[Rat Creek]

All depends upon the size of the area, if you can flood it in the fall, and if you have access to equipment.

If you can grow corn or milo, they are pretty fool proof for attracting and holding birds, but you need equipment.

The easiest and most effective thing I have used is Japanese millet. You really don't need to prepare the ground, just get it in contact with the soil. Also, you don't want to plant it too early because it has a pretty short lifecycle from germination to seed.

When our duck lake dries out, we broadcast Japanese millet in late June or early July. Most of the dirt is exposed already, so we simply drag a piece of chain-link fence behind an ATV to help get it in contact with the soil.

 

[Rat Creek]

And it is not baiting.

In its simplest form, baiting occurs when you mess with any crop you have planted. If you plant a food plot, don't knock it down, pick it, or even look at it.

Just to be safe, I would recommend you not plant the spot you plan to put your decoys. That way you don't disturb anything while setting decoys or walking in and out.

 

[Rat Creek]

Totally agree. Standing corn or a pile of corn might seem similar, but in practice it's entirely different. If you are hunting in 80 acres of flooded standing corn, you still have to get them to come into your spot, where you are set-up.

If you are in an open field and simply keep 100 pounds of corn piled up in the middle, then the birds are coming to one spot to feed. Like hunting pets I guess.

 

[Rat Creek]

It is what it is. Based upon the little information I have, I would guess your water is a resting and loafing location, so birds will use it for that. And that is not bad, particularly on blue bird days.

You may have some success planting some Japanese millet or something like that along the edges where the heads of grain will be slightly above surface level...IF you can get it to germinate in the very rocky and sketchy soil.

If not, just hunt it as open water as a resting area, and think of the money and time you have saved by not planting and cultivating a crop.