Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor
Southern ME 12-31-2006 17:44
Arctic Blast – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Arctic blast AKA “FRICKEN COLD!” 20 DF. Went out this past Saturday with my usual seaducking friend and my bro-inlaw who now has time for me since the deer season is closed! I thought I would try out my new high tide spot but when I got to the ramp at 0520 I was not the first one there (2nd) Now, I try to get at this particular ramp early on Saturdays to get the pick of the spots and last time I beat this one fellow so next Saturday its on! So we motored out in the pitch blackness (thank you Garmin!) and went to the offshore side of this one island. Saw some lights but were sure they were offshore. Ended up being only 200 yards away. So plan B was put into affect but was stoped when another duck boat zoomed by. Plan C was a winger so we got set up. By the sounds of all 6 duck hunters in the area the majority of the gunning was done on the offshore side of the islands and a fair share inside. The wind was 15 kts out of the SE and later switched to W and died right out by 1000. Seas were maybe 1′ and then died right out before the snow came. We did a lot of shooting at eiders and scoters both black and white winged. Saw one buffy. Mostly 2-3 bird groups were giving us action. They just didn’t want to come into the blocks. My lab made a nice retreive on an eider (no decoys this time). He did beeter in the cold wheather than expected. Hope to get out this Saturday.
Later.
Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor
None 12-26-2006 14:28
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I have not been out since last report due to wheather and Holiday company. Will try and get out Saturday for seaducks now that the regular season is closed. Has anyone been out?
Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor
Southern Maine 12-21-2006 16:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Despite the wheather forecast it was a great day to be on the water, at least until around 11. We were set up a bit after legal time (inshore). There were birds flying..singles pairs, but nothing fast and furious. Shot 2 eiders and one scoter at our first spot and then moved about 9ish. Saw another hunter cruising around offshore and saw many eiders stirring about. Headed in that direction, didn’t see or here anybody close by so we set up and had better shooting, finishing up with 8 (total)..scoters and eiders. This spot was more exposed but offered many shots at decoying birds. Around 1115 the winds picked up to 20kts and the seas were 4-5′ in about one half hours time. They were spoda die down afternoon. Had a blast at some challenging passshooting. My full choke was in and, well lets just say I did a lot of shooting! For some reason half the birds would come in but then spook. Overall it was a better day. Have another productive spot to try at a different tide. The birds were around but less than past hunts in this spot. The squaw were around also.
Have a safe and happy Christmas.
[Edited By Andrew-White on 2006-12-21 20:47]
[Edited By Andrew-White on 2006-12-23 17:05]
Posted By:
flylineguide
Guest
Ocean 12-21-2006 08:08
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Funny season so far. On the 19th we got stampedeed (SP) by the Old squaws. 1000’s of them. Flocks of 4 thru 50 birds cruising at 30 yards some committing others offering challenging pass shooting. This went on from sunrise until done around 11. Next hunt is Saturday looks like the weather will cooperate finally.
Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a waste of motion. Action with vision can change the world! www.flylineguide.com flylineguide@outdrs.net
Posted By:
flylineguide
Guest
ocean 12-18-2006 16:12
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Well Andrew we had 200 plus eiders, 40-50 scoters, 40-50 squaws on Saturday. Then today we had 100 eiders 50 or so scoters and 100’s of squaws. Dont hang your head low hold it high and relocate!
Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a waste of motion. Action with vision can change the world! www.flylineguide.com flylineguide@outdrs.net
Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor
Southern ME 12-15-2006 10:15
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Went to some offshore sea duck spots I had scouted last summer. It was about a 5 mile run from the ramp. Wheather was overcast and AM fog. 2-3′ chop. Winds out of the West 10-15. There was a hi tide at 0635 or so and I usually hunt towards a low tide so it was a learning expirecnce. It cleared up for the day with a light 10kt W wind sunny, clear and about a 1-2′ chop. I tried some awesome looking ledges on the eastern most edge of the bay and didn’t fire one shot. We did kick up some small rafts of scoters on the way to our spot and were set up around legal time. There were a bunch of old squaw in the area and small groups of eiders. Picked up around 9 and moved inshore a bit to a lee and set up on a spot that was holding oldsquaw and eiders. The only bird that came in was a buffelhead but he snuck in and out under the radar. Our 3rd and last sport was more inshore. We tucked into a small cove. We had one nice drake eider come in. He stayed and gave my dog some fun for the day. After picking up we scouted out and finaly found a nice shoal holding several hundred eiders even farther inshore. Also noticed a few cripples in the area which we cleaned up with the help of my dog. He fetched one that was still very much alive and with very little hesitation. He glanced once back at me and then latched onto it. Ended the day with 2 nice drake eiders and one hen eider. I’m sure FLG will post up a more sucsessful report that will leave my with my head hung low. HA HA. Was a great warm December day, should have brought my sunblock!
[Edited By Andrew-White on 2006-12-15 10:15]
[Edited By Andrew-White on 2006-12-15 10:18]
Posted By:
flylineguide
Guest
Atlantic 12-13-2006 08:46
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Awesome day yesterday. All done at 8 am took only drakes and took my time. Great day off. Tons of birds around and looks like they are not moving off to soon. Great weather a little bumpy where I went but not bad. My dog did a great job. She did a couple of really long retrives with no problem. I hit a double at first flight and made her wait. Currents where moving the downed birds quite quickly but she got it done.
Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a waste of motion. Action with vision can change the world! www.flylineguide.com flylineguide@outdrs.net
Posted By:
paul-reynolds
Guest
biddeford 12-12-2006 07:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
12/09/06
Another banner day in the marsh. We had several good flocks of buffleheads come into the spread. One drake goldeneye came in on a string. The dog is working very well this is his second season and he retrieved all but one cripple I had to use the boat for. (9 birds for the day.) Earlier this season I bought three dozen diver decoys. Two GHG scaup and one Carry-lite goldeneye. These have made a big difference on the birds. Flocks that would give us a pass last season are dropping in. I hope to get out with the layout boat eider hunting soon.
Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor
Southern Maine 12-10-2006 11:02
– – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Went sea ducking Saturday with my dog and friend. We had just launched the boat when 2 more trucks with boats pulled in. Had a total of 4 boats hunting in the same area. Traditions guide service was there. have met him once during last seasons opener. I had the pick of the area since we hustled out. We hunted a “pass shooting spot” and gave up my favorite productive spot to the rest of the crowd. Just trying out other spots and learning the area and birds more. By the sounds of it everybody had great gunning. We shot 3 nice mature drake ediers and on hen eider. Two of which “sunk” shortly after splash down and never resurfaced. The shooting was quick and accuracy was bad by myself and super horrible by my friend. Saw one black duck. The oldsquaws made a late apperance. Also had black, surf and white winged scoters come through. My dog has perfected his decoy retreiving skills which I hope to un-perfect. I think that on long birds he looses sight and then turns to the next best thing, my decoys. My Cabelas Northern Flight dog ladder was put to the test and worked well, except for the knob that fell off in the drink. It is bulky but if you take it apart (about 2 min) it can be stowed and takes up less space. The wind was SE most of the morning with a 1′ chop and then switched W about 0930 and blew every bit of 20 kts. NWS wasn’t to accurate. Headed in about 1030. Was a good day overall. Mostly singles and pairs gave us shots and very few birds came to land in the decoys. I had 4 layers of clothing on my upper body and 3 on my legs and still was chilled. Even my feet which had 2 pair of Smart wools and 1,000 gram thinsulate Ranger rubber boots were cold. Dress warm and birng plenty of spare warm gloves!
Later
[Edited By Andrew-White on 2006-12-10 18:18]
Posted By:
flylineguide
Guest
North Atlantic 12-05-2006 16:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Great day over my way today Andrew! We hammered them. Fast and furious gunning. We took a triple on Old squaws and 2 doubles on eiders. Shot a Black scoter that skipped once at least 4′ up and at least 40 feet long. He never even twitched. Classic sea duckin. My dog finally looks tired first time this year. Thank god for the good weather. The cold did bring in a ton more birds and if this cold keeps up they will move inside more. I saw trains of eiders numbering in the hundreds if not more.
Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a waste of motion. Action with vision can change the world! www.flylineguide.com flylineguide@outdrs.net
