Rodman is not just about fishing

by Dennis Harvin

Rodman reservoir is one of the most unique places to fish I have ever encountered…but my first experience with Rodman Reservoir was hunting for Ringneck Ducks in the early 80's…

One of my installers was after me to go duck hunting with him… so I finally caved in and at 3am one Saturday we left Orange Park and headed for Rodman.

We launched from the ramp off SR 19 at around 4:30am and paddled his jon boat through the weeds into the small cove just off the Barge Canal.

For the next hour, we put out decoys and then paddled the jon boat into the middle of a clump of lily pads and anchored it broadside to the decoys… Next we covered the boat with camo. tarps and burlap bags…

Then we shined our lights on the decoys to make sure we were positioned just right and settled down to wait for sunrise…

It was 40 degrees but we were both sweating like hogs… Duck hunting is not for the weak at heart!!!

It was about 45 minutes before daylight when I heard a wherr sound overhead and a splash, but I could not see a thing… "They're in the decoys… don't move." my buddy said.

The next fifteen minutes lasted a lifetime but by being very still the ducks playing in the decoys brought in another flock and it was now legal shooting time…

They surprised us from behind… twisting, turning and going 90 …My partner and I unloaded both guns on the flock and he got one bird… but it was the most exciting 10 seconds of hunting I had ever experienced!