Winchester wasteway

[ST42]

Hey Gents,
Looks like I can play hooky tomorrow. If anyone happens to be near the WW today, would you post on the ice conditions?
Thank you,
ST42

[Huskerwannabe]

Completely open water. Pick where u set up carefully. There was quite the current and it was pushing ice chunks from around the edges of the lake into our decoys. The birds were very educated, gadwalls and mallards. Everything sat out in the middle. There were 3 groups out a few days ago and only heard 4-5 shots total all day. We set up in 3 different spots and the birds flew right around every point and into the middle. I wish you better luck then what we had. We need new birds in the area. This warm spell we've had has really messed up my otherwise good season.

[ST42]

Completely open water. Pick where u set up carefully. There was quite the current and it was pushing ice chunks from around the edges of the lake into our decoys. The birds were very educated, gadwalls and mallards. Everything sat out in the middle. There were 3 groups out a few days ago and only heard 4-5 shots total all day. We set up in 3 different spots and the birds flew right around every point and into the middle. I wish you better luck then what we had. We need new birds in the area. This warm spell we've had has really messed up my otherwise good season.

Thank you for the report! I'm just greatful to be able to sneak out on a weekday. I'll post again should I have any luck.

[sakoshooter]

Is there any snow on the ground in that area? How about the Vantage area?

[Huskerwannabe]

There is snow on the ground around Quincy. I don't know about vantage

[Bennick16]

Winchester is the only open water really. That being said, I've been out 3 times in the last 2 weeks and the ducks are EXTRMELY weary. Lots of birds no shots from anyone on the lake the entire time we were there.

[ST42]

Well, the alarm was set for 2:30am, and I left the house at 2am. The waste has open water mostly at the north end. There were some substantial sized flocks working the lake, but I could only get three mallard hens to work my small spread, I only humped in a dozen Derek's. I'm getting a bit too old to haul more than that by myself. They were all singles, and I let them all leave after completely fooling them into landing. I did see some pretty good sized flocks of Pintals, none of them were working the lake, all were headed north. Almost without exception the ducks would spiral into the center of open water with several hundred of their closest friends. By 9:30 I couldn't sell it any longer, but held my ground until 11:30.
It was lunch time and my dog was giving me the look. I heard a few roosters cackling at first light, so we shed the decoys and camo and went after those rooster. My dog worked hard but only pointed hens. To the guy who asked about snow at Vantage, Yes there is snow. The snow is the kind of stuff where 85% of the time my 80lb. Drahthaar could walk on it without breaking through the crust. My 200 lbs went through everytime. On the way out he slammed into a very solid point, I was thinking another hen pheasant, but to my surprise we put up a pretty big covey of Huns.
We took 4 home with us. All in all, it was a great day for hooky 

[Mfowl]

Good lookin dog! Thanks for the report!

[Huskerwannabe]

Sounds like you had the same luck we had with the ducks. Tough sledding on winchester

[Bennick16]

 I get stuck in mud a lot while hunting but today on Winchester  was the first time where if I had been alone I would have been in some serious trouble. The ducks are so educated we had 8 dozen decoys out and only had a few come in.  Time to find some more open water.

[sakoshooter]

Thanx for the snow report.