shot twice and got 4. Anyways 4 us limited out. Even a few greaters in the bag. Wildthing wish you were there so at least you cant say I wasnt thinking about you. We didnt see too many mallards just when we were out cruising around. Saw one other group of hunters that were about 1/2 mile north of us as the crow flies but they weren't shooting as much as we were. Guess we just got lucky and found them in that one spot. Had a good shoot on roosters in SD last weekend. Back to work sunday night after 10 days off, luckily I still got a few days vacation left to burn up. Hunting season aint over yet. Be safe out there this weekend! B-dude

[fwp]

Hey Brian...you are using my quote eh..when the benelli barks there is meat on the table...saw the pictures you sent John...(Contact Us Please)...next year we gotta stay longer...just got a taste of the good bill shoothing on the Friday before we closed...only got to hunt 33 days at the take em' club this year...had to book to many trips in Sept. to help pay for my new etec..maybe Rich will let us winterize the cabin and stay a week or two more next year. Glad you had a good shoot in SD...missed the usual great food at the end of the year party...not chasing deer...still dreaming about bills in the snow...oh well...drive safe and see ya this winter maybe...

[benelli_dude2002]

Hey Phil! Just to clear the air... you used to say Beretta but that was before you got your Benelli(s). Yeah I know we missed some good food at the party this year but we also ate good down there too in SD. Some of it we cooked and some of it we ate at some different steak joints, but still cant beat some of the dishes yall come up with. As far as I know Rich is still up there. Yeah dont be a stranger when you come up fishing this winter on the MN side, I dont want to hear next fall how trips you made this way and you didnt call me. Cuz when you drive to the lake over here I am only a block off the main road. But if you do make it up you can shoot me an email and see if I'll be around. Say HI to your better half for me. Stay in touch

[Wild Thing]

Well both you guys need to forget about all those 11-inch saugers on the minnesota side and ice-fish for the big boys on the good side of the lake. Just ask Coot about the 10-pounders!

Hope to see both of you up there this winter. Maybe for the Morson ice fishing derby at the ned of February. It's a contest and a party!!!

[benelli_dude2002]

I think I got the dates when you will be up again. Not sure if I will be around cuz I dont normally take time for New Years. Yeah I know all about "the good side" of the lake. Cant wait to chase them lakers again this winter. Oh but thats on a different lake. Ahh its all good. Bring on the party!