Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River at Manchester, Ohio 01-24-2012 19:29
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-22-12
Jim and I decided that Sunday would be better because they were predicting freezing rain Friday nite. We did get freezing rain and we had about .25” of solid ice on everything, the ramps would have been impossible. I met Jim at his farm at 7:00 am and his son followed us to the General Store in Augusta Ky. I was planning to hunt there (Augusta) because the local duck hunters always salt the ramp. When we got to Augusta we saw that they had almost no freezing rain. Randy said he was at Maysville Saturday (Cattle auction) and there was no ice. After breakfast we decided to go to Kinniconnick mile 368 Ohio River, but then we changed our minds and went to Manchester mile 397. On the way out of Augusta, I checked the ramp; just two trucks, not a good sign. We drove up the double A and crossed over at the new bridge at Maysville. I drove past the Dairy Yum-Yum feeling guilty. There were 2 trucks at the Maysville Ramp. We pulled into the fancy park at the Manchester ramp and used the covered picnic tables to change into our waders and coveralls. We need to thank the city of Manchester for this great facility.
River at 37, east 5 mph wind cloudy and low of 24. 10 hp started after shot of ether. We headed up the Ohio bank, planning to float the KY side of the big island. As we ran up Jim and I both spotted 2 geese sitting just US of the down stream tip on the island, on the Ohio side. We then decided to float them. About 3/4 up the island I crossed over just in time to jump up 5 mallards. I turned and ran up to the US tip of the island. We started paddling down. Nothing until we got to the end and we both spotted the geese. I floated right up on them, and told Jim to take them. He got one and I got one. I had to shoot mine again on the water. We picked them up, a good way to start the day. We ran back up, this time to float the KY side of the island. On the way up my cell phone said 10 mph US. We started down the KY side of the island. The cell said a steady 2 mph as I floated DS. Jim spotted the entire way down. He said Geese ahead, a big group sitting on the pretty sand beach. While 200 yards out the all got up and flew DS. We got to the DS tip of the island, and nothing. We pulled into the sand bar at the tip of the island for a cup of coffee and cookies. I look up and there is a Raccoon all balled up right at the waters edge. I assumed he was dead. I got out of the boat to investigate, and walked up to within 15 feet, and he jumped up, and glared at me. We left him alone. We had our cookies and noticed he went back to sleep.
We pushed off and ran up the Ohio bank with plans to float the KY bank above the islands. I ran up to just above McClelland run and crossed over. As we were crossing, both Jim and I glassed the bank up and down so we would not screw up on some ducks. None spotted. We started paddling down the KY bank. Across from the island Jim spotted a bunch of about 10 ducks sitting on the sand at the waters edge. We got to within 50 yards, and they all got up and flew DS. Jim spotted more below these. It was a hen and a drake sitting on the waters edge. I paddled up and they did not move and had their heads down the entire float. There were a few trees in the water about 10 feet past the waters edge. I got right besides them and turned the bow of the boat into the bank, to give Jim a better shot. I said take them Jim. The drake flew out towards us and DS and Jim dropped it with 2 shoots, I remember saying to myself, god that duck is close. The hen flew back away and US. I had to wait for an opening in the tress, but dropped her with 1 shot. 2 dead ducks on the water. We picked them up and headed to the bank for coffee. We pushed off and 5 minutes Jim spotted more. We got right up on about 10 mallards. I got right besides them and was turning the bow when they got up. I yelled Jim take them. 2 shots from him and 2 shoots from me, and not a feather on the water. They were well within 25 yards.
We kept on going DS and Jim spotted Geese and ducks below us. We got to within 250 yards and the whole mess got up and flew DS. We kept on going down. We continued on down and Jim spotted ducks below. We got right up on them, I told Jim to take them, I fired two times and missed, and Jim dropped a drake. We picked up our duck. We continued on DS. We are now DS of the islands. Jim spotted some ducks below. I also found them thru the binocs; they were swimming along the bank, maybe 5 mallards. I got to within 100 yards and they started out. They swam out 25 yards or to our distance from the bank. I had to turn the bow to the right so they could not see me paddling, and pull the boat out a bit. They hung out 25 yards from the bank and swam DS with us in pursuit. They slowly headed into the bank. I got to within 40 yards, and they headed back out and again swam DS. The whole time I am doing this I am spotting ahead with my binocs because when I get the boat out so far, I may just give up on the ducks swimming out, if I spot ducks ahead that are on the bank. Jim is hunkered down and can not see a thing. The guy in the back can sight over the side of the boat without scaring the ducks. I spot 3 ducks ahead. They act like a magnet, and pull my 5 mallards to them. They all joined up at the waters edge. I got right besides them and told Jim to take them. I fired 3 times and nothing. Jim dropped a hen right at the waters edge, dead on the water. We marked its location while I cranked up the 10 to retrieve her. We got to where she was, and she was gone. I ran up the bank and then backed down, no duck. We got out on the bank, and rotted around the tree roots at the waters edge, nothing. We pulled into the bank where we last saw her and had our lunch. Many times they will jump out of the water if they attach themselves to a root if you wait a bit. In this case we never did find her.
We pushed off DS. Below the rock bank across from Manchester we spotted many ducks sitting on the bank. We got to within 40 yards, and all I could see was ducks stretched out below me, and they all got up, no shots. We kept on paddling DS. Jim spotted ducks below, and I saw that they were very white thru the binocs. They were buffel heads. We got right beside them and floated down together. They finally got scared and took off. Jim spotted 5 blacks below us. While we were .25 mile above them, they swam out to middle of the Ohio, and then took off. We kept on paddling DS and Jim spotted about 6 mallards way below us at the point. (We call the point the last bit of bank that you can see ahead thru binoculars). As I got closer they swam out. They then went back in. We played this gave for .5 mile of river, when they swam into 10 more below us. They got out on the bank just in front of me, while the other 10 were 20 yards further DS. I got right up on my 6 and told Jim to take them. 3 flew DS and I got 2 of them, 3 flew US and I assumed Jim got some of those. Jim didn’t see the 6 I floated up on and shot at the 10 ahead, who were at the range of his little 20 gage. We picked up my two; a hen and a drake. At this point we are across from Moyers, so we decided to head US and come back down the KY bank above the Island. On the run up the Ohio bank we jumped up maybe two groups of mallards. I ran up to the same location I started from this morning. We paddled down and Jim spotted ducks below. It was 6 wood ducks at the waters edge. We got to within 30 yards, and they took off, no shots fired. As we were passing Manchester Island we spotted maybe 25 geese on the big island. We decided to try to float them. I ran up to the head of the island and started down stream. We got to within 200 yards and they took off. At this time it was 5:15 so we decided to call it a day. We pulled the boat out and I took a picture of Jim with our Geese and ducks. 6 mallards and 2 Geese, not a bad day. We ate supper at the Maysville Ponderosa; I was home at 8:15. When I unpacked my stuff my cheap camera was gone. No clue where it went.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Duck Hunt 1-15-12 01-18-2012 20:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-15-12
I met Jim at his farm at 7:00. His son followed us in his truck so we could all eat at the General Store in Augusta, had a great breakfast. We saw 3 trucks at the Augusta ramp. We ran up route 8 and crossed over at the new Maysville Bridge. We saw 2 trucks at the Maysville ramp. We ran up to Manchester and were in the water at 9:15. The 10 hp did not want to start, but starting fluid did the job. Low at 16, river at 32, suppose to be 5 mph wind. We motored across and started paddling down. Jim spotted ducks below us. I got within 50 yards and 3 got up and flew down and landed about 200 yards down. We spotted 2 more. The river was perfect, no wind, I paddled down and was just about ready to tell Jim to take them, when the hen and drake got up. I yelled take them. Jim missed the drake but got the hen. The sun was in our eyes the whole time. I cranked up the motor and picked up the hen. We pulled into the bank, to let the ducks who swam out about .5 mile below us settle down. We had coffee and cookies.
I pushed off and we soon spotted more ducks below. We got to within 100 yards and they got up and flew. We kept going down, we spotted Geese below us, mixed with ducks. They all got up when we were 150 yards out. We kept on paddling. Jim spotted some more below. About 5 mallards were sitting on the waters edge. I got right up on them. I told Jim to take them. He shot two times and nothing. I was not able to shoot, they went right over Jim’s head. By now the wind is up a bit and the sun was in our eyes. We spotted Geese across from us sitting in front of a house with green grass grazing. We decided to try the Ohio bank. I ran up the Ky bank to almost Manchester and crossed over. We stared down the Ohio bank. The sun was better, but the wind was in our faces, but no too bad. We paddled down to the house with the geese. We looked down and could not see them. As we got closer we rounded a group of willows and there they were. I got to within 50 yards and they started walking up the bank towards the house. I joked to Jim that they were going to hide in the guys garage. We watched them walk away. We continued on down. A barge pushing a small dry-dock was running US, this is the first I have seen this far DS, they are all over above Ashland. We passed Moyers, it did not appear to be open. We came to the facility below Moyers and the wind got strong. We decided to run up above Manchester.
We stared US. We jumped nothing on the run up except for 2 groups of buffel heads. We came up to the big island and saw a bunch of geese at the DS end and up the bank on the Ohio side. We ran up the Ohio bank and crossed over to the ky side of the big island and started DS. The middle of the island was beautiful, a sand bank with weeds out in the water. I look up and there are 2 mallards playing in the weeds. I got right beside them and then turned the skiff so that the bow was pointed at them. I dropped the paddle, got my gun and waited for them to fly. We got within maybe 20 yards and they got up. Jim got the drake and I got the hen. We picked them up and headed into the bank. We could see duck and geese prints in the sand. We pushed off and continued down. As we approached the end of the island we heard geese below us. I rounded the end of the island, and turned the skiff to the right and turned US and the end of the island. There was no current due to the eddie currents at the end of the island. We jumped 20 geese that were behind some willows. They flew right over Jim, no more than 20 yards out. I watched as Jim picked out one and fired. He did not fire a second time. I saw his goose fall. I cranked up the 10 and saw two geese dead on the water. He got two with 1 shoot. We picked them up, they were super big. We decided to run up and come down the KY bank above the islands. We started up the Ohio bank. At island creek we saw 3 guys with 6 decoys out, in a blind up in the creek. We stopped and asked how they had done. They said they shot some fish ducks that morning. We headed US and ran almost to Wrightsville. We crossed over and started down the Ky bank. We spotted ducks below us. They swam out and proceeded to swim across the river. I cranked up the motor and we idled down using the binocs to spot. Jim spotted ducks below, I cut the motor and stared paddling. We got to within 100 yards and they took off. Across from the island the sun was so bad we could not see ahead. We crossed over and floated down the Ky side of the small island. No ducks. I cranked up the 10 hp and crossed back to the Ky bank. By now the sun was behind the Ky hill along the river. We scared up 5 blacks before we were ready to float. We headed down to across from the ramp and pulled out. Great supper at the Maysville Bob Evans. Home by 8:00
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River at Vanceburg Ky 01-10-2012 21:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Duck Hunt 1-8-12
I called Jim Friday nite and told him that Sunday would be better, wind out of the south east at 5mph verses 10mph Saturday. We decided that we would put in at Vanceburg Ky mile 378 Ohio river. I have only hunted that stretch of river maybe 3 times, so it was semi new to us. I met Jim Sunday morning at 7:00 am and we headed east on the AA highway. Had a great breakfast at the Maysville Bob Evans. We put in at the ramp at the park on Salt Lick Creek. The ramp at the river was open, but there was too much mud at the bottom of the ramp, left by last weeks high river. The 4×4 Chev would probably been ok on the ramp, but why risk it when the other ramp is just down the road. We put in at the park at the boat ramp on the Salt Lick Creek. The B motor did not want to start, until I sprayed starting fluid in the carb silencer.
We ran out to the Ohio and started down at a idle. River at 31′ so we have almost no river. Low Saturday nite maybe 32, lowest so far this season was 17. The River was beautiful, a sheet of glass. As we were motoring down looking thru the binocs two black ducks got up about 50 yards in front of us, Jim and I both missed them. There is nothing harder to spot than a black duck on a river bank. We continued on down. With the river this low spotting was fairly easy, so while Jim looked below us, I looked across the river to the Ohio bank. About 1 mile below Vanceburg I spotted a lone Goose across from us. I told Jim it was just to the left of the blue jug, but he could not find it. I told Jim I was sure it was there. Then we look below and here comes a boat up our bank, it is a fisherman. God I hate warm winters. I told Jim since our bank is shot, lets get the goose. We ran up the Ky bank to Salt Lick and crossed over and motored down to about 500 yards from where I thought he was ,I started paddling. I spotted him thru the binocs, but Jim still could not find him. At last he did. The Goose was sitting at the waters edge of a sand bank, and had his head down with no concern. I paddled right up on him and told Jim to take him. The goose looked startled and proceeded to walk up the bank, away from us. He would not fly, and this saved his life. I passed him, then started up the 10 hp put it in reverse and got the boat right at the waters edge. The Goose finally flew but we did not shoot. We continued down the Ohio bank at a slow idle. We look DS and here comes another fisherman. He anchors about 1 mile below us. We motor down to him and then crossed back to the Ky bank. We passed Quicks Run site of a old lost silver mine. As we were running down slow another fisherman runs up the Ky bank and anchors right next to the first guy. Across from the Rome ramp I decided to run back up and try our luck above Vanceburg. We hunted this stretch below Rome before, and I wanted to try newer territory.
I ran up the Ohio bank. Below Vancebrg we stopped to talk to one of the two catfishermen. They were anchored with a least 6 poles out the back of the boat. They said they had just each caught one small one. The other boat was US maybe 50 yards. The two boats were buddies, both had put in at Shawnee Park, up river. We continued motoring US at a slow rate spotting for ducks. Directly across from Vanceburg, I pulled into the bank for lunch. It was a pretty site, downtown Vanceburg, but we did not see a living soul in town the whole time we ate. I started back up the Ohio bank running slow. We so far had seen 2 blacks and our goose. About 1 mile above Vanceburg we spot a guy hunting on the bank with a dog. We always stop and chat with hunters so I cut the motor. I asked how was the hunting?, he said he was deer hunting, but we do not see the dog. I asked why?, he said because it is illegal to hunt deer with dog, but it was not his dog, but his wife’s, and if he shot , it would just fly home to mommy. The guy looked like Hemmingway, he had a pipe and a gray berd, kind of a cool guy. We wished him luck and headed US. Next a guy in a john boat comes up behind us and waves and goes up the Ohio bank, clearing the bank of any ducks ahead.(if there were any) At this point I decided to run up the Ky bank because it had less cover (a sand bank) and would be easier to spot. I crossed over and ran past Rock Run and Buena Vista and the rock steam boat landing. (back in the 1840’s there were large rock quarries here and across river and they loaded Buena Vista rock from this facility to steamboats bound for Cincinnati) The suspension bridge piers, the L&N bridge piers and many buildings in Cincinnati were constructed from Buena Vista Rock.
I decided that we had enough fun for today and crossed over to the Ohio side to run back the Ohio Bank. As we pulled into the bank to get ready, I spotted two wood ducks 100 yards above us. I got out the binocs and spotted 10 mallards about 300 yards above the wood ducks. I backed the skiff down and then I wanted to cross over to run up above the mallards, but a barge was heading up. He was catching us the whole trip up the KY bank. I did not want to cross in front of him, so I ran DS a bit and crossed over behind him. He had some giant rollers, so I had to run back more until these reduced. I started up the Ky bank. At this point I got my new phone out and hit my compass app that also showed your speed. Wide open we were doing 11 mph, slower than I thought. I eased back on the throttle, because I still did not want to cross in front of the barge. I got out the binocs and sure enough there are 4 blacks ahead. So I eased over next to the barge, and matched his speed. I got as close as I dared, not wanting to alarm the barge guy. The barge was holding close to the Ky bank, so I was sure the blacks would get up. Sure enough two took off but two swam back to the bank. I marked there location. We matched the barges speed for another .5 miles, then I cut behind him to cross over. Still had to wait for the rollers to die down. We started paddling down the Ohio bank. We spotted two more wood ducks and passed them hoping for the mallards below. I spotted them below us. They were dabbling right on the waters edge. The swam out a bit and then went back in. I was sure we had them. All of a sudden they got up and flew away while we were still 90 yards out. They flew down stream and landed below us. At this time I spot the two wood ducks we first saw. The male was sitting on a log maybe 10 feet out in the water. As I got closed I saw a female was sitting next to him. I passed right by them, they never knew what we were. I kept on paddling. We got to within 100 yards of the mallards and all looked good. They paid no attention to us. At 50 yards they all got up and took off again, this time they kept going. I cranked up the 10 hp and idled down. I was going to run US and try the blacks when a fisherman runs up the KY bank scaring our black ducks out. I kept on running down the Ohio bank. At Buena Vista I showed Jim the rock dock. At Rock Creek I told Jim that above this creek was suppose to be beautiful cliffs on either side of the creek.
At this point it is 3:30 and the sun is in our face making spotting a bear. We crossed over to the KY bank and the stretch above Vanceburg looked good but no ducks. At Vanceburg we quite and I got my phone out, 15 mph DS wide open. That means we had a 2 mph current and my real speed is 13 mph. We pulled into Salt Lick, and right at the ramp is the catfisherman we talked to earlier. He has his big motor out of the water with the hood off. He said he was heading back to Shawnee when his motor caught on fire. He said he put it out with the fire extinguisher. He said a boat ran past him, saw that he was on fire, and kept on running. (the guy who scared up our black ducks). He said he was going to walk up the hill and see if he could get cell phone reception, if not would we drive him to the Shawnee ramp?. I said of course we would. He walked up and Jim and I pulled the skiff out. The guy holding the boat at the ramp was the father of the guy who walked up the hill. He told us he thought they were dead when the big mercury caught on fire. The son came down and told us his wife was picking him up, but thanked us for offering him a ride. We pulled out and had a fantastic supper at the Maysville Ponderosa. 21 miles of river covered and not a shot fired, but it was beautiful, and the stories we can tell. Another good day on the river.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Foster Ky 12-31-2011 19:52
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Duck Hunt 12-31-11
Jim said he could not make it on Saturday, so it was just me. According to the weather man Saturday was to be the only good day to float hunt, high winds for the rest of the weekend. The alarm went off; I got up and went back to bed. I got up latter and after Debi fixed me a good breakfast I drove to Foster KY mile 438 Ohio River. I stopped at the California Market to buy a sandwich, I forgot my lunch. River at 41 and low last nite maybe 38. So far we have had no cold weather at all, and no snow. I was second at the ramp but I figured out who it was, it was a commercial fisherman who has a net above foster. I put the skiff in and the B -10 started on the 4th pull. I started US and spotted the fisherman ahead, he was running back to the ramp. I stopped to see how they had done, none but the river dropped, and according to the fisherman that is bad, a rising river is better. He had his young daughter with him and she was cute.
I crossed over to the Ohio bank and started paddling. The wind was suppose to be out of the southwest at 5-10 and it was. I had a hard time holding the skiff straight. I looked ahead and about 25 geese were swimming out. They are always at the house below Neville and are wise to all duck hunting. They got up while I was still 200 yards away. I saw that there was some ducks behind them that did not fly. I floated down hoping to catch them. I came around a willow out in the water, and they were behind it, they got up while I was maybe 35 yards from them, by the time I got my gun up, they were out of range. I continued down. I spotted an eagle nest in a big sycamore tree, cool.
At this time the wind stopped. I looked at the smoke coming from Zimmer, and it was straight up. Great drifting conditions. I got to the town of Moscow and decided to run up and try the Kentucky bank. I ran up the Ohio bank and saw nothing. I crossed over below Foster and decided to run up Holts Creek and eat my lunch. With the river up, it was easy to run up this creek. I went about 1 mile up and came to an old bridge across the creek that was just 5’ above the water. It was old, and the deck was gone. Cool bridge, I am Bridgeman because I am a bridge engineer. I thought of the Engineer who designed this bridge, and how proud he was of his structure. He of course is dead since the bridge appeared to be from the 1890’s. I ate my sandwich and ran out of the creek. I started paddling down. I paddled all the way to Black River and not a duck. I cranked up and ran past Black River, and jumped up about 20 geese who stay behind the Black River Barges all the time. They know where it is safe from duck hunters. I started paddling down. I came to the barge facility above Mentor, no ducks. I cranked up and ran past these barges, passing 5’ from barge after barge loaded with coal. I cut the motor and paddled. It was fantastic, high river, plenty of cover, no wind, but no ducks. Across from the old Frontier Restaurant it was 4 pm, time to run back. I was back at the ramp at 5:05 and home by 6:00. Not a shot fired. I floated most likely 25 miles of river today.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River near Rome,Ohio 12-27-2011 20:44
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-27-11
I wanted to go out the day before Christmas but my Daughter’s new car
(2001 Mustang Convertible,V6 not V8) would not start because the key would not turn. We finally got it started, took it to a mechanic who could not find any problems, but it killed my hunt. It did the same thing Christmas day, but if you played with the key it would finally turn and start the car. We will fix it after the holidays. My wife said I could Christmas day after our traditional breakfast at Waffle House, but there was a 25 mph wind Christmas, no way to float and not enough ducks to decoy. Jim and I decided to go Monday back to Rome, Ohio mile 384 Ohio River. I met him at his farm at 7 am. We headed east on the double A after a stop at the California Market for coffee and cookies. We crossed over the new Maysville Bridge and stopped at the Dairy Yum-Yum for a great breakfast. It was a light crowd.
We were at the Rome Ramp by 8:30. Low Christmas nite 27 degrees, river at 41 no wind. We put the skiff in and the B motor did not want to start. After about 20 cranks it started. I riched up the low speed jet, it was set to lean. We started up the Ohio bank, we wanted to run about 2 miles up to try some new territory. We jumped up two small groups of mallards on the trip up. I looked to my right and a decoy boat passed running up the middle of the river, we wondered if they put in below us or at Vanceburg. I crossed over and started down the Ky bank. We paddled until we were right across from Rome and we spotted ducks who were swimming out about 70 yards in front of us, they hit the edge of the willows and took off. We kept floating down and Jim spotted 3 blacks ahead, but when we got to within 70 yards they swam out and took off. Same educated ducks as 2 weeks ago. We continued on down , and Jim spotted a group of Geese, as soon as he spotted them they got up a good 200 yards in front. We were not sure they even saw us, they just may have decided to fly to a new area. We pulled into the bank for coffee and cookies.
River all this time is fantastic, and now we have a slight downstream wind, which never happens. (Wind always from the west on the Ohio River.) We were coming up on Brush Creek island when Jim spotted 3 blacks ahead out from the willows. As we got closer they swam out. We floated down together and then they went back in, we got closer and they went back out. Right then 2 mallards got up right next to us and slightly behind. We were so concerned about the blacks ahead we missed spotting the 2 mallards. I had no shot, I yelled to Jim to take them, He missed the hen but got the drake. The shot was behind Jim slightly, a tough shot. We picked up the drake and pulled into the bank for coffee. We headed on down. We were floating along and 2 blacks got up behind us, we did not see them until they got up, no shots. We got to Wrightsville and headed into a creek for coffee. At this point we decided to head back US and try the Ohio bank above the Ramp where we had jumped up ducks in the morning. I ran up the Ohio bank. Drift was not as bad as normal, but I still managed to hit two “somethings”. Normally if you hit a log, you see it behind you after you hit it. In both cases I saw nothing behind me. We always run up at the edge of the willows, to get away from the strong current, and the bank sheds off most of the drift. You can see underwater logs, by it’s tell tale riffle from the current. In this case I held about 25 yards out in order to spot ahead with binoculars as I ran up. I have no idea what I hit, but the second time the 10 hp came completely out of the water. It over revved, and I stopped it. It did not want to restart, but finally did. We jumped up two small groups of ducks on the run US. Just below the Ramp, I crossed over to the Ky bank and ran up about 1.5 miles above the ramp and crossed over to the Ohio bank, and started paddling DS.
Jim spotted some ducks below us, but they swam out and took off at a good 100 yards out. Jim spotted two more ducks below us. They were swimming along the bank, and did not seem to be concerned about us. We got within about 30 yards, and they got up but flew along the bank towards us. Jim dropped one black on the bank, and did not shot at the second, they got up before I was ready, I did not get a shot. If the ducks had flown away from us they would have gotten away. When Jim shot about 4 ducks got up below us. I ran into the bank to pick up Jim’s black, and we had a cup of coffee. We headed on down and Jim spotted 3 below us. They were out at the edge of the willows. As we got closer I saw that they all disappeared, they were divers. We got right on them but did not shoot. We went down another mile and decided to head for home, it was 4:00 pm. We pulled out and had a great dinner at the Maysville Ponderosa. It must have been senior discount day, because everyone there was old, at least in their 60’s. I was home by 8:00
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Aberdeen 12-18-2011 20:09
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-17-11
I called Friday nite and told him I would meet him at 7:00 at his farm, he did not even ask where we were going. Jim had a bad week, he learned that his older brother died last Wednesday. I got up at 6:15 and got everything ready. I could not find the cup to my soup thermos, finally gave up. I t took forever to get the skiff hooked up to my Chev pickup. I was 15 minutes late to Jim’s farm. We decided to go to the General Store in Augusta for breakfast, and Randy Jim’s son followed us in his truck just to eat breakfast with us. We had a great breakfast. On the way out we stopped at the Augusta ramp, 8 trucks.
I had decided to put in at the ramp ay Aberdeen, Ohio mile 409 Ohio River. The river was at 31’ and there was suppose to be only a 5 mph wind. The low was around 27. 10 started on 3rd pull. We started down running slow spotting with the binoculars. With a 31’ river it is very easy to spot, because most of the bank is a sand bar. The river dropped from 44’ to 31’ in 3 days. We ran down to the new bridge and then crossed over to the KY bank. Again we putted down spotting for ducks. Jim spent a lot of time looking across the river at the green grass bank above Three mile creek, where there were geese hanging out last year, but he spotted nothing. We worked our way down to the power plant above Charleston Bottom, did not see a duck. We ran past the power plant and down past Lawrence Creek. By now the wind was in our face at I would guess 10 mph. We pulled in a Lawrence creek for a coffee break and cookies.
We could continue down or head up above Aberdeen. I decided to head up. We ran all the way back the Ohio bank, and did not see a duck. At the Aberdeen ramp I crossed over and started up the Ky bank. I ran up at about .5 throttle both looking up the bank with our binoculars. We just about ran over 4 mallards below the Maysville ramp. I pulled the skiff over to the Ohio bank and ran up about 1 mile crossed back over at the Maysville ramp. We started down stream at a idle and spotted the mallards below. I cut the motor and started paddling. They swam out at about 100 yards, and floated down with us for about 500 yards and then headed back to the bank. I got right beside them and told Jim to take them. I grabbed my gun and looked over and the mallards would not fly. They just swam US away from us. They were local ducks and were most likely looking for us to feed them. We cranked up the 10 and I tried to jump them up with the skiff, but they just swam into the bank, and would not fly. We ran up the ky bank all the way to
Crooked Creek and crossed over to the Ohio bank just below Moyers. At this point the wind was very bad and the river was a mess. I just ran down the Ohio bank all the way to the ramp. Just above the old Maysville Bridge I jumped up 5 ducks. Back at the ramp at 2:00 and home by 3:30. Not a shoot fired. 27 miles of river covered and we saw 7 ducks.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Rome,Ohio 12-13-2011 20:39
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-11-11
I called Jim Friday nite and told him I couldn’t go Saturday 12-10-11 because I had to go car shopping for my youngest daughter, but I could go Sunday. Saturday nite I listened to my NOAA radio –river at 44 and 5 mph south wind, that is fantastic. I called Jim and we met at his farm at 7:15. We were going to put in at Rome,Ohio. I took my 57 Johnson which was just fixed last week. This motor looks like a brand new 1957 10 hp Johnson, that’s why I bought it. It is so pretty , I never painted it dead grass green, but put a camo cover over the hood. Last year at the end of the Ky. Duck Season it would stop running, and the only way we could keep it running was to pump up the tank. I would run for ten minutes and stop again. My mechanic fixed that but when I test drove it this summer it would not re-start after you ran it and let it sit for 1 hour. It went back for repairs and last week he said he had fixed this when I picked it up Wednesday nite, but I had not tested it. This hunt was the test run. We went the double A to the Maysville Bridge and then in to Aberdeen to the Dairy Yum-Yum where we had a great breakfast, all the regulars were there. On the trip east on 52 we could not see how many hunters had put in at Maysville, the river was fogged over.
We were at the Ramp at Rome by 9:15 am. The river was fantastic, high and flying down stream, and a sheet of glass due to the lack of wind. The 10 hp started on the 4th pull (18 degrees) so that was good. We started up the Ohio bank, me with my Model 12- 20 gage and Jim with his Lefever 20 gage. I was trying this gun out instead of my normal 1100 Remington 20 gage. I was going to run up to the old lock and dam but the drift was bad, so I crossed over just US from Rome. We were banging around getting ready, I looked up-river and ducks were swimming out and then DS and ducks were swimming out. I was going to motor over to the bank to let the ones below settle down, but they took off, looked like 5 mallards, the ones above did the same. Typical start for a float hunt. We started paddling down stream, it was great. I was having problems holding the skiff straight due to all the eddy currents due to the high water. We looked over and it was clear that the water was way back into a weed field beyond the willows. Jim and I were talking about how good it was when 10 mallards got up behind us, they did not see us due to the weeds, but I think our voices scared them up. We had no shots. We floated down another mile and another group of mallards got up behind us, we never did see them before this. Jim spotted 4 blacks swimming out below us. We got to within 100 yards, and they took off. That’s not good. We spotted 10 ducks just as we were about to pass them, they got up, but flew back behind us, Jim got off one shot but missed. I looked up and ducks and Geese took off 75 yards in front of us, unreal. Headed on downstream. We spotted two more blacks below us. I paddled down, they swam out to look us over, liked what they saw and went back into the edge of the willows. By the time the boat got there they were well back into the bank. I turned the bow of the boat towards them and told Jim to take them. They got up and Jim missed with his first shot and got a black with the second. I really had no shot. I went to crank up the 10 hp to pick up the duck, and the 10 would not start, 50 cranks later, with the gas line disconnected, it started. We picked up the black and pulled into the bank for coffee and a pee. At this point I realized that I left my new king size thermos in the truck.
We started back down. Above the island we would get within 100 yards of mallards and blacks, they would swim out and take off. Perhaps the sun beating on the sides of the skiff was spooking them, or perhaps they were just very educated ducks. This kept up with 5 different groups of 2-10 ducks until we were below the Island. At this point we decided to head back Us and we would try the Ohio bank. I went to start the 10 and it would not start, 50 pulls later, and a unplugged gas, line it did. Jim said next time when you cut the motor, unhook the line to see what happened. We started up the Ky bank and jumped 4 groups of from 2-10 on the way back up. At the ramp I got my coffee, and I un-hooked the gas line. We ate lunch at the ramp. I started the 10 on the first pull, interesting, when it is connected it is flooding. I pushed off. The Ohio bank was flatter than the Ohio bank, and it was clear that if we floated, we would just pass them up. I sat up and started rowing. In this way you can see the ducks, that you could not see laying in the bottom of the skiff. This works as long as you spot them first and try not to row after they are spotted. We were spotted by 2 separate groups of 3-5 who swam out and took off out of rang. Jim spotted 4 mallards ahead, I sat still and stopped rowing. The ducks swam out about 30 yards in front, and took off. Jim missed the first, but dropped a drake with the second. We picked it up and pulled into the bank. The 10 started right up on the first pull, after I re-connected it to the gas tank, that was the key. We rowed on down stream. About 1 mile above the island the Ohio bank got steeper, so we started paddling. We floated down to below the island and saw nothing. We decided to run back US and run maybe 2 mile above Rome and try the Ky bank. On the run up the Ohio bank, we jumped 1 mallard. I ran past the Rome ramp, and crossed over at the power plant. It was 4 pm and the sun was low over the Ky bank. We had a hard time spotting ducks. We passed up 2 groups of maybe 5 when we got across from the Rome ramp. We had enough. We had a great supper at the Bob Evans in Maysville, home by 7:30.
Posted By:
kclane
Web Member
West Cebtral AR 11-26-2011 22:56
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Good to see your report Bridgeman. I really enjoy reading them. Here in AR our season has been open one week. Tomorrow is the last day of the first split. I have the canoe and gear loaded. Heading down to the slough below the house in the morning. It rained most of the day, but is clearing out this evening, temps dropping and wind blowing. I am quite hopeful. Hunted last Sunday in same spot and saw several birds. Missed on a high flying honker and dropped one gadwall, but after chasing it and searching for 40 minutes, could not fing it. I have a new retriever this year, she is a Chessie and is still young, but learning. Have a good season and I hope to read more of your reports!
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Rome Mile 383 11-26-2011 22:16
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Duck Hunt 11-23-11
I decided to take the Skiff to Rome mile 383 Ohio River. All summer long I have been having my 1957 10 hp Johnson worked on, and it still is not working, so I took my B motor, my 1959 Johnson 10. Jim said he could not make it today or Friday. Today was the best, because the rest of the weekend called for high winds. I did not get an early start, left my house at 7:30. Was shocked to see the Dairy Yum Yum was closed for Thanksgiving, are you kidding me. The Daniel Boone in Alberdeen was also closed. I crossed the Maysville bridge and found the Bob Evans was closed , but Frischs was open. At Rome at 9:45. No one at Maysville ramp, whats up with that? River at 40’ wind south west 5-10, temp was 41, cloudy. I was surprised at the amount of drift, trees, and brush everywhere with crows sitting on them as they floated down. I looked down stream and it looked like a bean bag chair that was 10’ long. 10 hp started on the 5th pull, which is not good since I started it in a garbage can the nite before. I started down the Ohio bank. The water was way past the willow’s edge, so after about 5 minutes I decided to row. I rowed down maybe 5 minutes, and I noticed the wind was coming from my left, so the Ky bank would be better. I cranked up and ran up the Ohio bank, just below Rome and crossed over, trying to miss the big ones.
Just as I was getting ready, I jumped up a drake mallard, but was not ready to shoot. Started paddling down. I spotted 3 mallards on the bank, and got right up on them. 3 shoots and nothing, I was shocked, how could I have missed. Reloaded and started down. I spotted 3 blacks about 5 minutes later. Got right on them, 2 shots and I thought I hit one of the blacks but it kept on flying as far as I could see. I stared back down. About 5 minutes later I saw about 5 wood ducks. They got up and flew back towards the bank away from me, and I had no shoot. 5 Minutes later I got up on 4 wood ducks, and dropped the drake. I started the 10 to pick him up, and was surprised he was still alive and swimming well, but he did not dive under when I motored up to pick him up, I grabbed him in my long handle net. He was beautiful; I though about having him mounted.
I pulled into the bank for some coffee and my standard peanut and butter sandwich. Headed back down. Above Brush Creek Island I got up on two groups of mallards but could not shoot, they flew back towards the bank. It is hard shooting with the river so high. I also got up on three blacks, I saw 1 on the waters edge, but lost track of the other two. I passed up the one black, because he was well back at the waters edge, the other 2 broke out at the waters edge, 10 feet in front of my bow, I picked out 1 and fired 2 times, nothing. I really need shooting lessons. I passed the Brush Creek Island, and spotted 3 blacks, but they got up at 60 yards. I passed Concord expecting to see a duck at any second, but nothing. I reached Wrightsville and decided to head back. I ran up the Ohio bank until Brush Creek, but the drift was thick on the Ohio side. I crossed over to the Ky. Bank, and jumped up 1 group of mallards. I decided to re-float the Ky bank , so I crossed over to the Ohio bank and ran up above Rome about 2 miles and crossed over. I floated down the Ky bank to within 2 miles of Brush Creek, and saw nothing. I decided to call it a day. Home at 6:30.
Posted By:
kclane
Web Member
West-Central Arkansas Duckhunter 01-25-2011 12:15
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Bridgeman, I really enjoy reading your posts. Keep them coming! Thank You!!
