Rail bird Skiff

[Jeff Reardon]

Pretty sure it's mild insanity. Every time I build a boat to hunt these little birds, I think I'm going to get out at least ten times. It always ends up being four or five. To top it off I normally jump out of the boat, chasing them up on foot when I can't get the boat to them. Channeling my inner bird dog.

The friend who first took me out for Sora's--in a stitch and glue rail skiff he'd made--claimed there were only about 5 good tides a year to hunt rails in Merrymeeting Bay. It's definitely better on the bigger tides, which flood everything and force the rails up onto the floating rice mats where they are concentrated and easy to hunt. But we also bring along a 20 and some light loads on early season duck hunts. If the ducks are not flying, we can push the rice at high tide as a combination duck scout/rail hunt. Beats mowing the lawn or raking leaves! Some day I'll do this from a proper rail skiff, as my friend's was left out in the winter, accumulated a load of snow and ice, and burst its seams in a freeze thaw cycle. Flat bottomed versions of the MMB sculler work pretty well, especially if they are fiberglass and light weights. My older round bottomed one is a better duck boat, but not made for pushing through the thick stuff. But on those big tide dys, it does the job.

With Railbird season a month away let’s see everyone’s skiffs here’s mine it is a 1922 Casper Bass built in Bridgeton NJ this is all original and I am the 3rd owner. The Skiff is 13ft 6 long and 3 1/2 ft wide. It is built out of white cedar. The push pole is original as well and is 13ft long made or cedar and white oak duck feet that are brass riveted

Just realized I've commented multiple times on this thread without properly admiring that rail skiff of yours. It's a beaut--I am jealous as hell!

 

[jode hillman]

The friend who first took me out for Sora's--in a stitch and glue rail skiff he'd made--claimed there were only about 5 good tides a year to hunt rails in Merrymeeting Bay. It's definitely better on the bigger tides, which flood everything and force the rails up onto the floating rice mats where they are concentrated and easy to hunt. But we also bring along a 20 and some light loads on early season duck hunts. If the ducks are not flying, we can push the rice at high tide as a combination duck scout/rail hunt. Beats mowing the lawn or raking leaves! Some day I'll do this from a proper rail skiff, as my friend's was left out in the winter, accumulated a load of snow and ice, and burst its seams in a freeze thaw cycle. Flat bottomed versions of the MMB sculler work pretty well, especially if they are fiberglass and light weights. My older round bottomed one is a better duck boat, but not made for pushing through the thick stuff. But on those big tide dys, it does the job.

Just realized I've commented multiple times on this thread without properly admiring that rail skiff of yours. It's a beaut--I am jealous as hell!

Jeff, your so right. 5 good tides a year is high cotton! I think last year in Jersey we had maybe 3! You gotta go when you can. Work be damned.