Lake Istokpoga

[chiplaughton]

I just found out about UW-F's forum. I moved to the North Carolina mountains about 9 years ago and wanted to get the duck hunting report on Lake Istokpoga for the last couple of seasons. My parents have had a home on the lake for about 15 years and I hunted there quite a bit when I was living in Florida. My dad mainly bass fishes so I do not get a very good report from him. The south end of the lake took quite a hit from the hurricanes. I also used to hunt the Holey Lands and walk in area on the road to the Holey Lands (used to be sod fields but I do not think it is open any more, I can't remember the name). Anyway have been reading some of the posts and really like the site. So if anyone could give me the story on the lake or any of the areas down that way I would appreciate. I am hoping in the next couple of seasons I will be able to get back down there.

[Converted]

Welcome to the site chip. I've had some memorable hunts on Istokpoga. It seems it's either hot or cold. If you are thinking about coming down shoot me an e-mail and I'll try to get you on some ducks on Isty or nearby. How's the NC waterfowling? We took our vacation this summer in Blowing Rock and now the family wants to move up that way:(

[chiplaughton]

Thanks, I live up in the mountains about 10 miles from Hendersonville. The duck hunting is improving here in the mountains. It is not great by any means. It seems as if more ducks are passing through here than before. Typically I hunt the rivers and river mouths flowing into some of the lakes. Mostly, wood ducks and mallards with occasional Canada (growing resident population). Alot of guys jump shoot around here. I prefer to try and decoy birds myself. My folks are retired and have a cabin not far from my house. My mom is originally from the coast of NC, they have been lookin for a small cottage to make a fishing/hunting camp for my Father and me out on the Sound. Last year a guy I worked with was given an invite to hunt Currituck in January. They were covered up in Pintails and Redheads. The group he went with had been hunting there for 20 years and said it was one of their best years ever. You can only take one Pintail a day, but he said they had flocks of 100 come into the decoys. Same with the Redheads. My buddy had never even been duck hunting before, we typically dove and grouse hunt together. He could not believe it. We had to warn him that it is not always that good.

The second phase of our season starts in two weeks.. I have 4 dogs 3 labs and a springer. My new lab that I have been training is strictly going to be a dove and duck dog for the next couple of seasons. So this will be his first round at ducks. He did great on doves. The other dogs can handle the grouse and woodcock.

Love the site. It seems like you a have a great organization.