Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River above Augusta 12-09-2010 20:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-9-10
I left work at 11:30 to go float the Ohio River. What was interesting was when I crossed the Big Mac bridge that morning there was skim ice on the Ohio. I decided then that I would work .5 day and then hit the Ohio. I got the skiff and drove to Augusta. I was at ramp by 1:30. River is at 29 , it was a low of 9 last nite and most important, no wind. I was the only truck at the Augusta ramp. I got ready and realized I left my coveralls at home. I had left them laying down stairs, and forgot to go back and get them. This was a first. I toyed with the idea of calling Debi and having her drop them off (perhaps a 30 mile drive) but decided the hell she would raise was not worth it.
I started the 10 hp on the 4th pull and crossed over and up the Ohio bank. The river is flat and calm. As I ran up, I draped in a piece of canvas to keep the wind off, but I had to drop it down every now and ten to spot with the binoculars. I jumped nothing until about 1 mile below straight creek, and then spotted Geese ahead. I ran up at a slower pace in the middle of the Ohio, because I did not want to disturb either bank. Above the decoy area of Augusta , I ran up the Ky bank along the steep rock bank along the railroad tracks. Up above straight creek I spotted mallards ahead , so I crossed over to the Ohio side and ran up .5 mile and crossed over and started floating down the ky bank.
There was more current than I expected. I spotted mallards diving in the shallow water ahead of me and paddled down to about 60 yards from them, and they noticed me and started swimming down stream at a slow pace. I thought I was going to get up on them, but no, they jumped up and flew away. I pulled into the bank and had some coffee to warm up a little. Started back down. I paddled down to the rock bank across from Straight Creek, so I ran up a little above straight and crossed over. I started down the Ohio bank and about 50 Cormorants flew past and landed about .5 mile below me. That is the most I have seen at one time. The Ohio bank below Straight was alive with great blue herons, they were everywhere. What is interesting, you can never float on a crow or a blue heron, they always get up before you past them. I am paddling down and blue herons on jumping up left and right. And the ones I have already jumped fly right over me and land in front, only to be jumped again. I spotted ducks delow. I got within 45 yards of a hen and a drake that was dabbling, when they started swimming down stream. I pulled the bow out a little and keep on going down stream. They swam back into the bank, I was sure I had them. I got to within 20 yards and they started back out. At this point it did not matter, I eased up, they took off, I dropped the drake a missed two times on the hen. When I shot , many more ducks got up below me, including the Cormorats. I had to reload to shoot the drake one more time on the water. Picked him up and headed on down. To cover more ground, I started the 10 and putted down using the binoculars. As I was idling down I could smell my exhaust fumes, that is good , I had a slight downstream wind. About a mile down I spotted more ducks below me. At this point I see a barge coming up the Ohio. I said to my self, I guarantee right when I get close to the ducks the barge wake will get me. Sure enough it did. Ducks started jumping up in front of me. I suspect 25 got up in groups of 2 to 5. At last the river settled down and I spotted a drake and a hen below me. I got right up on them, dropped the drake and missed the hen. Picked up my drake and headed into the bank for a pee and more coffee.
I started back down and ran to the end of the good Ohio bank at red oak creek, so I crossed over to the Ky. Side. At this point it is 4:45 and the sun is low, very pretty. I spotted a bunch of ducks below me, just up from the ramp. I floated right down on a drake and a hen who decided to swim upstream towards me. I got right up on them and guess what, got the drake but missed the hen. Cranked it up and ran to ramp and pulled out. Good day, 3 drake mallards.
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
Meldahl Pool 12-06-2010 15:21
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
I found myself driving a familar path this morning, seeming like it was only yesterday, when I realized another hot summer had passed and duck season is back. Yes, I had made it to the other side, the better side, the cooler side for another season. When I was younger it seemed to take forever for the season to get into full gear. They say life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end the faster it goes. This year seems to have gone way to fast. No complaints as it was good to smell and hear the blast of the big 10 bore this morning. It just feels good.
Slipped over banks the of the mighty Ohio this morning, only to be almost ran over by a 160 class buck hiding in a honeysickle thicket, and went to set the decoys and realized I had a neighbor. 150 yards upstream was another decoy set so I joined them. How small the world is, it was the brother-in-law of a gentleman whom I associated with on Canada hunts for several years and had passed. They were from Cincinnati and were hunting the area their relative used to hunt in remembrance of him. We reflected on him and the past as we awaited the ducks. I was content having new partners for the day, of which each was trying to tell bigger lies, and enjoy the morning. You know, all duck hunters are liers and we swapped embellished stories.
When I left for work there were four mallards and one wood duck in the bag. Not a lot of activity, few sandhills flying south and several groups of mallards resting in the middle of the river, indications of resting birds before moving on south.
I will be heading to Arkansas for six days of hunting. With this weather, I hate to leave. However, I am chasing the one duck I missed in Canada this year, and I think he is in Arkansas. At least I told my wife this story and she said if it will make you feel better, then go!!
Duck hunting weaves a majical web of stories of people, dogs and hunts. Each year that passes we connect to new webs and lose a few strands. A middle aged gentleman who helped me find my dog Jethro passed this year.
Today was a good day.
“I take no prisoners”
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River above Manchester Ohio 11-27-2010 20:58
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
For the first hunt of the 2010 season I decided to take the Skiff to Manchester on the Ohio River. River at 28 which sucks and supposedly a 5-10 west wind which also is not good. As I drove past Maysville I saw one truck, which says it all. Saw the normal crowd at the Dairy Yum Yum. Put boat in at the Manchester Ramp, and 9:30. 1957 10 Hp started on the 5th pull.( It last started in February) At this point the 5-10 mph west wind is more like a typhoon. I decided to run up to take advantage of the area around Wrightsville where the river runs skew to the west wind. I ran up and spotted with the binoculars. I saw a bald eagle on Manchester Island.
On the run up the Ohio bank I jumped nothing. Just below Brush creek I spotted some ducks ahead so I pulled out in the middle of the river to battle the 5′ white caps and run above them. I located the general area they were and saw that they were about 5 mallards. I crossed back to the Ohio bank at the mouth of brush creek to float down on them. I could not do it, the wind was so strong it blew me upstream and the front of the skiff turned down stream like a weather vane. I gave up and crossed over to the Ky side. I started putting down stream spotting with the binoculars. On the run up I saw geese at the green grass of Concord Ky. I now saw them below me , so I cut the motor and paddled as best as I could. They were up the bank about 20 yards from the waters edge, and they did not like the looks of me at all. They got up while I was 100 yards above them. Started up the 10 hp and putted on down. Below Concord a buck started swimming across the river about 200 yards below me. It got 30 yards out then turned around and swam back to the Ky bank. It did not see me because it ran up the Ky. Bank right past me. In 45 years of floating the Ohio I have seen deer do this maybe 25 times in the past. They start across and then turn back, I have no idea why.
At this point I am back at Manchester, so I pulled out and drove home, no shots fired.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Manchester Ohio River mile 397 02-28-2010 19:29
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Float 2-28-10
I finally got the 10 hp fixed 2 weeks ago, and I have been waiting to try it out. Got up at 7 this morning and it was raining, so I slept in and left the house at noon. Took the skiff to Manchester. I did not stop at the dairy yum yum because Debi fixed be bacon eggs and her world famous banana pancakes. I bought coffee and girl scout cookies at the Marathon on the AA highway at Mentor.
I got the skiff put in at the down town Manchester Ramp. Manchester was the first settlement in the northwest territory in 1791. I bet it looked better in 1791. River at 31,34 degrees and 5 mph west wind. I hate a west wind. I cranked up the 10 hp and ran US just ahead of a coal barge also going up the ky bank. I got far enough ahead of the barge to cross over to the ky bank. I started floating. By the way I have no gun just my camera. I got right up on 2 sets of 3 buffelheads. It was fun to float up on them, they would dive down and pop up right on top of the boat. I went down about 1 mile and saw nothing. I decided to crank up the 10 and Putt down. The 10 runs great. I went down about 5 minutes and spotted geese swimming out. There were about 10. I cut the motor and pulled into the bank to let them settle down. I drank a cup of coffee, and ate a few cookies. These were highly educated geese, they just kept swimming all the way across the Ohio River to the Ky bank.
I started on down and spotted a beaver sitting on a log at the edge of the water. Paddled down and got a good set of pictures of him, before he jumped into the water. I looked over and there he is swimming along side of me, I took more pictures. I looked ahead with the binoculars and spotted about 50 geese sitting on the bank just up from the Moyers Resturant. I paddled right on top of them, and got some great pictures, I would have gotten two with no trouble. Decided to call it a day and ran back, and home by 6:00. I saw do puddle ducks, just a few divers and geese.
Posted By:
nimrod57
Web Member
OOS 02-03-2010 19:57
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Turn out the lights…the party’s over…. The day after waterfowl season is always a saddd day. this one was no different. But next season is but a few months away. I hope everyone’s season was a good one, mine was. I had some GREAT days some real good days and some good days. Hunted 19 days-had 5 days that we did not pop a cap. 7 days in double digits and 7 days in single digits. Some days were beautiful some were cold, some too warm and some absolutely miserable, but every single one of them was a Blessing from God and it was GREAT to be out there. I hope and pray I get to go next year as I hope and pray each of you do as well.
God Bless and Godspeed!
Shoot Em In The Face!!
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
Meldahl Pool 02-01-2010 15:24
– – –
Well, here we sit, the day after and wondering what are we going to do now? The sadness really sank in this morning when my black lab greeted me at the back door, saw I did not have on my camo,looked at me with those big brown eyes and he just knew it was over. Dog instinct! He just turned and walked back to his hut and did not even want to talk about it. You see, every day he gets to go with me and stays in the SUV after the hunt while I am at work. He’s a business dog and his business is over till fall. I guess we will talk about it soon, but until I get over the fact it is over, I won’t be able to get him over the fact it is over. You know how it is, men just have to deal with it in their own way.
Anway, guys in the western part of the state did well as the birds returned from Missouri this weekend. Those who ventured out during the storm were greeted with great numbers of birds. As for us, well the snow stayed south and we just got the cold weather. The river rose and fell and that did not do us any good because the birds never showed back up. It was like a chef preparing a 5 star meal and nobody showing up it eat. Flooded fields were void of ducks. Late last week I was able to harvest one to three each morning at first light but by weekend that was getting old. I was seeing very few birds.
Saturday, my 10 year old son and I decided to go goose band hunting. We took the goose trailer and headed out. Hunted the Cave Run hunt in a field birds had been using but they did not fly Saturday morning. We put out 60 full bodies in 4 inches of snow and saw very few birds. Decided to move 45 miles north toward the Ohio river and setup on another corn field in the afternoon where we knew some banded birds were in the area. By now my son has decided we need to unload the full trailer. More decoys more success he said. After I was unable to convice him otherwise, we unloaded the trailer and put out all 156 full bodies. We were joined by some of our other hunting partners, thankfully to help load the trailer. We never popped a cap. Listened to the UK game and ended a day with a beautiful sunset.
Sunday, hunted in the afternoon and Cameron wanted to slip shoot so we walked the river bank. Ducks like to get in the brush and hang tight too the bank when river is in current stage. We have certain areas we know are good at such terror tactics and I sent he and Jethro in for the slip. Ironically, first stop ended in success with a black ducked harvested. Jethro made the retrieve and Cameron was excited because he did not want to end the year on 13 birds so he rounded in out with a trophy black duck.
To end the day, the year and another season we setup in a corn field adjacent to river with just the mojo. NO MORE BIG SPREADS I told Cameron. Ten minutes before final light 50 geese came right over and we took one final goose to end the year.
As we slowly watched the sun set over the mountain, our hearts sank as we knew it was over. Until the next season, no more “perfect sets”, no more “let downs”, no more “surprises”, no more “where did they come from” and no more “well gotta go because well I gotta go it’s waterfowl season”. The fat lady has sung, the bell has sounded and the sands of time have run through the season’s glass. Nine months till Canada.
It’s a long hot summer and I hope to see you on the other side!!
“I take no prisoners”
[Edited By Wareagle23 on 2010-02-01 12:12]
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
Melhdal Pool 01-26-2010 13:57
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Well, here we are in the ninth inning and heading for the home stretch. From the Prairies of Saskatchewan, to the rice fields of Arkansas, to the big waters of KY lake and finally too the banks and corn fields along the mighty Ohio river, we have followed the birds. This has been another great year with times of inspiration leading to desperation with only dedication attempting to keep us going and on the X spot. We do a lot of moving around.
Our last week is going to prove challenging yet high hopes are in order. Our big number of ducks left with the warming last week going back north. Our geese have remained and have provided good chase yet their numbers have started to diminish and they are not consistent with their patterns. Some days of late they are very content to sit on large ponds and eat surrounding grass. We are on the chase of a bird found just this week with an orange neck collar. Spotted two specklebellies in our area which is very unusual.
I have either been scouting or hunting most everyday and this last week will be very interesting. The Meldahl pool is going to 49′ from Meldahl to Portsmouth by Friday. This is big, especially with the level for this distance. This will spread the water out in some new areas, flooding some corn and soybeans fields, we will be watching those very closely. If our ducks show back up with this cold snap and snow north of us, it will be interesting. The full moon will add additional spice as we anticpate the birds will move more in the afternoon. Whatever happens we will be there waiting and watching.
On a final note, one of our hunting partners found out that too much duck on the brain has implications. I summoned two of my hunting partners a little over two weeks ago to get here ASAP, the birds were here and within hours they arrived after their 5 1/2 hour trip. Unknown to one while sleeping at my house he had a seizure that night and awaken not in a state to hunt. His other partner asked if he was going to die, he said no, so he said I will see you in the field. See the compassion here when it comes to duck hunting! I dropped him off in the ER, not knowing what was going on, only to find out over the next couple of days of hospital stay, while the other partner and I hunted, that the seizure had caused his shoulder to be fractured and displaced and he had a broken vertebrae. All this was caused by a little something in the head, maybe to much duck, that will be removed on February 4th by the neurosurgeons at Vanderbilt.
To our good hunting partner Shay, I am trying to keep it light here and you are in our thoughts and prayers as well as those who will read this post. We will share many more sunrises with wind at our backs and ducks in our face. See you on the other side!
“I take no prisoners”
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River Hunt 01-24-2010 17:29
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Duck Hunt 1-23-10
After my no duck day yesterday, went to Rome Ohio River mile 384. My partner went to bed at 9:00 pm and his wife said do not disturb when I called to set up our hunt Friday nite. The man is 79. Had a great breakfast of pancakes, bacon and egg at the Alberdeen Yum Yum. Wane(a local) was there and was being harassed by a friend. I did learn the the Aberdeen Police had a guy spread eagle on the ground on 52 last nite. I have decided to take my model 12 instead of the 1100 today. Drove to Rome and was at ramp by 9:30 to see I was second. River at 35 cloudy Downstream breeze, yes I said Downstream. On the Ohio River the only time the wind blows it is from the west or US. As I was putting the boat in I hear Geese directly across from me. Got out the binocs and found them. I said to myself, good grilled Geese. As I was just ready to get started , in the Geese were making a racket, I look up and here comes Mr. Decoy hunter running up the Ky bank and scares up my grilled Geese. Must be pretty boring when you are already moving at 9:30 am. They run up about .5 miles and pull into the bank and start putting out decoys.
I decided to run up maybe 2 miles to let things on the Ky bank settle down. Ran up the Ohio bank and crossed over and started down. Beautiful float conditions. I saw nothing on the float back to Rome. I then sighted the decoy hunters decoys below. You can always tell decoys though binocs because they never move, or flap their wings. I started up the 10 to motor down and say hi. I spotted down and up for ducks flying so I would not screw them up. I saw their blind but they hid behind and did not say Hi. I motored on down and started floating. I know they were there because I could hear them talking when I started floating. Guess they didn’t want to talk. My partner refuses to talk to other hunters. One day I asked him why, and he said they are the enemy, I don’t talk to the enemy. I floated down for 2 miles and nothing. Then I spotted 3 blacks, but they swam out and took off. They were locals who have seen the floating log before. Same thing happened to the next 2 blacks I saw. The same with 2 blacks and 4 mallards. The blacks swam right out to the middle. The mallards started back in, but they took off when the 2 blacks took off. I kept on going down. I got up to take a pee, I just leaned over the side and when I finished two blacks jumped up right besides me. I did not shoot because I like to float them then shoot, not just shoot. What is unreal is they sat there while I took a pee while all the other blacks swam out and flew away long before I was in shotgun range.
Right after that I passed a big cottonwood with a massive root ball at the waters edge. There past the tree is a drake and hen mallard sitting on the waters edge. I eased up and dropped the drake and missed the hen 2 times. I watch my drake swim into the root pile. I pulled into the bank and looked all over and could not find him. In order to wait him out I ate some cookies and coffee. In past hunts, we have had them burst out from their hiding spot if you wait long enough. This one never did come out. Started on down. Just above Brush creek island I spotted 5 geese on the bank. As I was floating down they ran up the bank, got out of shotgun range and then flew away. Very smart Geese. The green grass of Concord was still there, but no ducks this time. Below Concord a spot two ducks swimming in a good ¼ mile in front of me. I spotted where they swam in and floated down. Here it was a creek mouth. Went past it and nothing. They must have swam back in it. I started the 10 hp up and ran back just to see where they went. I could, not go up it, there was a log across the mouth. Started back down. Just above Manchester Island I spotted 2 more ducks swimming in a good ¼ mile below me. I spotted them and paddled up on them. When I got to where they were , nothing. I floated down for 5 minutes, and decided to call it a day and head back. When I started the 10 hp, 2 blacks jumped up just in front of me. They must have swam down a bit. I ran back up the Ohio Bank and in 10 miles of Ohio bank jumped up 2 blacks. Pulled out about 3:30, the other truck was gone. When I went to winch in the skiff there was a black duck wing on my winch. A present from the decoy hunters?.
Heres where it really gets bad. My normal duck truck is dead, a bad transmission (getting it fixed) so I got the suburban, the truck from hell. Both have 265,000 miles on them. Instead of going to the Yum Yum for supper, I decided to try out KFC. Meal was great, when I went to start the suburban, dead started. Bad carma for not eating at the Yum Yum. I called Debi to come pick me up. My only running vehicle is my 1972 Ford Bronco. She was not very happy about the 60 mile drive. I changed the boat over to the bronco, told the KFC lady I would be back and went home. I just got back from changing out the starter in the pouring rain, and 40 degree temps. This is its 4th starter. I wish I would have shot the white duck.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below California Ky 01-22-2010 18:07
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Duck Hunt 1-22-10
I was sick of working so I took off .5 day and went home and got the skiff and put in ay California Ky mile 447. The river is at 36’ no wind a sheet of glass. Started up the 59 Johnson 10 hp (picked up parts for 57 10hp at Dixie Marine on the way home) Cut motor just above California Boat Club. I spotted 4 mallards below me. I was not planning on shooting them, I was still in City Limits, but they insulted me by taking off when I was 60 yards out. Paddled all the way down to across from New Richmond. I crossed over just below downtown New Richmond. And putted down, I wanted to get below City limits. I jumped up 5 mallards. At the last house of New Richmond I cut the motor and started paddling. Floated all the way to Beckjord Power plant mile 453 and saw nothing . Ran back up Ohio bank and only saw maybe 20 ducks at New Richmond. Also a big bunch of white domestic geese at the boat ramp. Ran all the way back the Ohio side across from ramp and pulled out. Home by 6:00 . Did not fire a shot.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Rome Ohio 01-17-2010 20:13
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Duck Hunt 1-17-10
Took the Skiff to Rome mile 384 Ohio River. My partner decided that he did not want to sit in the Rain. Had a great breakfast at the Aberdeen Yum Yum, had 1 egg bacon and two pancakes. Slight wind low of 40 and river at pool stage, and of course rain. I changed into my waders and rain outfit at the Manchester “fort” at the downtown ramp, in the building next to the river, in order to get out of the rain. There was 1 truck at the top of the ramp. I put in at Rome and ran across to the Ky bank. I look down and ducks are swimmimg out, and I look up and ducks are swimming out. Its good to see ducks. I backed out and ran across the river and up about 1 mile and then putted down. I spotted the first group and started paddeling down. They did not like me at all and swam out to the middle of the river and then took off. The next bunch did the same thing, and a group beyond them. I decided to try the Ohio bank, to see if they were less educated. I spotted about 4 and could but could not get close to them , they swam out to the middle and appeared to be swimming across. At this point it is raining hard. I floated down the good Ohio band below Rome and switched to the Ky bank, the wind was picking up and I was hoping the bend below Brush Creek would protect me. As I ran across, I pulled the plug on the skiff to drain out some water. The first time I have done that , and it works, as long as you go .75 throttle. I putted down the Ky bank above Brush Creek Island, it was a little calmer. I wish some one could make binoculars that work in the rain, almost useless.
I spotted by eye 3 ducks below me. I could tell that were blacks. I held the boat out a little more than usual, maybe 30 yards. I got about 50 yards up to them and they decided to swim down a little. I kept right with them, and they went back into the bank. I got up to maybe 35 yards, and they came back out. We floated down together, and at last they went in. I held the boat out until I passed them, and then turned towards the bank. They had no clue, got out and sat on the bank. I eased up missed the first shot , pulled a little more lead and got the second. That was my only shot. I had to shoot him 1 more time on the water. Pulled in for coffee to warm up. I did not have on gloves , because of the rain, and the hot coffee and donut revived me. Da_ I hate rain. Started back down. Just a little up from the island I spotted 1 drake mallard all by himself. Floated down and got right on him. I eased up and no. 2 duck for the day. I headed on down and spotted a drake on the bank. Floated down, and when I was still 50 yards out he and the hen who I did not see took off. I pulled into the bank for more coffee to warm up. Pushed off. Directly across from the Island, I spotted a drake mallard. I paddeled down and he is swimming Up towards me. I got right on him, eased up and he will not fly, it is a cripple. At this point the wind starts and it was tuff floating. I got down to the Power Plant, and had enough. I headed up the Ohio bank. I jumped one group of fish ducks. Pulled out and drove back to Manchester to change out of my wadders and rain outfit at the Manchester “fort” at the ramp. Had a good supper at the Yum Yum and home by 8:00.
