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Posted on 12/4/14 at 9:34 am to Da Hammer
Pabon, I haven't hunted down there since the 90's. Any input would be appreciated. We will be running down there during the middle of the day so that won't be bad. I've done it at night and that wasn't fun running down the river.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 9:47 am to lsuson
I may be interested if we dont get any rain in NELA. I have some knowledge of venice but not that far down river. We normally stay in that rat hole hotel.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 10:52 am to bluemoons
I would be down with a couple of guys have equipment and what not.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 12:07 pm to Da Hammer
Da Hammer has given some great advice in this thread and others in the past, he obviously has a lot of experience with the delta. It is awesome he is willing to share that with the guys on the board.
My advice for people new to the area and planning a trip in January is to respect the river and be especially wary of the fog. I know it has been stated before but the fog on the river (especially below head of passes) is different then any other area in LA. It is thick, and relentless. I have been socked in with fog for over 48hrs with no break. People should also realize that while it may be clear in Venice or even at the Jump, you can still hit spots in the river that have 0 visibility. I won't say radar is absolutely mandatory; I hunted down there for years without it and I still have friends that do but I have learned my lesson and will not head down river from late December through June without Radar, at least 1 GPS (not counting a cell phone), and a Richie Compass mounted on my console.
As far as camping advice, I have been very fortunate to have grown up hunting down there, our camp was originally built in 1985 (minus the 1 year break after Katrina) and I have the same view as Da Hammer on this one: I will take my shore power, hot shower, and sat. tv over sleeping on the ground. But I have friends that have been camping on the WMA for years and they have a great time. If you pick the right camp ground there are spots to duck hunt or hog hunt that don't even require you to crank up an outboard.
Here is a great article written back in the late 80's or early 90's about hunting the delta. Of course a lot has changed since then but every time I read it it gets me fired up to make the trip down.
Ducks for Oranges
My advice for people new to the area and planning a trip in January is to respect the river and be especially wary of the fog. I know it has been stated before but the fog on the river (especially below head of passes) is different then any other area in LA. It is thick, and relentless. I have been socked in with fog for over 48hrs with no break. People should also realize that while it may be clear in Venice or even at the Jump, you can still hit spots in the river that have 0 visibility. I won't say radar is absolutely mandatory; I hunted down there for years without it and I still have friends that do but I have learned my lesson and will not head down river from late December through June without Radar, at least 1 GPS (not counting a cell phone), and a Richie Compass mounted on my console.
As far as camping advice, I have been very fortunate to have grown up hunting down there, our camp was originally built in 1985 (minus the 1 year break after Katrina) and I have the same view as Da Hammer on this one: I will take my shore power, hot shower, and sat. tv over sleeping on the ground. But I have friends that have been camping on the WMA for years and they have a great time. If you pick the right camp ground there are spots to duck hunt or hog hunt that don't even require you to crank up an outboard.
Here is a great article written back in the late 80's or early 90's about hunting the delta. Of course a lot has changed since then but every time I read it it gets me fired up to make the trip down.
Ducks for Oranges
Posted on 12/4/14 at 12:27 pm to bluemoons
Had a friend that went with his family for a couple days over the thanksgiving break. Said the reds were more than plentiful and they killed a decent amount of ducks too
Posted on 12/4/14 at 12:31 pm to Whatafrekinchessiebr
Great read! I've seen some incredibly massive groups of pintail down there. The kind that you wouldn't believe if someone told you about it, have to see if for yourself.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 1:08 pm to sloopy
Everyone makes Venice sound like a magical place. Having to grow up some down there I think differently. 
Even though the hunting in Venice can be good (not all the time), you still have to hunt right. I see a lot of people hunting the wind and blinding up wrong down there. Just some tips from me:
A good rule that I was taught growing up was if you can see ducks through your blind (not through top of blind) than they can see you. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people blinded up in very little cover or next to canes instead of in the cane island with the canes broken in front of you to make a blind. Since it is a lot of open water, they will spot you easily if not blinded up correctly. Make sure you are in the roseaus deep enough and if you make a blind make sure you have enough roseaus and willow trees to cover yourself.
As other posters have said, the fog can get ugly down there. I usually avoid hunting on a south wind in December-January. The south wind blows the warm/moist gulf air in which makes the fog really dense. I've had to sleep in my boat before once and also had to idle at night for 20+ miles along the west bank of the river because I couldn't see 10-15 feet in front of me. As long as you have a north wind, you should be ok. If the wind switches to the south in the evening, you may want to leave the hunt early to get back to your camp or back to Venice.
Even though the hunting in Venice can be good (not all the time), you still have to hunt right. I see a lot of people hunting the wind and blinding up wrong down there. Just some tips from me:
A good rule that I was taught growing up was if you can see ducks through your blind (not through top of blind) than they can see you. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people blinded up in very little cover or next to canes instead of in the cane island with the canes broken in front of you to make a blind. Since it is a lot of open water, they will spot you easily if not blinded up correctly. Make sure you are in the roseaus deep enough and if you make a blind make sure you have enough roseaus and willow trees to cover yourself.
As other posters have said, the fog can get ugly down there. I usually avoid hunting on a south wind in December-January. The south wind blows the warm/moist gulf air in which makes the fog really dense. I've had to sleep in my boat before once and also had to idle at night for 20+ miles along the west bank of the river because I couldn't see 10-15 feet in front of me. As long as you have a north wind, you should be ok. If the wind switches to the south in the evening, you may want to leave the hunt early to get back to your camp or back to Venice.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 1:23 pm to JasonL79
I've fished a lot down there out of a bay boat but have never duck hunted it before. What kind of water do you look for? I've been in some small, clear ponds off of canals that are 2-3 feet deep. Is that the type of water they want to come to?
I've never camped, just assumed it would be death by mosquitos. Which of the camp sites below is reasonably close to good duck hunting?
I've never camped, just assumed it would be death by mosquitos. Which of the camp sites below is reasonably close to good duck hunting?
This post was edited on 12/4/14 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 12/4/14 at 1:38 pm to JasonL79
Don't forget about the 3 footers in the river on windy days.
Also, watch your dogs jumping from a boat into the roseaus. I've a dog pierce a leg and almost lose it to infection. Twice
Also, watch your dogs jumping from a boat into the roseaus. I've a dog pierce a leg and almost lose it to infection. Twice
Posted on 12/4/14 at 2:55 pm to bluemoons
I have an 18' Xpress and am interested...need to pick a date...
Posted on 12/4/14 at 3:01 pm to bluemoons
I can bring
24' Scout CC with 225 Yammy
14' ron chapman
14' alumnum with 55hp yammy
shotgun
shells
dekes
a couple guys
bourbon
24' Scout CC with 225 Yammy
14' ron chapman
14' alumnum with 55hp yammy
shotgun
shells
dekes
a couple guys
bourbon
Posted on 12/4/14 at 3:05 pm to Big L
That camp ground by Swanson Ditch has some good looking ponds within 1000'.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 4:12 pm to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
With the amount of people that have replied/are interested in this, it might be something that has to be broken up into different trips based on what dates people can do or something. I know some had said the first week of January. We had originally planned the first week of second split. Some are more interested in weekends and week days, and there definitely seems to be plenty of boats available.
If anybody has any ideas as to how to better organize this, I'm all ears haha.
If anybody has any ideas as to how to better organize this, I'm all ears haha.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 4:37 pm to bluemoons
check it out maybe make a few calls to the agents down there and see whats a good weekend and a good site...then pick the date...there will be people that won't be able to make it and those that say they will go but wont....
like KR...
like KR...
Posted on 12/4/14 at 5:02 pm to farad
I've been wanting to make a trip down there this year. I hunted it a lot in the 90s, the Delta most of the time, but we'd camp down river several times year until we got some $$ and then it went to once, now I'm not sure if anyone has a tent. When's the trip? If I can swing it I'll go down and see if I can still knock one down. I'm about to send my king pirogue to chapmans to get the vinyl rails put on in case KR decides to show up.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 6:01 pm to Capt ST
So far KR is the only one of you SOB's that has shown up for a hunt down there..... 
I still say first step is to pick a date then see who can and can't go. My favorite time down there is January after the new years break lot less pressure and cans and pintail are thick and in full plumage and suitable for the wall if someone wants one. I consider myself in the periphery on this as I will already be down there a lot some of you pick a weekend or weekday and lets try and do it.
I still say first step is to pick a date then see who can and can't go. My favorite time down there is January after the new years break lot less pressure and cans and pintail are thick and in full plumage and suitable for the wall if someone wants one. I consider myself in the periphery on this as I will already be down there a lot some of you pick a weekend or weekday and lets try and do it.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 6:05 pm to Da Hammer
I'm pretty sure we have 3 boats going down that Friday through Sunday, Jan 2-4 if anyone wants to join us. Hunting Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday morning.
Posted on 12/4/14 at 6:35 pm to lsuson
I'm in for the 2-4
Posted on 12/4/14 at 7:10 pm to ChadJones4Heisman
I'm in for that date most likely, I have a bay boat and deeks and good dog.
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