Pond/lake choice, what do I look for

This coming season will be my first duck shooting attempt. I have 2 small lakes that I am interested in shooting. One has maimais and a couple are probably taken. I need a boat to get to them and I have a kayak so possible. On the first reci few birds were seen. The lake is deep even around some of the maimais. I have never seen swans on this lake but that dosent mean there not there.
The other pond is just pegged and I can only find 1 peg out of the four. None of the pegs were balloted last year. At the moment plenty of ducks and parries some swans and geese. Walking access and not a big hike. Dont know the depth around the shooting areas yet.
Both lakes need vegetation cutting willows and blackberry and I thought I may plant some things for cover. At the moment looking at the flight paths on both lakes as I was told this is what I need to be close to for incoming birds
So hopefully some of you wonderful people will give me some pointers of how to chose my spot.
Once I have picked my spot I think the guy at fish and game is happy to put your name on it after the ballot as long as its not already chosen.

talk to fish n game if its a balloted thing,or you will be doing work for someone else.....it sounds like you already know answer,the pond has birds...lakes can be fun too...you have a YAK... go paddle around and have a look...after first two weekends of season MOST maimais dont get used at all.... by NZ law you can jump into any maimai and use it for the day if its not in use by 8am......

treat first season as learning curve....and birds being a bonus and you will have a ball....if you EXPECT to shoot 20-30 birds you setting self up to be dissapointed.
a camo net and half dozen decoys,a caller and face paint.......go and give it a go.
feel free to PM with any questions you dont want to ask in open.....I reckon I have made enough mistakes now to have learnt a thing or two to avoid.

If its real windy and the lake is rough can you get to your decoys and yourself to your maimai if you are relying on your kayak to get you there ?

more importantly,if it cuts up rough can you get back to shore ...they tell me more than 1 fella has spent rough night in maimai on wainono over the years...

Like mentioned above I would treat the first year (and the rest to come) as a learning curve, I have always been a fan of trying to hunt where the birds want to be so without seeing the lakes I would suggest best bet would be where you saw the most birds.
In saying that though, my current opening spot you would be lucky to spot more than half a dozen ducks on it at any given time but once the shooting starts they seem to love it as a safe haven and we cant keep them out. I only found the spot by watching birds on opening morning from another mai mai then trying this spot the next year. Just don't get too hung up on having to stay at the first place you pick, even flight paths can change from year to year so keep watching and changing if you have to.

Like mentioned above I would treat the first year (and the rest to come) as a learning curve, I have always been a fan of trying to hunt where the birds want to be so without seeing the lakes I would suggest best bet would be where you saw the most birds.
In saying that though, my current opening spot you would be lucky to spot more than half a dozen ducks on it at any given time but once the shooting starts they seem to love it as a safe haven and we cant keep them out. I only found the spot by watching birds on opening morning from another mai mai then trying this spot the next year. Just don't get too hung up on having to stay at the first place you pick, even flight paths can change from year to year so keep watching and changing if you have to.