Reelfoot Waterfowl Report

Monday, January 06, 2003

 
Here at Reelfoot Lake, the gang at Cypress Creek Outfitters is gearing up for the downhill slide on the duck season. The numbers for the ducks/geese on the refuges here at Reelfoot Lake have been somewhat less than desirable but more favorable than last year at this time. The hunting seems to be very spotty at best on the various regions of the lake. One day the open water blinds will have a decent day only to be met the next day with marginal success. The same goes for the timber and grass/pocket blinds. All in all the open water blinds on the lake seem to be doing the best of any of the blinds on the lake.

There have been some decent reports coming in from the Lost Pond, Net Raft Timber, Rat Island, Buck Basin, Burnt Woods and the Upper Blue Basin areas on the lake. Most blinds will have a decent day of 8-15 ducks with a few lesser number days mixed in during the week. New ducks are seemingly appearing at the lake fairly regular now. Phillipy, Black Bayou and Long Point still seem to be holding decent number of ducks now that the backwaters have finally receded from the surrounding fields.

With only 20 days left to hunt at Reelfoot, now would be a good time to call one of the guides services or resorts around the lake and inquire about any openings left for the season. Most are willing to cut a deal to fill any vacancies for this season. And remember to take a child hunting - that way you won't be hunting for them later in life. We at CCO had the privilege of taking a 10-year old young man on his first trip to Reelfoot Lake this past weekend. Simply put, he's hooked on quack!

Thursday, January 02, 2003

 
Happy New Year from the gang at Cypress Creek Outfitters on beautiful Reelfoot Lake!!
We hope that everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas. Santa Claus, it seems anyway, visited Reelfoot Lake over the Christmas holidays and brought with him some new ducks...the emphasis should be on the word "some".

Several of the areas around the lake reported seeing several large groups of high flying migrators over the holidays and the new reports coming from the areas of the lake attest to this fact. Many of the blinds that were just scraping by have now gone to taking a decent number of ducks.

The best reports seem to be coming from the boys hunting the vast areas of open-water on the lake. Some of the better producing areas are Lost Pond, Forked Pond, Eagle Nest Timber, Buck Basin, and the Upper Blue Basin. Most of these blinds have gone from taking 1-5 ducks/day to 8-20 ducks/day. A few of the blinds in the various ditches have also gone to doing pretty well.

The one common factor when talking to the guides around the lake is the calling techniques that they are using on the open-water. Many have gone from "screaming 'em to the water" to having to be easy with some of the ducks. The reason for this is that many of the ducks that are being harvested are older ducks and do not decoy or call as easy as the young ducks do.

Now would be a good time to call one of the professional guide services and book that hunt that you have wanted to go on. And remember to take a child with you and show them this Great Outdoors that God has given us to enjoy and be the stewards over.

Thursday, December 26, 2002

 
In a word SSSLLLOOOWWW!!! Here goes...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the gang at Cypress Creek Outfitters!!

The thoughts of Christmas is now filling everyone's mind...Christmas carols, brightly decorated houses and trees, neatly wrapped packages under the tree, and family. All of these bring a smile to each face each year during this time. Something that would also bring a smile to the waterfowlers on Reelfoot Lake is some new ducks! Few are the number of ducks that the various blinds are reporting being taken but many are the sightings of ducks.

The most number of ducks seem to be on the north end, or Upper Blue Basin, of the lake on the refuges of Black Bayou - Phillipi Unit, Long Point, and Grassy. With the flooding rains of the past week the waters of the Obion River and other lowlands have drawn the attention of the many ducks in the area.

The best harvest numbers from this area of the state and flyway have come from the bottomland around the Obion and Forked Deer River and the outlying botttoms with standing agricultural waste on them. The ducks have a new home and a new food source. Several of the local guides on the lake are leaving their usual haunts of the lake for the flooded fields and timber holes and having very good success. One thing to keep in mind as a hunter, the one thing that will separate you from the other hunters is your ability to follow the ducks and change your strategy. If you are coming to the lake be sure and ask your guide/outfitter how they have been doing on the lake lately and if it would be possible for your trip to be moved from the lake to a better locale if possible.

We at Cypress Creek Outfitters will be hunting the rest of this week off of the Obion River on some private ground. We have seen a large number of ducks using this newly flooded area. The ducks should continue to use this area until the waters start to recede at which time they will move back the lake area. Remember being mobile during duck season can be very important.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and lots of Joy...the gang at Cypress Creek Outfitters. And remember that Christ is the reason for Christmas...not Santa Claus!

Tuesday, December 17, 2002

 
Happy Holidays from Cypress Creek Outfitters on Reelfoot Lake!!
The past weekend found many of the local waterfowlers applying sunscreen instead of extra layers of clothes. The mild weather and warm temps made the hunting seem like one should be crappie fishing...some thought that the results would possibly be better if they were fishing instead of duck hunting as well.

Many of the area and local guides report of seeing large numbers of ducks but also speak of their inability to get the ducks to work properly. The general consensus is that the ducks are simply moving from one refuge to the next and are not in the working mode. Others still suggest that these are still the Arkansas ducks that moved in here ahead of the winter weather that was in the region the other weekend.

Some of the better shooting seems to be from the Cranetown area, the Upper Blue Basin, and Buck Basin. Reports of a good number of birds being taken by some of the blinds in these areas are scattered at best. One day you may have a decent shoot the next day you won't. Black Bayou, Long Point, and Phillipy all are holding several thousand ducks and geese. Seems like all that we need is some inclimate weather north of us to start the annual migration.

If you are interested in coming to Reelfoot Lake to hunt, give us a call or send us an email from our website (www.cypresscreekoutfitters.com). We look forward to hearing from some of you soon. And remember, take a youth with you the next time you get the opportunity and show them what this great sport has to offer.

Sunday, December 15, 2002

 
Greetings from the gang of Cypress Creek Outfitters on Reelfoot Lake!!
The past weekend brought newly expected hopes to the lake with the passing of the first winter storm through the area. Light snowfall and heavy accumulations of ice brought a gleam to the many aspiring and weathered waterfowlers in the Reelfoot area. It also brought with it several old "new" ducks to the lake area as well. Many of the guides on the lake reported seeing a good number of ducks arriving towards the end of the week. The only problem is that a lot of the ducks that arrived in this mass movement have been shot at for quite some time in Arkansas and are vary wary and call-shy.

Some of the better reports from the lake area came from the far north end of the Upper Blue Basin on the famed Firing Line blinds. Some of the better blinds reported taking 20+ ducks for 2-3 days post movement of the ducks into the area. Also some of the ditch blinds and pocket blind in the Grassy Bend and Burned Woods area as well as the Cranetown Area have had some decent shoots as of late.

With the promise of changing weather in the forecast, many are hoping to see the birds work better and move out of the fields and onto the various refuges surrounding the lake area. Long Point Refuge and Grassy Refuge seem to be holding the most birds at this time. There was also a report that Lake Isom, located to the south of Reelfoot Lake, has been holding several birds. One of the astounding reports that has been circulated around the lake area is the relatively low number of ducks/geese in the MO and IL areas as compared to a year ago. Hence the rumor that we may be hunting "paper birds." What this is referring to is a highly reputed report that the Feds have monkeyed with the numbers on the duck count to initiate the sell of the Federal Duck Stamp. Time will tell if this is the case or not.

Remember, it's not the number of ducks/geese that you take during a season. It's the memories that are made, the sights that are seen, and the friends that are acquired while in the blind that make a successful season. The rest is just dessert. If you really want a meal...take a child with you the next time and watch their eyes as they see the sun come up over the cypress tress.

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"For I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthenth me." Phil 4:13