Well, It started with a bang...

Duck season is 23 days old, and I have to say that it couldn't have started any better.  We absolutely were covered up with ducks for the first week.  Since that time we have went through a series of ups and downs, with several really good days, either followed or preceded by some really tough  days of hunting.  In the last ten days, we have experienced some of the coldest weather in December that I can remember in a long time.  Daily temps (highs and lows) are running ten to fifteen degrees below normal.  When it gets terribly cold, water sources begin to freeze, and when that happens the ducks will not fly very well.  When the cold weather lingers for very long, the ducks will migrate to warmer climates.  We are currently dealing with that very situation.  Lord willing, it will turn around, but until some new birds migrate, or it warms up, I believe we are in for some tough days in the field.
God Bless,
Duke

Duck season is under way...

Thanksgiving day marked the start of 2010-2011 waterfowl season.  So far it has been a good one.  We got some much needed rain (3.5" in one day).  It made for some wet conditions, but the ducks sure didn't mind.  I guess that's where the old saying "Good weather for a duck" came from.  I don't have any pay hunters today, so I'm going to take Harley my young dog on his first duck hunting trip this afternoon.  This should be interesting.  Hopefully y'all had a good Thanksgiving.
God Bless,
Duke

Twas the night before...

Ha!  I bet you thought I was going to say Christmas didn't ya?  Nope, Duck Season, that's what I'm talking about.  Tonight marks the night before the opening day of duck season.  For waterfowlers, there is no difference between these two nights (as far as anticipation goes), tonight it is our "night before Christmas".  With that said, tomorrow's weather forecast shows the signs of weather that is only fit for a duck.  Rainy, windy, cold, I'm getting goose bumps thinking about it.  Tomorrow marks the first day of a 60 day adventure called Duck Season.  Some would call it battle of wills, others a testament to a person's insanity.  Me? I call it the best, most wonderful time of the year!!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone, take a minute and give thanks tomorrow.
God Bless,
Duke

I got together with Bass Tackle Depot and we shot some video...

I shot a video with Bass Tackle Depot (http://www.basstackledepot.com/) promoting Powell Rods (http://www.basstackledepot.com/powell-rods.aspx) .  I had a blast, it was a little windy, but otherwise it was a gorgeous day for mid November.  Check out the video below.
God Bless,
Duke

I got some great news...

I recently got the privilege to join the Powell Rods Pro-Staff, and am I ever excited.  Powell Rods is a west coast based company, that makes not only some of the best rods on the market, they make them at a very affordable price point. Personally, I think they are one of the best values in the fishing rod market today.
For the last month I have put some serious time on the water with my new fleet of rods, and I have no complaints.  I'm usually pretty candid about products I use and their capabilities, regardless of my relationship with the company.  I have to admit, these rods exceeded my expectations, they are an extremely sweet rod, regardless of cost.  With only a month of use under my belt and hunting season around the corner, I guess I'll have to wait until spring to put some serious time on them.  But that's ok, I know they'll be ready when we go!  I'll leave you with a picture of the "new crew", they are nice!
God Bless,

Duke

It's getting closer...

With only two and a half weeks until the start of waterfowl season, I still have a few last minute items to take care of.  I'm headed to the local home improvement store to pick up some flat gray paint to touch up my Green Head Gear Full body Mallard decoys.  After two seasons of use, some of the gray on the Mallard drake decoys has taken some abuse, so a little touch up painting is in order.  Other than that, I just picked up a new complete set of Drake waterfowl gear, including waterproof insulated bibs, a windproof fleece jacket (new in the Drake lineup this year), a waterproof quarter zip pull over, fleece cap and neck gaiter.  All items are on the Realtree Max-4 pattern.  I'm pretty stoked about the new gear, I can't wait to use it. 
We atarted pumping water into our field Saturday, it's been so dry in Southern Illinois that we will lose a lot of water to absorption, but we should have enough water to get the job done.  Which is good, as a few ducks have already begun to migrate.  I'll keep you posted on the progress.
God Bless,
Duke

What do you do with over a month of downtime?

I haven't had a fishing tournament since the first week of October, I think I now understand the term "Stir Crazy", that, or I'm going through the DTs, haha.  I have been fun fishing several times, and that was a hoot, no pressure, just plain old catch em if you can, if you don't, no big deal. 
I have spent a few days getting ready for duck season.  The pit blinds are ready, firewood is split, the only remaining item is to put the pump in and add some water to our field.  Duck season doesn't start until Thanksgiving day, so that still leaves a month of what to do?  There is a buddy tournament at Kinkaid lake on November 7th, its an Anglers Choice event.  I think for lack of a better thing to do, I'll go fish this one.
Other than that, I'll spend the next month working my Labrador retrievers, Calli my oldest dog is seasoned veteran, Harley, my youngest dog (just over a year old) has been getting some training every day, he's at a pretty critical stage in the learning curve (he's learning hand signals right now) so I'm sure I'll be busy with him.  Other than that, not much going on here!
God Bless,
D

The season is over...

Last week's PAA event marked the last tournament on my schedule.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, so minus a buddy tournament or two, the 2010 fishing season is over for me.  That's a bummer!  I'll spend the next few weeks storing tackle, checking inventories of baits, and trying to decide what direction to go next year.  I have a couple of leads on potential sponsors, they're slim chances though.  This is the area of fishing that I have had the most difficulty in getting going.  I have been able to acquire several tackle sponsors, Lunker Lure and Hawg Caller Baits, my newest sponsor Powell Rods (www.powellco.com) , even with over 22 million media impressions in the last two years, it has been difficult to acquire any paying sponsors.  So, It looks like, Lord willing, I'll start 2011 with enough revenue to get the year started and see if anything materializes.  I'll just have to let the Lord guide the business, and do my part with preparatory work.  On a bright note, duck season is about 5 weeks away, and it looks like we are in position to have a fantastic season.  I'll post more about that later.
God Bless,
Duke

BFL Regional is finished

I just competed in a BFL Regional event at Lake Barkley in Eddyville, KY.  To tsay the least this was not a very good event for me.  I was able to locate a couple of areas holding quality fish, but never capitalized on the bites that I got.  My day one co-angler did however manage to catch all of teh fish that bit for him, as he finished day one in 2nd place.  On day two of the event, I managed to catch several nice fish, but it was not enough to pu tme in the check line, or advance me to the BFL All-American.  My day one co-angler made the cut in the strength of his day one catch, and managed only one keeper on day three, but it was enough to give him a berth into the All-American.  Congrats Louie!!
For me, it looks like the season is over, I have opted not to compete in the last PAA Tournament at Table Rock Lake, or the American Fishing Series Invitational on Lake Wheeler.  Hopefully, I can get a few things going in the sponsor world and be able to fish again next year.
God Bless,
Duke

BFL Regional on Lake Barkley

3 full days of practice are complete and two have been good, and one has been brutal.  I'm looking at a pretty long run to get to where I am fishing, Lord willing the wind won't blow too bad.  I'm going to spend a half-day on the water tomorrow, closer to take-off to see if I can locate a back-up plan if the weather is rough.  Lord willing I'll be able to get to where I'm wanting to fish, and have a successful day. I may not have any internet service during the tournament, I'm switching from the hotel where I'm at, to a friemds house. so I may not be able to update until after the tournament.  Stay tuned!
God Bless,
Duke