Post-Season Ramblings - Spring 2026

[Darren]

Delacroix area outfitter buddy gearing up for October squealers already with some DIY work:

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Latest on his project:

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[Rick]

Oughta slay a kazillion of 'em.

[Darren]

Oughta slay a kazillion of 'em.

No doubt

Trying to get a date on his books for that stretch; let the record show, though, my wife very clearly said "no duck hunting in October" when she learned of this new season.

[Darren]

Oughta slay a kazillion of 'em.

No doubt

Trying to get a date on his books for that stretch; let the record show, though, my wife very clearly said "no duck hunting in October" when she learned of this new season.

Got a date penciled for my crew, Thurs Oct 8.

[Rick]

Trying to get a date on his books for that stretch; let the record show, though, my wife very clearly said "no duck hunting in October" when she learned of this new season.

Never be a better time to get her hooked on it: pleasant weather and big, slow ducks...

[Darren]

Not too great in S. Dakota, but man Ark and La just going from bad to worse. Some rain in forecast this weekend could help but not enough to change those colors.

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[Darren]

Got into first round of spring speckled trout action today, dolphins and wind were out in force but we made out just fine.

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Bonus Indy appearance

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Let the duck boat motor run a few mins in the slip, otherwise nothing duck related. Did, however, see a few teal out fishing including a group that nearly got planted on the bay boat windshield way down the MRGO ship channel on our way out there early this AM.

[DComeaux]

That is so much fun.

[Rick]

Took Capt. Rick back to the fillet table.

[Darren]

Guess we'll see; hearing a lot of griping in Ark lately, and plenty in La too. Cracked ground, etc. We should be plenty wet by this point on the calendar.

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[Darren]

Possibly sorta “vintage” find at estate sale down my street, fella was apparently an avid duck hunter, had tons of gear and art related to fowl. Didn’t buy anything though, and if anything it taught me to keep less of whatever it is I’m not actively using.

Nice cooler bag

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[Rick]

Had to get a couple permits signed out that way this morning, so Call and I met the dawn in our marsh and made a pass by my blind and around the main boat trail loop. Was shallow enough that I opted to forgo running the shortcuts we'd been maintaining while out there.

[Ducaholic]

Guess we'll see; hearing a lot of griping in Ark lately, and plenty in La too. Cracked ground, etc. We should be plenty wet by this point on the calendar.

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I hope we can squeeze 3" out of these two rain events over the next few days. Local WMA gauge reading 41' right now or right at pool stage. Normal winter and spring precipitation would normally have the levels at 42.5' going into the month of May.

[Darren]

Guess we'll see; hearing a lot of griping in Ark lately, and plenty in La too. Cracked ground, etc. We should be plenty wet by this point on the calendar.

Screenshot 2026-04-29 080447.jpg

I hope we can squeeze 3" out of these two rain events over the next few days. Local WMA gauge reading 41' right now or right at pool stage. Normal winter and spring precipitation would normally have the levels at 42.5' going into the month of May.

Franklin Parish hay farmer in Franklin Parish noted on This Week in Louisiana Agriculture (TWILA), oddly enough knew one of the hosts of that show through my Greek life days in college, noted he's 17-18 inches of rain behind year to date. "I've never seen cracks in April"


Note, TWILA is a good follow on FB for farm/ag/sorta hunting related content at times.

[Ducaholic]

Guess we'll see; hearing a lot of griping in Ark lately, and plenty in La too. Cracked ground, etc. We should be plenty wet by this point on the calendar.

Screenshot 2026-04-29 080447.jpg

I hope we can squeeze 3" out of these two rain events over the next few days. Local WMA gauge reading 41' right now or right at pool stage. Normal winter and spring precipitation would normally have the levels at 42.5' going into the month of May.

Franklin Parish hay farmer in Franklin Parish noted on This Week in Louisiana Agriculture (TWILA), oddly enough knew one of the hosts of that show through my Greek life days in college, noted he's 17-18 inches of rain behind year to date. "I've never seen cracks in April"


Note, TWILA is a good follow on FB for farm/ag/sorta hunting related content at times.

Got about 2" last night. Should continue to rain of and on thru Friday Night and into the early morning hours on Saturday. Much needed precipitation.

[Darren]

Few interesting takeaways from annual in-law family gathering in Lake Charles for crawfish boil, where we of course catch up on the season that was:

Overall were pretty pleased at Oak Island, lots of teal, some BBWDs, few of this and that but seemed to be happy with the season.
One cousin also hunts a club in Sweetlake that started out crazy good for years but had seen downturn to just about nothing in last few, that apparently rebounded to "really good, lots of mallards" this year. Report was they'd have at least a couple or few each hunt.

My son and I enjoyed spotting what ended up being a nice handful of wads of bluewings on our way out of Lake Charles eastbound on I-10 Saturday evening as well. Was nice to at least pass through rice country; wife saw signs for G&H and asked if I knew about those stores

Made a little session with Indy in the yard Sunday with some nice recollection from past sessions, and even appeared to start taking some hand directions on some simple blinds. Hope that continues and wasn't a fluke; need to make plans to visit a large field near our house to stretch her a bit, throw some long ones. That was a regret with Harry not doing that enough.

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[Rick]

..."really good, lots of mallards" this year. Report was they'd have at least a couple or few each hunt.

Nice to hear someone down here was still seeing mallards with some regularity.

And good to hear Indy's progressing.

[Darren]

..."really good, lots of mallards" this year. Report was they'd have at least a couple or few each hunt.

Nice to hear someone down here was still seeing mallards with some regularity.

And good to hear Indy's progressing.

No launcher, so will be throwing my arm out trying to get distance for her at the mentioned field.

[Rick]

Put that son to work. But be careful how you ask him to throw multiples:

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[DComeaux]

I can't wait to get back to it with Remi. Launchers are nice.

[Rick]

Bet Remi can't, either. And I'd feel crippled without my hand-launcher - and reasonably gator safe places to simulate real world marks no birdboy could, even if one would.

But we've gotten a lot of good out of in-town "stand-alones" and "memories" to stretch pups' marks and lining out.

[Darren]

Put that son to work. But be careful how you ask him to throw multiples

He's indeed got a heckuva (left) arm, I'd love for him to put to good use in sports in years to come.

[Darren]

Not looking good down on lower end of the flyway, ARKY and LA, but some notable improvements in Dakota's from a year ago, and same apparently in at least some of key portions of Canada.

2026/currently on left, same date in 2025 on right

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Between last week and this weekend, maybe LA moves the needle just a tad in right direction, though.