Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member
01-06-2009 08:22
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Well fellers, its been a different kinda week for sure.
We hunted a local pond on Thursday. We had been seeing a few ducks and geese using it. There wasn’t much wind and so we put out our Pulsator and it looked fantastic on the calm water. The birds are using these smaller ponds and lakes during the days and feeding in fields around my area. We had a group of 4 mallards come in and got 3 of them, followed by a single mallard drake. A little while later we have a single goose come in, but just before he gets in he’s joined by another single bird. After the smoke clears and the dog comes back I find that its a specklebelly. The first speck I have ever seen, much less killed in this part of KY. He was a beauty to, real nice bars and perfect orange on the bill and feet. One of the guys is going to get him mounted. We finished with another mallard and two more geese. The birds flew late with many of them being spotted and killed after 10:00 (which is pretty common for a resting spot). If you are hunting these spots give em time. I know its easy to want to leave at 10:00 or 10:30 when you haven’t seen hardly anything, but give them time.
We hunted the same pond on Friday afternoon and ended up with 2 mallards and 4 geese. The birds didn’t fly at all until the last 15 minutes of legal shoot. It was very clear and fairly cold, although the moon is dim which helps keep the birds from feeding at night.
Saturday morning my brother and I decided to give the skiff a shot and see what was on the river. There was only one other boat at the ramp. Just after putting in we spotted a decoy floating and picked it up figuring the guys were upstream. We headed on up and spotted a few ducks along the way, but soon enough we spotted the boat pulling out from the IN shore. They had not pulled a trigger and were giving up. We returned their decoy, shot the bull for a minute and headed on up the IN bank. We putted up for several miles without spotting anything then crossed over to the KY bank and headed down. We again went several miles without spotting anything until I saw a goose swim out, then back into shore. We paddled up on them and it was a group of 8. We got 3 of them and one was banded. While we were getting them our motor sucked something in and quit spitting water. Being a new motor we weren’t taking any chances so we pulled it up on shore and took off the prop, filter etc and cleaned out the intake. We lost about 45 minutes doing this, but it was back to rolling when we put it all back together. We had to be back soon after so we crossed over to the IN bank. We soon spotted some more geese and decided to do one more float. We killed the motor, let the current take us down and got to within 20 yards of them. There were a few ducks with them so I told my brother to shoot a goose and I’d try for a duck. He got his goose and I got two drake mallards. We headed on back. All told we traveled about 16 miles and saw approx 200 geese, 75 mallards a black duck and two ringnecks. All the birds were sitting on the shore, or just off of it. We didn’t see the first bird out in the channel. If your going to decoy the river, try to find a place where there’s some grass along the bank. Most all of the birds we saw were right along the bank where there was some grass to pick around on.
On Sunday morning we decided to try a local pond that we haven’t hunted in awhile. We saw approx 400 geese and 150 ducks but only managed 1 drake gadwall. The birds worked and worked but would not finish.
A speck and a band in one long weekend ain’t all bad though. I hope everyone had a great and safe weekend.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River at Brush Creek 01-03-2009 20:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-3-08
I took the skiff to brush creek again today. I got up at 6:30 and was on road by 7:00. I forgot to take my life jacket out of the boat, and lost it somewhere on the Double A between Alexandria and Mentor. When I got coffee at the Marathon at mentor I realized I forgot it. Luckily I carry a spare in the skiff in a bag tied to the boat. Low last nite was 31 and the river is at 30’, too low for a really good float. On the trip on 52 I saw 3 trucks at Maysville, that is looking better. I had a great breakfast at the Aberdeen Dairy Yum Yum with the regular crowd. I was at the ramp at 9:30, and was the 4th. Put in and headed up the Ohio Bank. I ran up about 1.5 miles and headed across. This time I spotted with the Binoculars, but there was nothing. As I pulled into the bank to get ready, I saw about 5 ducks swim out way US from me. I decided to head down, and save them for latter. Started paddling down the Ky bank. I spotted 5 blacks ahead of me and got within 200 yards; they swam out and took off. I continued on down and saw nothing. I decided to crank up the 10 hp and putt down. Just below the Island I motored right up on about 8 mallards, before I spotted them. They swam out and took off as I cut the motor. I completely missed them with the binoculars. I continued on down and saw 2 blacks on the rock band below the island. They also took off before I could get close. I looked below me and there were about 20 mallards. They were .5 mile below me. I spotted something else, about 1 mile below me, Mr. Gunner runner. That is why the ducks here are so spooky. It was an 18’ alum boat with a 70 Johnson with a tarp covering the whole boat. They were motoring US trying to Jump ducks. I wave my paddle hoping they would see me, but they kept right on coming US. My mallards flew away when the runners got within about 400 yards. The 2 guys just ran past me, and headed US. I have seen lots of guys hunt ducks this way on the river. They just motor up or down stream and cut their motors when the ducks jump. I my opinion it is illegal, but it is done all the time on the Ohio River. I pulled into the bank and had a cup of coffee, waiting for things to settle down. I headed back down stream. As I was paddling down I heard shots from the Ohio bank, below me. I spotted them; it was two decoy hunters on the Ohio bank sitting in two separate boats about 10 yards apart. I kept on going down. I spotted some ducks below me and paddled right up to them. It was 5 mallards. I jumped up and fired 3 times, and nothing. Continued on down. Just above Manchester Island, Gunner Runner runs past me but on the Ohio Bank. I figure he will start up my bank soon, so I decided to put a few decoys out at Toles Creek and sit in my Skiff. I sat for about 1 hour and nothing. I decided to head back US. I ran up the Ky bank. As I passed the two decoy boats they were pulling up. About 15 minutes they passed me and I watched them run into Brush Creek. All day long I had a downstream wing and about 3:00 pm it stopped. The river looked great. I ran up ky to the Island and then ran up the Ohio bank, and then back to the ky bank below Rome. I like the Ohio bank below Rome. I stared paddling down the Ohio bank , and all I saw was 2 groups of fish ducks. About 2 miles above Brush Creek I crossed over to the Ky bank and started down Ky. Bank. I was getting ready to paddle, and jumped a drake mallard right beside me, but did not shoot. I stated down. I spotted about 10 ducks below me, and got within 100 yards and they swam out. I paddled down, and they swam back in. They swam back out a took off while about 50 yards away. I continued on down, and spotted two backs ahead. I marked the spot where they swam in and paddled to it. It is now 4:00 and the sun is low on the ky bank making it hard to see. I pasted the spot where I last saw the two blacks, and could not see them. Then I spotted them, they had swam down about 20 yards. I got right on them, jumped up and fired 3 times at one black. I know I hit him, he flew US, and dropped dead at the waters edge. I have not shot a black in over 10 years. I plan to get him Mounted. I continued on down running the 10 hp at a idle. As I past Ruggles Run, out jumps a drake and a hen, they were so close I head them quack. I did not fire. At this point I am tired and decided to call it a day. I covered 20 hard miles of river today.Home by 6:30.
Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member
Ballard 01-02-2009 14:01
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I am heading over to Ballard this weekend for a quota hunt. Anybody over that way killing anything?
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River from mile 387 to 399 01-01-2009 18:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-1-09
I took the skiff to Brush Creek mile 388 Ohio River. I got up at 7:30. I had a great breakfast at the Aberdeen Ohio Dairy Yum Yum. It was very crowded since Browns is closed. On 52 across from the Maysville ramp I saw no trucks, that’s not good. At ramp by 9:30, and I was only one there. Put in and headed out to the river. Ice on the banks of Brush Creek. I headed up the Ohio bank about .5 mile and crossed over to Ky. Bank. I jumped up 3 mallards. I should have spotted the bank before crossing. Headed down. The river is at 33, which is just enough to float. Low last nite was 18. I had a down stream wind, which never happens. I spotted a drake and a hen below me. Paddled right up on them. Jumped up and shot 3 times at the drake, I thought I hit him but flew out to the middle and then dropped. When I motored out to him he was dead. Pulled into the bank and had a cup of coffee. Started back down the Ky bank. Spotted another hen and drake. I paddled right up on them, jumped up and 3 shots, no ducks. I really need to practice my wing shooting. Headed on down and was just getting ready to paddle, and I scared up too black ducks, who spotted me while I was still banging around getting ready. They flew away before I got within 200 yards. Spotted about 20 just below Brush Creek Island. I started paddling, they were very educated, they swam out and took off while I was still 200 yards away. Started up the 10 hp and pudded on down. I spotted another group of 20 and started paddling. About 6 blacks swam out and flew away while I was still 250 yards out. Next a bunch of mallards swam out, looked me over and swam back in. I got right up on about 6 mallards, jumped up got 1 with first and missed the second. I picked him up and drank a cup of coffee. Started back down. Paddled for a long ways and saw nothing, so I decided to start up the 10 hp, just in time to scare up 3 mallards. Paddled on down and spotted ducks in the mouth of Toles Creek. Got right up on them, Dropped 1 with first shoot and missed next 2. My drake was dead on the bank. Headed on down and then floated the left side of the first Manchester island. As I was motoring over I scared up about 5 mallards that were at the head of the island. I decided to float down the right side. Started down, I saw 2 geese at the end of the island, but they would not let me get any closer then 100 yards and then flew away. I spotted ducks in the left side of the second island so I floated down past the first and ran up the back side of the first and ran to the head of no. 2 and started down the left side. Floated all the way down and did not see them, I have no Idea where they went. Decided to float down the Ky bank for a little bit. As I was motoring over I saw 2 blacks swim out ahead of me. They were a good 400 yards below me. I started paddling. They swam to the bank, let me get within 150 yards and then swam back out. We did this for .5 mile, and I just gave up. I started up the 10 hp and headed back to the ramp. Just above Manchester I saw 50 geese sitting in a guys front yard. They saw me and took off over to Ky bank. I kept running up. Just above the islands I saw a eagle fly over, very cool. Ran all the way back Ohio bank and jumped up 3 blacks and two groups of 3 mallards. At the power plant I crossed over to Ky bank and jumped up about 20 mallards below island. I headed up brush creek and pulled out at 3:30. I payed Tony his 5 bucks. I had a great supper at the Dairy Yum Yum and home at 6:00. I had a great hunt. I covered 24 mile of river today 12 down and 12 up.
Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest
01-01-2009 08:37
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Does anyone know where there are some good Chocolate Lab breeders clsoe to Northern Kentucky, or know anyone one who has some chocolate pups for sale? Also interested in Chessie pups too.
Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member
12-29-2008 08:39
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We didn’t hit it real hard during the break but I did see a lot of birds. We hunted in Southern IN on Friday morning and we saw tons of ducks heading south in big V’s. Not a one would give us a look but it was continual ducks all morning long. We only saw 3 geese and they wouldn’t work either. There was little wind, but when we crossed over the river it looked to be up and rolling along pretty well. I had been seeing some geese on a local pond so we set up 6 floaters on Saturday afternoon hoping to get a quick shoot. The winds were gale force and not long after we set up we had a group of 20 ducks try to work in. They fought the wind for awhile then gave up and were gone. Soon after we had 4 mallards lock up and drop right in. After some terrible shooting they all 4 left. We then had a single goose come in and he stayed. Right before dark a decent flock of geese gave us a look, but after a few minutes they peeled out and headed on by.
Yesterday I saw 3 shovelers on a pond close by and some more geese.
There are some good numbers of birds around right now, however they are spread out with all the open water and seem to be changing feeding locations regularly. Until we get a freeze up its gonna take some determination (and luck) to get on any real sizable numbers of birds.
Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member
Ballard WMA 12-28-2008 13:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Well went on a two day quota hunt over the weekend. Saturday the winds were really strong and birds did not want to work. The ones that did I couldn’t get to finish. That has been my story this entire season. Birds that won’t finish. I constantly change everything in my set up and calling but nothing seems to work. The guys up North are really giving the birds a good education. Sunday the birds have left. I didn’t see anything worth talking about duck wise. We did see a lot of geese. I’m so tired of 2-3 ducks being killed a day out of whatever blind I’m in that cut a hunting trip short. I’m tired of wasting time.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Foster Ky mile 439 Ohio River 12-27-2008 11:42
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Duck Hunt 12-27-08
After seeing a few ducks across from Black River on Christmas day, I decided to take the decoy boat and put in at mile 439 at Foster Ky. I got up at 5:30 and got out the door at 6:15. Stopped at the Marathon on the Double A for a thermos of coffee, and they had none. The guy had to brew some as I waited. Got to ramp, and I was first and only. Put in and Jewels and I ran across to the Ohio side, in the semi dawn light. Started down the Ohio bank, I jumped 3 blacks across from Black River. I then jumped about 20 mallards about .5 mile above Moscow. But out 2 decoys with big anchors out from the willows, and put about 12 more in the willows, and 2 Geese. I was ready at first light. About .5 hour later there were 3 groups of about 10 flying around. 1 group of 10 landed US and started swimming in. I gave them a feeder chuckle. They swam right in. I jumped up, but I did not have a good shot until they flew a bit to clear the willows. I fired 1 time and touched nothing. Jewels got excited, but no duck to retrieve. Another group of about 10 landed out but the high current carried them DS. Sat until 10:00 and saw about 20 land across from me on the Ky bank. Pulled up at 10:30 and ran back the Ohio bank and jumped 1 mallard, I let Jewels retrieve a stick at the ramp. I was home at 12:00.
Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest
12-26-2008 22:04
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Did anyone lose a cabelas dog vest on the access road that takes you from the AA Highway to the W.H. Bridge into Aberdeen ? Found one there in the middle of the road today, picked up, I have it, if you know whos it is let me know.
Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member
Ohio River below Foster Ky. 12-25-2008 18:16
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Duck Hunt Christmas Day 12-25-08
At 1 pm my daughter and wife went to the barn to ride horses, and I asked could I go duck hunting? I nearly dropped over when the wife said sure. I took the skiff to Foster mile 439 Ohio river. The temp. was about 40 and no wind the river at 33 at Cincinnati. Got a thermos of coffee at the Marathon in Mentor at the double A highway. I then got on old reiable route 8 to foster. The Ohio bank below Foster is one of my favorite floating banks. Started up and ran up Ky bank and crossed over just below Bear Creek. Started floating. Saw nothing until I was a little US from Black River and spotted a drake and hen mallard sitting at the edge of the water. I got right up on them. Just before I was ready to shoot I hit a eddy of water which started turning the boat. I corrected with the paddle, dropped the paddle and sat up. The mallards did not want to fly, I yelled hay, they jumped up , 3 for 3 at the drake, no feathers. I watch the two fly across the river. Across the river from me about 10 ducks swam out and took off. I started on down. Directly across from Black River I spotted about 10 swimming out from the bank though the binoculars. They swam in. I paddled down on about 15 sitting on the bank, all Mallards. I got right on them , perhaps 20 yards out. I jumped up and dropped a drake with the first and missed two shots at the next drake. About 15 ducks came out of Little Maple Creek below me. I picked up my drake, who was dead on the water, and pulled into the bank and had a cup of coffee. Pulled back out and continued down. About 500 yards above Moscow I spotted about 20 sitting on the bank. I got right on top of them, jumped up, missed the first, got a drake on the second, I didn’t want to shoot any more, two is plenty for me. I went to pick him up and he was gone. I looked for 20 minutes, even walked the bank, no sign. I decided it was a day, so I crossed over to the Ky bank and ran back up. I did not jump a duck. Pulled out and was home at 6:30. It is 18 miles from Foster to my house. Fantastic floating conditions today.
