Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River around Manchester Ohio 01-17-2011 21:03
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-16-11
The wind was supposed to be out of the North West 5-10 MPH Saturday. With a 28’ river this is horrible. I got my Ohio River navigation charts out and saw that the river below Patroit, Indiana (mile 520) flows northwest so I planned on going there. I called Jim Saturday nite and he said no, lets go upstream from Cincinnati, not downstream. Our last trip downstream was not the best. I said OK we can go below Manchester mile 397 where the river flows south. I meet Jim at his farm at 7:30 and we ran up to Augusta with Jim’s son Randy who followed us in his truck so we all could have breakfast at the General Store. Good breakfast , pancakes eggs, bacon and toast.. We headed up route 8 and crossed over at the new Maysville Bridge. We saw only 1 truck at Maysville, we both said this is not good. We were at the ramp at 9:30 and we were 3rd. No one uses this ramp besides me. As I pulled the truck around to park at the downstream shelter we saw a decoy boat paddling downstream just above the ramp. Someone was having a bad day. Jim and I got into our waders and coveralls, and got the skiff ready. I walked over to the top of the bank just as they paddled by and asked what was the problem, they said their battery had died, they asked did I have jumper cables, yes I did.
We put the skiff in , they pulled in a little below the ramp. They got a jump battery out of their truck but the 90 hp would not start. I pulled my truck down on the beach and we jumped their boat. They had to start it , and then quickly get the motor in the water, since the battery was in the rear of the boat. 3 young duck hunters who were super nice. It is cool to see young duck hunters. They had a fantastic War Eagle with a portable blind, heaters stove etc. They said they had set up in Island Creek ,shoot a black and went to pick it up, dead battery. It was almost a 2 mile paddle. They were going to eat breakfast while their 90 ran charging the battery. They said their buddy was downstream. (other truck at top of ramp)
The 10 hp started on the 5th pull, but stopped two times because I was slow on getting the chock back out. I had put new plugs in it since it did not run too good last week. We headed DS. Jim spotted ducks below us, but they took off while we were 100 yards out. I started the 10 and putted down slow. About a mile below us we spot a commercial fisherman with his boat on the bank. The wind was not bad at all, so we decided to run up the Ohio and come down the ky bank above the islands. There are usually more ducks and geese around the 2 islands. As we ran by the ramp, the 3 guys pointed out in the river, and there was their dead black. I motored over and picked it up and dropped it off.
Jim and I headed up the Ohio bank spotting as we ran up. We passed Island Creek and saw the decoys from the guys at the ramp. It was a good looking spread. We spotted ducks just above Island Creek. I ran up the middle of the river so as not to disturb either bank. We ran up to almost Wrightsville and headed into the Ohio bank. We spotted ducks below us. We paddled down and they would have nothing to do with us. They swam out to the middle of the river while we were a good .25 mile below them. We kept going down and we were not able to get close to a duck. They would either swim out to the middle or they would swim down stream. When we got close they would look very nrevious and fly away while we were way out of range. We rounded the point of Island Creek and saw our decoy hunters below us. We decided to run up the Ohio and come down the Ky bank. We ran up to almost Wrightsville and started down the Ky bank. Of course when I crossed over, ducks took off below us, off of the Ky bank. We started putting down slow. We had the same problems as the Ohio bank. The ducks wanted nothing to do with us. We chased a group of 3 who went down stream and swam into another group of 3 who also swam down, some would swim across the river, some took off. When we passed Manchester Island we spotted two below us. I held the skiff out father out than normal, perhaps 40 yards. While about 30 yards away they started downstream. They headed back into the bank. When I passed them, I turned the skiff into the bank and we got within 20 yards. I told Jim to take them. He got the hen and I missed the drake with 3 shots, very poor shooting on my part. It was about 1:30 when we got our first duck. We pulled into the bank for lunch. As we were sitting I spotted more ducks below us, but way downstream. We started down putting slow. We never did see the ducks below us, they must have flown away before we got there. We passed the ramp at Manchester, and I just felt we were on the wrong bank. I told Jim we needed to go down the Ohio. We ran across to the ramp and started down.
We putted down slow to about where we had left off earlier that morning and saw nothing until we passed Isaacs creek. Below the creek we spotted ducks. We looked down the bank and there were ducks spread all along the bank, and some out from the bank, maybe 100 yards. They seem to be spread all over the bank. We started paddling and as we got close they would swim out and down stream. We chased them for a while. A hen and drake headed for the bank. The hen stayed on the bank, the drake headed back down. I passed the hen and had Jim almost on the drake when he took off. He was slightly out of range, but the hen was slightly behind us. I told Jim to take the hen, I still had the paddle in my hand. Jim got up and shot far to his right at the hen. He was sure he missed. I saw it fly as if not hit. I then heard splashing behind us, and there was the hen almost dead on the water. I cranked up the 10 and picked up the hen, she was dead. One heck of a shot.
We pulled into the bank for coffee. We were at Owl Hollow run. I walked down to the creek and was amazed by the amount of trash. We had basket balls, coolers, plastic coke containers, a gas grill tank, part of a old trailer, you name it. As we were sitting a decoy boat ran up the KY bank, but passed the ramp. Maybe he was checking on his friends. At this point the wind is gone and the river is super flat. It is rare for no wind on the Ohio River. The water is crystal clear because it is at pool stage, it is pretty. We have nice hard sand banks to walk on. You can see rocks and sand 5’ down, but I prefer a muddy high river.
We started down. Jim spotted more ducks below us and we got right up on 2 blacks and a few mallards. I told Jim to take them and we got 1 drake and another hen, we should have had more. 4 mallards at this point. We headed on down and Jim spotted ducks way below us. We passed Moyers (fancy restaurant on the river) and waved. We started down at a slow idle when I saw a hen mallard wing in my binoculars between us and the ducks. I cut the 10 and started paddling. It was a hen sleeping on a log about 10 feet from the waters edge. As I got closer I then saw 2 black were sleeping on the water below her. I kept the skiff in close to the bank. They did not move. I turned the front of the skiff in and I wanted to see how close I could get. When we were 15 yards out I told Jim to take them. I was going to drop the hen. The blacks took off and I saw Jim drop one. My hen would not fly, she was a cripple. Jim dropped the other Black. The hen did a poor job of being lookout for the blacks, she ran up the bank and hid. We now have 6. It is 4:45 so we called it a day. At this point the river is beautiful, flat as a sheet of glass, and no wind. Ran back up the Ky bank chasing Buckeye State (barge). We jumped up one black, the Ohio bank was the right choice. I think the reason the ducks are so spookey is they have been hunted hard the last few weeks and feel the only safe place is the middle of the Ohio. We pulled out and had a great supper at the Yum Yum. I was home by 8:00.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Aurora Ind. 01-11-2011 21:08
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-9-11
With the wind suppose to be NW at 5mph, I decided to try below Aurora Indiana mile 497 Ohio river. The river flows south east there, so we should have a down stream breeze. Jim meet me at my house in Alexandria at 7:30. We had a great breakfast at the Bob Evans in Lawrenceburg. We were at the ramp by 9:30. The river had a lot of fog, due to clod temperatures, low last nite of 10, river at 28’. 10 started on the 10th pull, it did not want to start. We saw ducks above us in Hogan Creek, but ignored them. Pushed off and scared geese off of the ramp below the main ramp, but we were still in town. I putted down slow. We saw nothing for at least 5 minutes, and then Jim spotted ducks below. I cut the 10 and started paddling. They got up while we were at least 75 yards out. The sun was in our eyes, so we tried the Ohio bank. We putted down to across from Laughery creek and saw nothing. The sun was just as bad on the Ohio side. I crossed over to the good Indiana bank above Laughery Creek. At the barge mooring facility I putted past the barges. I spotted ducks below us but they were on the inside of the last barge piling. I could not get on the inside soon enough, so we passed by 2 mallards. We started putting down using the binoculars. As we passed Woolper creek, I spotted geese sitting on the bank at the mouth across from us. We would get them on way back up. We putted all the way to the camp site above Laughtery Island and nothing. As we passed Island Branch, I looked over and saw 5 geese take off in front of us. Jim and I had both missed them.
We decided to pull into the bank and have coffee.
At this point we ran back up the Ohio bank slow spotting as we ran up. We saw nothing. I got above Kirby Rocks and crossed over to the Indiana bank and ran up. As I passed Woolper Creek I saw the same Geese sitting on the bank. We ran up to the big rocks above Kirby Rocks and I motored across. We waited behind the rocks for Superamerica to run US. We looked up and there was a bald eagle sitting in a tree in front of us. Its mate flew by. I got a picture. We pushed off. I or Jim could not spot them ahead. We got almost beside Woolper Creek and I hit shallow water. Jim said he saw them up in the creek mouth. I backed up with the paddle and got us in deeper water. I started down. We clear the mouth and we saw about 15 mallards up in the creek. I turned the skiff into the creek and a few of the ducks got nervous, but the rest had their heads down. We got right beside them, I told Jim to take them. They few Back away from us and we both shot 3 times. We had 5 mallards on the ice, and one cripple in front of the ice. Jim shot the cripple and we picked it up with the net. The 5 on the ice were dead, but one was a good 30 yards into the ice, the other 4 within 10 yards. Jim grabbed his paddle and he started breaking ice. I slowly motored the skiff into the broken ice. Remember this is a wooden skiff that does not like ice. We picked up 4 put could not get to one, it was just too far back. We had 5 mallards. We headed into the bank for coffee. We never did find the geese.
We headed up river at a slow run. We got all of the way up to the ramp and we spotted 2 mallards across from the Aurora ramp ahead of us. I crossed over and started up the Indiana bank right past my truck at the ramp. I looked up a saw a boat coming down, way up river heading our way. I saw that it was a fisherman heading down the Indiana bank. We pulled into the bank to let him pass and let the bank settle down. They came up and started trolling right in front of us. We then ran up the Indiana about .5 mile above and crossed over. We paddled down and Jim spotted geese below us. I saw them. As we got closer they walked up the bank to get away. There was 4 of them. When we passed, they were 50 yards up the bank, too far to shoot. We headed down and never did find my two mallards.
We then decided to run up the Ky bank and float the Indiana bank below Tanners Creek, a good float bank. We headed up the Ohio bank all the way to across from Tanners Creek. We jumped nothing. We crossed over at Tanners and saw decoy hunters up Tanners Creek maybe 100 yards. We started down paddling since the hot water had a lot of fog. We cleared the fog and could see nothing ahead, so I started the 10 and putted down slow. Jim spotted ducks, and I saw then too. I cut the 10 and started down. There was 2 mallards and then 4 below them. I passed the 2 and put Jim right on the 4. I said take them and Jim dropped a drake, and missed the rest. I could not shoot, they went over his head. At this point we have 7 (really 6 in the boat) and it is 3:30, we called it a day. On the way home I called Debi and she met us at the cold springs Bob Evans for supper. Home by 6:00.
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
Meldalh Pool 01-10-2011 14:55
– – –
The 20 mile boat ride proved very successful late last week. It concluded that my hypothesis was incorrect and that we have gained birds. In fact, what we are currently seeing is what we term “our birds”. This is when the black duck to mallard ratio is around 10% and when we see entire flocks of just black ducks. To my surprise the birds came in way ahead of the cold front. I kicked up birds all along the ride. I made the run 2 days straight to confirm the best spots for the weekend and things worked out very well all weekend and today.
Since last Thursday the birds are know congregating together and are moving in large groups. This can be exciting, but it also means you have to be on the X spot. Otherwise, you are going to just watch a lot of birds fly over.
Today, I saw the first flight of Canvasbacks and a few goldeneyes and bluebills. Another indication the last of the last are coming down. Currently, we have Eagles, lots of Hawks and many arctic Turns.
Again, we do not have a large number of birds. I have witnessed many boats out and all getting some action based on the shots fired. We have spent as much time scouting as hunting and so far it has been paying off. We have been getting our black ducks very early and then having to watch and wait on the Mallards. Three of the last 4 days we have passed on many Black duck shots due to the limit. Still fun to work. However, you always have that one or two Black ducks that want to fly just out of range and land bringing the rest of the ducks to them.
Until next time.
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
Meldalh Pool 01-06-2011 11:30
– – –
99.9% of our Waterfowl we hunt here are in .01% of the area. Understanding this statistical measure is the first acceptance of the fact that scouting and obtaining reconnaissance on the wherabouts and movements of any wildfowl is going to define the difference between success and failure. Don’t get me wrong, I would rather be lucky than good any day, but there are times you must create your own luck. To state the obvious, I have been scouting and not hunting because the activity is very, very selective.
At this point in the scouting game, we know which farmers combines had the screens improperly set thowing out excess corn. We know every blown down section of corn from this summers wind storm. We know which fields still have standing corn for insurance. We know of every corn field along the river over 40 miles and how much food is in the field. All this analysis is used to consolidate our efforts due to the large geography we cover and try to condense the fields we scout.
Our geese are gathered in large numbers and are moving from roost to frozen ponds and are content on picking grass. Watched over 500 last night from a cornfield 1/2 mile from a roost and they never flew. One lone goose came in undetected and landed 30 feet from our layout blinds. My son made the shot. He asked, “where did that goose come from”? I said an egg. At 11, he asks a lot of questions.
Tired of driving the land yacht and looking at educated geese, so today we are hooked to the river ark and are going to set out for a long boat run and see what we can find. I forgot to mention ducks, well they went back north or at least I am expecting my boat run to conclude that hypothesis.
Until we meet again…
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
Meldahl Pool 12-31-2010 13:45
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Education is derived from acts or experiences that create a sense of information as to what is expected and or known. When you are the hunter you can create those acts which in return cause an inate sense of a bird to react in fear. In other words we have educated our birds. I have been hunting three groups of birds over a 35 mile stretch, rotating each in an effort to not fully educate yet with a few other groups of hunters finding the same concentrated birds, they all have PHD’s in hunter and decoy indentification.
Success has diminshed the last couple of days. Our duck activity is dropping dramatically with the warming temps. The geese are coming off the power plants in great numbers and are staying together. The number of birds in these groups are in the 500 plus range once they all gather in the field and are singing Kum By Ya together to the goose gods for their safety in numbers. The old military strategy of divide and conquer would be great, we just cannot divide to conquer the large groups. Where one goose goes they all go. In one case they are safe harboring on one corn field where no hunting is allowed. We were successful hunting close to this self created refuge for a few days. We are know part of the Audubon bird watching community. We waived the white flag, listened to the fat lady sing and have let them be until the weather changes.
This is the point when our hunting inspiration has led us too desperation so we must maintain our dedication.
P.S. If you are thinking about going out, wait, keep in good graces with the old lady and we will call you when the hunting is good. Keep the phone close, just turn off the ringer.
“I take no prisoners”
[Edited By Wareagle23 on 2010-12-31 18:40]
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River Mile 420 12-30-2010 21:57
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Duck Hunt 12-30-10
Jim said there was no way he was going in the rain, so I went by myself, even took off work. I got up at 6:30 saw that it was raining. I listened to Noaa and he said it was going to stop raining later in the morning, so I went back to bed. I got up later and Debi and I went to Bob Evans for breakfast. I went ahead and got the skiff ready to go to Dover, Ky mile 420 Ohio River. I stopped for coffee and cookies at the California Market. Was at Dover by 1:00. As I was putting in the rain stopped and it got sunny. River is at 27’ but I did have a down stream slight wind, river was clear and flat. Putted down stream and did not see 2 sets of hen and drake mallards. Was looking for them though the binoculars but just missed them. They were sitting on the bank, and did not move until I was 50 yards out, and then they took off. As I was motoring down a decoy hunter ran up the Ohio bank. I finally spotted ducks ahead at Indian creek. They were two blacks. I cut the motor and started paddling down. Then I lost them. I finally saw them, they had swam up the creek. I turned the skiff to follow and it stopped. 1’ of water. I eased up and they took off, 2 shots and I did not touch them.
At this point I ran up a little and then crossed over just US from Straight creek. Putted down spotting with the binoculars. Nothing. I went all the way down to Red Oak creek and saw nothing. I then crossed over to the Ky bank and screwed up on about 3 mallards. Started down the Ky bank and saw nothing. Just before Bracken Creek I said the heck with this and ran back upstream to the Dover Ramp. Across from Dover I slowed down and looked for ducks ahead with the binoculars. I spotted a few ahead. I crossed over and ran up the Ky bank and ran up about 1 mile and crossed over. I started down the Ohio bank. I spotted my ducks below and got right on them, 3 mallards. I eased up and fired two times and nothing. Started putting down and spotted more mallards below. Paddled down and the swam out and then DS a bit. I followed. They went into the bank. I paddled down and got right on them. Eased up and dropped the drake on the bank, but missed the hen. It is not 4:55. I decided to run up the Ohio bank and then float down the Ky. On the run up to Ripley I jumped up two sets of maybe 5 mallards. Crossed over and putted down the Ky bank. It was after 5:00 so I called it a day and motored back to Dover and was home at 6:30. The ducks that should have been there are gone because of the warm weather.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River at Manchester,Ohio 12-27-2010 09:11
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-26-10
I called Jim last nite and told him to meet me at 7:30 at his farm. I picked him up and his son followed us to the General Store at Augusta. We had a great breakfast and then went on to Manchester. There were 5 trucks at the Maysville Ramp. We pulled into the upper shelter and changed into our waders. I got a new set of waders from Santa, along with a new jacket. I backed in the boat and dropped off the skiff. 10 hp started on the 4th pull. I parked the truck and walked down to the skiff. We pushed off and ran up the Ohio Bank. The river is at 28’ and we had a north wind. The run up the Ohio bank produced maybe 10 groups of 3-5 mallards and blacks. We jumped up a bunch of geese at Donaldson Creek. I spotted them though the binoculars and was just about to cross over when they took off. They were at least .5 miles above us when they flew. We decided to cross over at Wrightsville. We started down to Ky bank. I heard ducks across from us, and they sounded good, just too loud, then boom boom boom , must have been decoyers. We putted down and saw nothing at all. Jim told me he saw a bob cat on the waters edge, but I did not see it. By the time we were back downstream to Manchester Island the wind was strong on the Ky bank, blowing from the Ohio Bank.
We decided to run up the Ky bank and this time float the Ohio bank. I ran up the Ky bank until we again were at Wrightsville. We watched a decoyer pull out at Wrightsville. We pulled into the bank at ate cookies and had coffee to let the bank settle down a bit. We started down putting slow. We spotted ducks below Donaldson creek. At this point it is snowing pretty hard. As I got closer about 5 blacks swam out and headed down, we followed. They would swim in and then head back out. They swam up to 3 mallards who joined the blacks in the downstream swim. Finally they headed to the bank and we got within range. I passed 2 blacks and turned the boat into the bank, in front of a drake and hen and 3 blacks. They got up and Jim dropped the drake and missed his next two shots. He is shooting the 16 gage model 12 with #4 steel. I really never had a good shot. We had to shoot the drake on the water. We picked it up with the net. It was a long float. We headed into the bank and walked around to warm up. Nice hard sand bottom, the only good thing about low water. We drank coffee and then headed on down. We spotted 4 more below us and I putted down until about .5 mile away and started floating. They swam out when we were about 100 yards out, and swam down with us. They swam back in. We got right up on them and I told Jim to take them, 3 shots no ducks. They were about 5 mallards.
We headed on down, and spotted more ducks ahead. We got right up on them, I told Jim to take them, he dropped two, a hen and drake, I missed two shots at a drake. We had to shoot the hen on the water. The drake was dead on the bank. I pulled the boat in and walked over to pick up the drake. A decoy hunter ran past us and pulled into the bank below us. We pulled into the bank to warm up and drink more coffee. Headed on down. When I looked behind me the decoy hunters were still on the bank, I assume they were setting out decoys. We came to the islands and putted down the Ohio bank. Just below the Manchester Ramp we spotted 10 mallards, we just putted down and jumped them up, it was within the city limits. Putted down, and I spotted ducks way below us, I told Jim they were between the two blue barrels at the water’s edge. We got down to the barrels and our ducks were gone, we never did see them. We spotted ducks below us and I started paddling. They kept swimming out was we got close. It was 2 mallards and 5 blacks. They finally swam into the bank, and we got right up on them. Two shots and 2 blacks. Both dead on the water. At this point it is 3:30 , so we headed back to the ramp, home by 6:30.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River Mile 409 Aberdeen,Ohio 12-19-10 12-24-2010 11:49
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-19-10 Ohio River
Today I finally got my partner to go with me. He is 76 and did not go last year at all. We limited out on ducks for the first time since we hunted the last day of the 2009 season. His daughter had cancer, and he just did not feel like going last year. (She is now ok but did have a battle) This summer his other daughter’s husband died of cancer at 41. I called him last nite and he said he was ready to go. We decided to put in at the new ramp at Aberdeen, Ohio mile 409, home of the Dairy Yum Yum, because below Aberdeen the river goes North West so we were semi protected from today’s 5 mph west wind. I met him at his farm in Campbell Co. near Mentor at 7:45. We got coffee and gas at the California Market, and I bought some Christmas cookies. We headed south on the double A and crossed over at the new cable stay bridge. We spotted ducks from the bridge. We had a great breakfast at the Yum Yum. We both had 1 egg, bacon and 1 pancake. Wane, Doug and the usual crowd were there.
Pulled the truck out and put in at the ramp. River at 28 and we had a slight down stream breeze, fantastic. River was a sheet of glass. Scared away ducks at the ramp. We were only ones at the snow covered ramp, no one had put in since the snow. 10 started on the 3rd pull, and Jim and I putted down, he and I both spotting with the binoculars the Ohio bank below us. We passed two groups of 3 ducks; they were in the city limits. Jim spotted ducks below us. I looked though the binoculars and saw two sitting on a log, 5’ out from the waters edge. Paddled down and then spotted 1 more on the bank. They never moved. I told Jim to take them, they flew right over Jim’s head, so I could not shoot, he dropped 2, a hen and drake mallard with his 16 gage model 12. We had to shoot the drake on the water. The hen, who we thought was dead decided to swim under a log while we chased the drake. I gave Jim the long handled net but it was too far under some roots. He climbed out and got the hen, and wrung her neck. Headed on down. We floated all way down to new bridge and saw nothing.
We then got ready to cross over. As I was running across I spotted ducks across from us, so I turned and headed up the Ohio bank and then crossed over. We started down the KY bank, and completely missed about 10 mallards that were behind a big tree that had fallen in the river; I was banging around getting ready with the paddle and my gun when they took off just ahead of us. Jim and I both spotted ducks ahead at the barge house just up from the bridge. We paddled down. They swam out as I approached and then headed back into the bank. We got right up on them. As I was getting ready to tell Jim to take them they decided to swim out one more time, which only put them closer. I told Jim to take them. The flew straight up and slightly behind us. I had one shot, over my head and got a drake, Jim also got one. Both were dead on the water. We picked up our ducks and headed down. About .5 mile down, Jim spotted 2 below us. I paddled down and they stayed on the bank. As we got closer I saw a total of about 10 on the bank. We got right up on them; they were spread out all over the bank. I passed 2 so turned the bow in to give Jim a good shot. I said take them, and again they flew straight up and we both got one, a hen and a drake. We had to shoot the drake on the water. We pulled into the bank and had coffee and tea, and the cookies were great. The ducks were right above the Maysville Sewer Plant.
Headed on down. We heard Geese across the river and spotted them on the Ohio bank above the Marathon Gas station below the new bridge, the bank was full of geese. We saw them though the binoculars from across the river. There were geese on the waters edge and up on the bank. We said we would get them later and we continued to float the KY bank above the power plant, above Charleston Bottoms. Good cover from all of the dead trees in the water. We expected to see a duck at any second. Nothing until we were right above the barges at the power plant when we spotted ducks. There were ducks and a bunch of cormorants mixed in. We paddle right up on them; in fact I passed up a few mallards to put us right in the middle. The wind was in our face slightly, which was not good. I turned the boat into the bank, but did not see 4 swimming out who then saw us and took off. It was too late for the ones on the bank, I said take them and I think I got one and Jim got 1. We picked up the two drakes and that was our limit, time to head in. We headed up and crossed over to the Ohio bank. We decided to run up into three mile creek to eat lunch. The entire trip up a drake kept trying to jump out of the boat. We pulled into the creek at ate our lunches. I was surprised that about 100 yards of the creek was still open. At this point the drake jumped out, but we were able to net it and wring its neck.
We then headed up the Ohio bank, and we were going to call it a day, it was 1:30 and we had our limit of mallards. I saw the geese ahead on the Ohio bank, so I crossed over to the KY bank and headed up. I crossed over right below the cable stay bridge. We started floating down. There were a bunch on the waters edge, and a second group below them just up the bank. At about 200 yards the group on the bank took off, they were very educated. The second group stayed put, these must have just migrated in, and did not know the ropes. Since they were up on the bank about 5’ above us, I did not look over the side of the boat as I normally do. I marked them at a sycamore tree just below us. I kept my head down and paddled, not realizing that the wind was pushing us into the bank. When we were 50 yards from the tree, the boat stopped, the 10 hp hit the bottom, the boat turned and the geese saw us and took off. It was then that I saw, I was 10 yards off the bank in 1 foot of water. It happens, another 10 yards and we could have limited out on Geese. We called it a day and motored up to the ramp. I bought boat gas at the gas station below the bridge after we pulled out, so we could see if the geese were back, there was about 8 all the way up above the top of the bank. The lady at the store said that boats had been chasing them the last few days. I was home by 4:15. What a great day on the big Ohio.
Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest
12-19-2010 19:52
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I must thank my lucky stars, the last 14 days have been unbeleivable. From the rice fields of Arkansas, to the mighty Ohio river, to the cornfields of northeastern Ky, all I can say is unbelievable. I have been blessed to have seen, experienced and shared in great hunts.
I must admit one can get desensitized, not realizing how fortunate to have such great hunts. However, there is always a better set, a closer goose and that one duck that responds too a highball from the stratosphere to keep the senses on high alert. The last two weeks have been nothing short of spectacular. We shot 5 man limits for 5 days in Arkansas and two of us shot a limit on one day. Hunted rice fields, buck brush and big water for divers.
I returned to Ky last Tuesday and hit the river wednesday morning. Everyday I have seen the bird numbers build shooting good numbers for one man. I found great bird numbers in one of our corn fields on friday and we hunted it the last two days. On Saturday and Sunday we shot 5 man limits of canadas, mallards and blacks. To boot, we shot two ross geese!! Unbelievable. Unfortunately, it does not get any better than this. Get out and go.
I forget to mention, we were way overdue on bands. Got a banded Mallard drake on Saturday. Banded on 9/07 in Connecticut. Harvested another mallard susie today. Friend won the draw and we are awaiting the results. It’s all about the numbers.
As we get older the children of our hunting party are going with us. My 11 year old son has spent the last two days afield and has got to see some of the best wing shooting available in the waterfowl world. I am fearing we may have peaked for the season, very early. These last few days are going to be hard to beat. Non the less, we will keep going.
“I take no prisoners”
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River at Manchester ,Ohio 12-17-2010 22:47
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-17-10
I took off work today to float hunt the Ohio River. I decided to put in at Manchester, Ohio. I had a very exciting drive in on the AA highway. I of course stopped at the Mentor Marathon and got Coffee. On the drive on the AA it was misting, and I thought this may turn to ice. I slowed down to 50 and suddenly my truck is fish tailing all over. I let off the gas and finally goy the truck under control. Ahead of me a car was in the ditch. I was about to turn around to help when another 4×4 turned to help the guy. It was solid ice for about .25 miles and then no problem. I warned the 18 wheelers to back down on my CB, yes I am the only red neck left with a CB. Crossed over the new cable stay bridge below Maysville. Had a great breakfast at the Dairy Yum Yum. On the trip east on 52 I looked over and nobody had put in at Maysville.
I was at the ramp at 9:00 am. I changed into my waders and coveralls ( will never forget again) at the park below the ramp using a picnic table. I had to remove a small tree from the ramp and kick the drift at the old waters edge to look for the one piece of wood with a nail in it. No one had put in since the latest snow. The ramp had 6” of snow on it. Dropped off the skiff and started the 10 before I pulled the truck up. Started on the 4th pull. I slid a lot going up but really had no trouble. I have super aggressive wrangler tires on all 4. The west wind was already pretty bad. I motored across and putted down the Ky bank. River at 29 so not much river or cover. I spotted Geese below me and paddled down. They did not like me at all and got up while I was still 100 yards out. I started up the 10 and slowly idle down using the binoculars. It was snowing lightly. I spotted 3 blacks. I cut the 10 and paddled down. They swam out to look me over, and then paddled down stream, me following them. They slowly headed into the bank. I got right up on them jumped up and missed 3 shots. I continued down, I spotted ahead and saw nothing so I crossed over to the Ohio side above Moyers. I was having a hard time floating because the wind was picking up. I floated down to the barges above the power plant, nothing. I crossed over and started running up the Ky bank. As I was crossing over I spotted ahead and saw about 10 ducks in cabin creek. I crossed back to the Ohio side and ran up about .5 miles and crossed over.
I started paddling. I got right up on 3 blacks who tried to sneak up the creek. I jumped up and got 1 black but missed the second. I picked up my black and drank a cup of coffee. I started running up the Ky bank. As I approached Manchester the river was super rough due to the west wind. I decided to run all the way up above brush creek where the river runs north west so the ky bank is sheltered. On the run up the Ohio bank I jumped up a ton of ducks and geese above Manchester Island. Way more than I saw below Manchester. I crossed over at the DS end of brush creek island but spotted ducks on the Ky bank as I tried to cross over. I turned around and ran back up above the island and crossed over. Just as I got to the Ky bank, mallards swam out below me about .25 mile below. I pulled into the bank to let things quiet down. Pushed off and started down. The Ohio bank on the run up was a mess with waves, but the Ky bank was perfect. I got right on 3 mallards. Got the drake but missed the other drake, and did not shoot at the hen. Picked up my duck. I started on down running the 10 slow. I saw a bunch of fish ducks, but passed then up. I then spotted a hen and drake wood duck. I floated down and they swam out and went DS, I followed. They swam back in and got up on the bank. I got right up on them, but could not get a shot off, they flew behind me. Continued on down and saw ducks ahead at Concord. I got to within 50 yards and they just took off, it was a mix of blacks and mallards. By this time I was out of the shelter of the north west turn and the river headed west right into the wind. I had enough and ran back to the ramp. I saw a ton of geese on the Ky side of the ky Manchester island, most likely 500 birds. Pulled boat out and had a great supper at the Yum Yum, home my 8:00 pm.
