I grew up hunting on the St.Lawrence river from a late Sept opening to mid Dec, always found the biggest, baddest ducks would show up near season's end. Big Mallards, Blacks, Pins and Canvasbacks, Long Tail's, Scoters and even Eiders would would be seen. We would rig a decent diver set up and then add Mallards and Blacks between them and the boat blind. When it would get really cold you would almost have the river to yourself. I used a Chessie at that time, when he returned from a retrieve the water would freeze on his coat, the only time he ever shivered was when he saw ducks cup their wings and commit to land in the decoys. I would suggest scouting for a sheltered area as ducks do not like to land in fast moving water, a really large decoy setup is not required as you will probably not have too much competition. A dozen each of divers and dabblers would probably do. When all the ponds and lakes are frozen but not the rivers, the ducks seem to follow the rivers looking for a good place to stop and feed, hopefully in front of your blind, good luck.
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