Powroznik not ducking Classic prep

Jacob Powroznik is considered one of the best up-and-coming anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series. In two years on tour, heâs captured two major wins with a Rookie of the Year title.

Read the full article on Powroznik’s prep.

The affable angler has become one of the forces on the Elite Series, finishing 2015 with a fifth place finish in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

As good as Powroznik is with a rod in his hand, he is also regarded as one of the top waterfowlers on the east coast, where he spends his offseason guiding at the renowned Blandfield Plantation. He believes his work at the plantation during a typical duck season prepares him for the rigors of the Elite Season in a variety of ways.

Bassmaster.com recently spent a few days shadowing Powroznik as he guided clients to ducks and geese during the final week of the season in Virginia. The hunt took place on the heels of Winter Storm Jonas when ice and snow were constant reminders of the cold that gripped the Northeast.

Powroznik and his retriever Scobby watch the skies waiting for ducks to float into the open water below a beaver dam on one of the creeks flowing through Blandfield Plantation.

Powroznik showed early on that he was a master with a variety of calls, using a whistle to peep to widgeon and gadwalls overheard.

A few calls later and a pair of gadwalls would pitch into the hole.

Acting as a backup shooter, Powroznik would help his clients with any finishing shots.

Then he’d send Scobby across the ice to fetch.

On occasion, Powroznik would have to traverse the treacherous creek to break ice or find a duck that fell out of sight.

He would do whatever it took to provide a good hunt for his clients.

Often throwing in a one-line zinger at a poor shot.

But there always seemed to be plenty of ducks and chances.

After a night of breaking ice in the Blandfield Marsh along the Rappahannock River, Powroznik would be standing in the tules waiting for the sun to rise…

…while his clients stood inside a blind.

All of them were waiting for the splendor of the morning with sunrise painting the sky, signifying the start of the day.

Powroznik would once again play duck music on his call.

The sun would cast a reflection of clouds around his decoys and the hunt would be on.

And pods of ducks would answer Powroznik by sailing out of the river and into the marsh.

Powroznikâs lanyard is adorned with multiple bands from ducks and geese, a literal necklace of trophies for a duck hunter.

Powroznik would very seldom take his eyes off the horizon waiting for the next flock of birds.

When ducks would appear, he would be back to calling.

And Scobby would start scanning the skies.

Every once in a while, the moving tide would pull a sheet of ice out of the marsh and into the decoys, requiring a long-distance break up with a well placed shot.

And clients would provide some well-placed shots of their own with this mallard drake.

With the morning hunt over, Powroznik would gather the boat, the decoys and the retrieverâ¦

…pick up his clients and head out of the marsh.

Next he totes the gear and ducks back to dry land.

This long dock allows hunters to get well within the marsh, keeping them from a lengthy boat ride.

After a quick photo with the pile of ducks from the morning, shot by three different groups, Powroznik was back at work.

While clients ate and napped, Powroznik was in a nearby cornfield setting up for a Canada goose hunt.

Powroznik and his fellow guides would set out a few hundred decoys…

…hoping to entice several of the flocks of Canada geese milling around the area.

And they did too. This pair came in just after the clients got in the blind.

Sadie, Rex Bowenâs retriever, picks up the first bird of the afternoon.

Powroznik and Will Argabright would be as adept with a goose call as they are with a duck call.

Although Powroznik would take a break every now and then to check out the live weigh-in from the Southern Open on Lake Toho.

Even with the breaks, the pair called in several Canada geese.

And Sadie would pick up every one the hunters knocked down.

The next morning Powroznik and Bowen would take their clients to the edge of a flooded bean field.

Powroznik would stand to the side, waiting for birds to show.

Bowen would join him to the rear.

The two would stand guard in the shadows during the entire hunt, calling and coaxing birds to the position.

And before long, ducks would start pitching into the open water.

Sometimes they came in triplets.

Sometimes in pairs.

And occasionally they came aloneâ¦

But mostly they came in flocks.

The occasional single would pitch into the water on the edge of the iceâ¦

…while other ducks circled…

…and looked for a place to light.

There always seemed to be a duck somewhere, enticed to the blind by Powroznikâs calls.

Those that fell were retrieved by Sadie.

And there were occasional moments when a pair of mallards would provide an extra bit of excitement.

The sounds of a successful duck hunt even attracted the attention of the local game wardens, who slipped in to the check out all the hunters.

And took an extra moment to pose for a gag photo with Powroznik. In his world, itâs all in dayâs work.