Diver hunting from TDB 14 Classic

Kim Ross

Active member
The puddler action has slowed down at our club's marsh so I have moved my TDB to my cottage lake to try hunting the divers that are starting to arrive.
Has anyone hunted divers from their TDB as if it was a layout boat? I am thinking about hunting solo, not putting up the blind, sitting on or near the bottom with the stern anchored upwind. Using long lines for the decoys.
 
No tdb but I have hunted blue bills in N J that very way. I have had ex success using that method hunting eider ducks here in Maine.
 
I hunted open water divers and gadwalls for 20 years on Mobile Bay using a boat blind.
Like others noted, most days the divers don't seem to care.
We'd stick phragmites or bamboo cane in the bottom around the boat to break up the outline.
Used all sorts of decoy setup patterns but when targeting mainly divers, i'd use a classic J, line of decoys trailing off downwind on one side of the boat with a hook upwind off the bow of the boat.
Buffies always in a group by themselves.
If expecting gadwalls too, I'd setup with cross wind (hunting with a buddy) with puddlers on one end & divers on the other; or bow into the wind (solo) with puddlers on one side and divers on the other.
WIth blind up:
View attachment IMG00848-20120113-1005.jpg

Surrounded by Cane:
View attachment IMG00247-20110129-0746.jpg

Results may vary:


View attachment IMG_3739.JPGView attachment IMG_3842.JPGView attachment IMG_1065.JPG
 
Carl's pictures are an accurate testimony to how effective this approach can be. I have hunted open water for years, shooting divers with my TDB-14. Still do it with success in my TDB-17 now. The birds will generally swing right up a longine and set-down in the open water gaps. We just spent five days diver hunting out of a Bankes 21' hiding the boat in pods of cane and hard-stem bullrush on the leeward side of a point of vegetation protruding well-out into open water. Nice to have a wider boat when the rain turns to slushy snow and wind is blowing. I used a Coleman catalytic heater in my TDB which you can seal pretty tight to keep warm, so be mindful of potentially "gassing" your dog if they are along...you will need two heavy river anchors to hold in heavy winds. We carry bleach bottles rigged with a twist-tie that is removable to attach to the anchor rodevia n eye or a metal shackle to leave them set and chase downed birds. You can also just tie-on a short length of chord and tie it off via a half-hitch to make it easy to remove and re-anchor the boat

Get yourself a long handed landing net with a 1-1 1/2" mesh shallow bag to pick-up birds.
 
Last edited:
Carl thanks for the diagram which is very helpful.
In southern Ontario most of the divers I see on my lake are bluebills, buffleheads and various mergansers(which I try to avoid).
Most of the shoreline on my lake is private, either cottages or duck clubs, so I probably will be hunting in the open water, so concealment in the reeds is a limited option.
 
Glad to help!

There were very few areas where I hunted where the water levels would allow us to hunt right on the bank or edge of marsh.
Especially with our winter tides, where were always low or falling in the mornings.
If you did set up on the bank, the tide would drop and you'd be stuck!
So open water blinds/boat blinds were the norm.


The reeds you see in my photos are cut from public areas or private property that didn't mind us cutting it. Then transported in the boat & stuck in the bottom. If the spot was really good, we'd pull up and float all the reeds so no one would see or use "our blind". All public waters, so first come, first serve.

Mergies can be hard to hanlde, I always made jerky with them, after sitting in a strong marinade!
 
one consideration with a TDB-14...if you anchor bow-in to the wind in rough conditions you will get alot of hull slap on the water. I generally anchored my TDB-14' stern first into the wind using a 35 river anchor. You have enough freeboard via the whaleback design to allow yourself to remain set in some windy conditions. Hopefully you have a telescoping boat hook (Garelick makes the best) that is sturdy. Always pick your decoys up by running into the wind to keep as much distance as you can between the prop. and you lines. If you a hunting with two people you can leave the anchor over the side and drop it at the bottom of your longline to hold the boat stationary while you pull and stow decoys. Adding a brass or white metal, wood backed, cleat to the bow just in front of the front blind panel snaps is worthwhile as an add-on, too.
 
RLLigman said:
one consideration with a TDB-14...if you anchor bow-in to the wind in rough conditions you will get alot of hull slap on the water. I generally anchored my TDB-14' stern first into the wind using a 35 river anchor. You have enough freeboard via the whaleback design to allow yourself to remain set in some windy conditions. Hopefully you have a telescoping boat hook (Garelick makes the best) that is sturdy. Always pick your decoys up by running into the wind to keep as much distance as you can between the prop. and you lines. If you a hunting with two people you can leave the anchor over the side and drop it at the bottom of your longline to hold the boat stationary while you pull and stow decoys. Adding a brass or white metal, wood backed, cleat to the bow just in front of the front blind panel snaps is worthwhile as an add-on, too.
Thanks these are good tips. You helped confirm my decision to anchor stern first.
Usually when pulling in my long lines I start at the downwind end with motor in neutral and just pull myself up the line, provided there is a heavy enough anchor at the windward end.
 
Back
Top