Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
Columbia Basin 11-19-2008 09:29
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
The weather is turning to more faverable conditions. The stagnant air will be replaced over the next few days by wind and possible rain showers. Temps won’t be too severe with lows still in the mid 20’s. By Sat the calmer weather may return then fog and still conditions by the first of next week. This may be a window to catch the birds moving.
For those looking for Red Heads, the Wells Pool is reported to be packed with them. With the Red Heads comes the Canvassbacks so be careful with the identification, particularly @ first light. You don’t have to have a boat to get em. If you really want to try just get yosef some GHG Red Heads and either put 10-12 on a long line or drop your single decoys in a straight line away from the shore. You can mix in some Can decoys too. Needless to say the river is your best chance. Put you farthest decoy @ 40 yards from where you will shoot. Not 40 yards from the edge of the water. Don’t expect them to decoy too much unless they are in the mood….. they are rarely in the mood. It will likely be pass shooting. Be patient and take them INSIDE the farthest decoy. Many will pass outside and if you shoot at all of em you will educated them quickly and not have much success. They aren’t just a morning flyer either, you can stay all day if you wanna try it. If you haven’t done it before, give it a try, especially if your other options are a little slow right now. If you want a lot more detail, give me a PM and I probably give you more than you want to know.
-Hugh
Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
columbia Basin 11-17-2008 10:52
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 40-45 Degrees
Birds seem to be enjoying themselves in the calm weather. Not much reason to move. Seems that the numbers are on the rise…definatly more geese in the basin over the past 5-7 days. More clouds and fog on Sun. produced much improved shooting chances. The scaup and Red Heads reacted to the call very well (which isn’t always the case if you have ever hunted divers much). The wife had two doubles and the dog had to swim for 19 of the 21 birds. Needless to say they both slept like a baby…the dog snores louder.
The fog is getting thicker every day and taking longer to burn off. Typical inversion. Rain is possible by Wed. and unsettled weather is expected by weeks end, should get rid of the fog. Temps aren’t as warm as last week but still not normal Nov. Lows in the upper 20’s highs in the upper 40’s to lower 50’s. Seem to be fewer hunters than normal, maybe they are staying closer to home. They usually show in force on the Thanksgiving weekend. Those few days are usually pretty entertaining.
-Hugh
Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
Columbia Basin 11-13-2008 09:27
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
High temps in the 70’s isn’t really duck weather but the rain and wind certainly is. Birds in the western basin are sitting quiet but there are a good number of birds around. I saw the first Goldeneye’s this past week which often indicate southward movement. It looks like a lot of the rain and wind is on its way out and may likely be followed by fog, possibly persisant in some areas.
Recalling past fog periods the best seems to be early fog lifting by mid morning. Seems birds fly as the fog lifts. Fog also indicates calm weather which we have been experiencing a lot of over the last couple weeks.
The Yakima valley sounds to be uncharacteristically slow. Few geese and intermitten ducks. We are still in for bird influx as I am sure there are many more to come through. The wigeon numbers have grown dramatically over the past few weeks, probably more than any other species.
We’ll see what the next few days brings.
-Hugh
Posted By:
John-Kruse
Field Editor
Potholes Reservoir 11-12-2008 13:51
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 40-45 Degrees
Veteran’s Day Report:
Was surprised to see (and hear) not too many people hunting the northern end of Potholes Reservoir on Veteran’s Day.
Weather was the type only a waterfowler would love – rainy, windy and low clouds.
The birds flew well and I had several flocks of widgeon and mallards come into my decoy spread. Unfortunately, either my dog or I ended up being outside the blind on several of these occassions, so what should have been close to a limit of birds in hand was substantially less by the end of the day.
The birds kept flying until 9 AM. Shooting from other hunters was sporadic throughout the morning. No other hunters in my area so I had no one to interview on the way out.
It appears there are some northern birds down – but I don’t think the majority of them have arrived at this point.
Continuing stormy weather could make for good hunting in the Columbia Basin!
JK
www.northwesternoutdoors.com
Posted By:
mike-schireman
Field Editor
Fir Island 11-11-2008 22:54
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Well the birds had a reason to move inland to the flooded fields and that is exactly what they did. Skagit bay area was fairly void of ducks…but fair numbers of Snows and Lessers. On Sunday we braved the swollen river and saw amazing numbers of ducks moving out of the fields and back onto the big water…and heading south towards Snohomish County. We have continued to have good rain and some fairly good winds for those who can get out during the week. Be careful on the rivers this week and weekend…they are already tricky and the high water brings new hazards that weren’t there earlier in the season. I also want to thank all veterans on this Veterans’ Day…your sacrifices are not forgotten.
Get back safely R.W. Cannon….we miss you on the hunts.
Mike
Watching a bird dog work is one of life’s greatest gifts…so give’m a job!!!!
Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
E. Wa 11-07-2008 10:20
– – –
Off and on showers are expected through the first part of next week. With all the water in the air and the cooler temps, I am expecting very low clouds and fog possibly persistent at times. With all the low spots in the basin the fog could be in some areas and not others. Plan accordingly.
Posted By:
mike-schireman
Field Editor
Stanwood 11-05-2008 12:59
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
The weather finally changed but we have yet to see a major change in birds. The Widgeon are plentiful and a fair number of Mallards…nice big birds, few teal and no real sign of the wonderful Pintail yet. The coast and inlets saw some decent wind and rain that really made you feel like you were duck hunting. There is talk of heavy rain through Saturday morning which could cause minor local flooding. This could be good for those who like to field hunt and will undoubtedly help the low morning tides.
Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
columbia Basin 11-03-2008 09:36
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Good numbers in many parts of the basin. Strong limits over the past three days. Birds are thick and healthy. Big fat layers on many. Mallards numbers seem particularly high. Got lucky and we got a banded drake red head in the bunch too.
Weather is turning colder and wetter in E. Wa. Cold front moving through Mon. and Tuesday. Rain through Tuesday AM. then again Thursday. Snow expected at pass levels by Mon. PM.
Come getcha some.
-Hugh
Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
columbia Basin 10-31-2008 13:29
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
The first influx of new northers have arrived in parts of the basin over the past 4-5 days. Large flocks AM and PM are in select locations. The draw back is that they are only moving short distances from feed to water and back. Most of what I have seen are roosting in protected areas then moving. Flight times are fairly short in duration. Hard to scout when they don’t show you what they are doing for very long.
Shooting should improve here shortly.
-Hugh
Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor
columbia Basin 10-29-2008 09:36
– – –
The first significant change in weather is expected this weekend in E. Wa. Clouds and possible rain Fri.-Mon. with lows in the low 30’s and highs in the mid. to upper 50’s. No significant wind is forecast but with this expected disturbance may come some winds to move them. In addition, the jet stream looks to be setting up to turn north in the Pacific then dip south in BC which offers a chance to initiate the migration. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring.
-Hugh
