Definition of a "topwater"

[Lazy Drake]

How about Saturday morning, a guy drives down and parks on a levee that, to my knowledge, is closed to vehicle traffic. Then walks in on us, despite our shouting and flashlights, about 20 minutes before legal shooting time. Then he proceeds to tell us that he has "driven a long way" (opposed to my 2 hour drive) and that this is "the only spot I know" (despite the thousands of acres of open public land within a 30 minute drive of where we were). After reminding us that it was public land, that he didn't have anywhere else to go, and that he wasn't leaving, he sets up his decoys (maybe 6 mallard decoys and the MOJO!) roughly 60-70 yards from us.

I like to think that peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are things that mark my life. These guys pushed my limits though.

I don't know if I could go back to hunting public land, looks like nothing has changed since I last hunted public.

[driveby]

Whew!!! So far I'm not guilty of any of the things on Jacksbuddy's list. I do find myself doing things at times that, when I look back at them, would be considered "topwater". But hey, I'm still learning. I figure as long as I stick with staying legal and ethical, the rest will come around. If I ever have the pleasure of meeting any of you in the duck woods and I'm doing something "topwater", let me know. I'm always open to learning. With that said I guess my definition of "topwater" would be someone who thinks they know everything about the sport because they read it somewhere and is not willing to listen to and learn from more experienced hunters.

[riverat]

two dudes walk into your timber hole out of breath with two north face backpacks full of dekes and brand new drake hats on, hand you a napkin with drunken scribbles all over it and ask if this is where they are supposed to be and if not could you tell them. the whole time one guy is looking up as the sky begins to break and says how awesome your spot looks and then the next two times you show up they are in there with 4 more of their cake walking friends, until nine when they finally leave after blowing the single reeds out of their rnt competition duck calls and killing chit.

i know i started somewhere but at least it was with a veteran or two.

[jacksbuddy]

Don't worry driveby. The list is not complete. We've all got SOMETHING topwater. And when you show up at the hole with it, you - like all of us who have gone before - will be summarily thrashed. It's all part of the fun.

Now, Where are my camo shades?

[Trykon]

-Brand new 100 dollar duck calls they bought thinking it will make them sound better.
-5 mojos
-2 mallard machines
-guys that are asking directions to a hole on public land at the ramp or trail

and the biggest thing!!! The kids who think that you should call louder when the birds get closer.
I can't tell you how many birds i watched this one group of kids flare opening morning. The birds would turn and start to commit and these kids would go to calling their asses off! Of course the birds would then pick straight up and leave.

[GulfCoast]

Neoprene camo thermos will get your chops busted. I claimed I stole it from Anatadae!

[Blackduck]

2B1ask1

[tunica]

How about Saturday morning, a guy drives down and parks on a levee that, to my knowledge, is closed to vehicle traffic. Then walks in on us, despite our shouting and flashlights, about 20 minutes before legal shooting time. Then he proceeds to tell us that he has "driven a long way" (opposed to my 2 hour drive) and that this is "the only spot I know" (despite the thousands of acres of open public land within a 30 minute drive of where we were). After reminding us that it was public land, that he didn't have anywhere else to go, and that he wasn't leaving, he sets up his decoys (maybe 6 mallard decoys and the MOJO!) roughly 60-70 yards from us.

I like to think that peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are things that mark my life. These guys pushed my limits though.

I don't know if I could go back to hunting public land, looks like nothing has changed since I last hunted public.

I swear I was so tired from the drive I did not see any no parking signs. Plus you guys where nice...So next time I'll move farther away.

[Ordek Avci]

How about Saturday morning, a guy drives down and parks on a levee that, to my knowledge, is closed to vehicle traffic. Then walks in on us, despite our shouting and flashlights, about 20 minutes before legal shooting time. Then he proceeds to tell us that he has "driven a long way" (opposed to my 2 hour drive) and that this is "the only spot I know" (despite the thousands of acres of open public land within a 30 minute drive of where we were). After reminding us that it was public land, that he didn't have anywhere else to go, and that he wasn't leaving, he sets up his decoys (maybe 6 mallard decoys and the MOJO!) roughly 60-70 yards from us.

I like to think that peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are things that mark my life. These guys pushed my limits though.

I don't know if I could go back to hunting public land, looks like nothing has changed since I last hunted public.

I swear I was so tired from the drive I did not see any no parking signs. Plus you guys where nice...So next time I'll move farther away.

Please tell me that this is a joke.

[hootnhollar]

I know this isn't the right place for this post, but back during turkey season on a WMA My bud and I were standing on the road in a drain. Had a bird hammering we were just trying to figure out how to get to him, some dude pulls up in his truck...headlights on, radio loud, and asks which side of the road we were hunting. I told him that we had heard two birds the morning before and that we may split up and hunt both sides of the road. He got mad cause we were hunting HIS turkey and revved his truck up as he was pulling away. He went to the next drain down and proceeded to use every call he had in his vest as loud as he could. The gobbler was only about 50 yards in front of us while he was doing that and he never paid him any mind. We killed the bird and rushed back out to the road to show the guy HIS bird. What can we call him other than the few "choice" words I was using in the blind?

[dukhunter]

How about Saturday morning, a guy drives down and parks on a levee that, to my knowledge, is closed to vehicle traffic. Then walks in on us, despite our shouting and flashlights, about 20 minutes before legal shooting time. Then he proceeds to tell us that he has "driven a long way" (opposed to my 2 hour drive) and that this is "the only spot I know" (despite the thousands of acres of open public land within a 30 minute drive of where we were). After reminding us that it was public land, that he didn't have anywhere else to go, and that he wasn't leaving, he sets up his decoys (maybe 6 mallard decoys and the MOJO!) roughly 60-70 yards from us.

I like to think that peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are things that mark my life. These guys pushed my limits though.

I got into a booty whoopin contest over that exact same thing 2 years ago. AAAHHH YEAH GOOD TIMES GOOD TIMES.........

[Double R 2]

How about Saturday morning, a guy drives down and parks on a levee that, to my knowledge, is closed to vehicle traffic. Then walks in on us, despite our shouting and flashlights, about 20 minutes before legal shooting time. Then he proceeds to tell us that he has "driven a long way" (opposed to my 2 hour drive) and that this is "the only spot I know" (despite the thousands of acres of open public land within a 30 minute drive of where we were). After reminding us that it was public land, that he didn't have anywhere else to go, and that he wasn't leaving, he sets up his decoys (maybe 6 mallard decoys and the MOJO!) roughly 60-70 yards from us.

I like to think that peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are things that mark my life. These guys pushed my limits though.

If ever I were going to practice my 80-90+ yard shots that would definitely have been the morning.

[Hays Creek]

I need clarification: is it topwater to hunt out of an early model Toyota sedan?

[eSJay]

I need clarification: is it topwater to hunt out of an early model Toyota sedan?

Only IF your shell choice is Black Cloud endorsed by the duck Commander!

[grnheadhuntr]

If a new camo pattern comes out and you go bankrupt replacing everything you own with it so you will match...

If you have enough stickers on your back glass that you have to stick your head out the window in order to back the boat in...

If you get out to the hole and pull out your Iphone to check wind direction (before setting your dekes) and shooting time...

If you have a waterfowl I.D. card in the front pocket of your waders...

If you pull your shirt out of your bag at camp and it has creases from being starched...

If you put the goose bands that you bought at a raffle on your lanyard...