Divers come back fast, so rather than set up a big spread of several hundred decoys, it's a better idea to prepare for a "rapid response" by setting out a couple of dozen decoys and waiting for the first divers to return to their favored feeding area. It usually takes between 10 and 30 minutes for the first ducks to return and hunters should be already set up and waiting, ready to shoot within that time.

After the first flocks return, hunters can add decoys each time they head out to retrieve their downed ducks. During breaks in the action, usually over the course of a couple of hours, they can build a pretty hefty spread of fake ducks by adding a couple of dozen each time they shoot at a flock.

Many hunters use trotline rigs for their decoys, putting up to two-dozen decoys on one line. This aids in setting them out with speed and keeps much of the hydrilla off the anchors, since there are fewer anchors to reach the bottom and become entangled in the plant stems.

"The hydrilla is the blessing and the bane of duck hunting at Roanoke Rapids Lake," McAuly said. "If it wasn't here, the duck numbers would be much lower. But it also makes it much more difficult to get around on, to pick up decoys and to retrieve downed ducks. But if the lake had a smooth bottom, devoid of any waterweeds, I don't think there would be much reason for ducks to come here or for hunters to come here to hunt them."

For more information, call Darrell McAuly, Carolina Water Fowler at (910) 486-0241 or (910) 263-3499.