hello all

birdhunter · 01-22-2001, 05:37 PM

Hi everyone,
I just found this site and can't even begin to tell you how impressed I am with the caliber of posts and opinons presented. This isn't just a bunch of people arguing with eachother, unlike some sites (ie OregonLive). Here it seems you talk about current fishing issues and even have facts to back up your assertions! What a concept!
Just some background on me, I was born and raised in Clackamas, work in Ashland, and go to school in Corvallis. I'm currently a college student here at OSU (go beavs). I try to get up every weekend and do some fishing or hunting. I've pretty much fished or hunted everywhere in the state for just about everything (if I could only draw an antelope tag). That is one reason I love Oregon so much, it is so beautiful and has so many diverse ecosystems.
I work for the USFWS during the summer in their wildlife forensics lab. It's a crime lab set up for poaching cases and such. That's where your catch goes if you've been bad. Although my focus is on mammals I might be able to answer some questions about fish and their laws. Remember, I don't make the laws, I just help enforce them.
Big fan of Pat McManus and David Duncan. I don't know how many of you fishermen (and women) have read his book The River Why, but I think anyone from Oregon probably should.
The Clackamas is the river I call home and I've been doing pretty well there this year for ducks, deer and steelhead. Chnookie, good to see you're here too. We really need to get you into some fish. If I'm ever up there some weekend and I have extra room in the drift boat I'll let you know.
Anyway, I hope to talk with many more of you in the future and continue to have some interesting disscussions. Good luck on the water.

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jet · 01-22-2001, 06:04 PM

welcome bird guy

Tough year for me this year on ducks it started great with two banded birds the first two shots of the season and then it went down from there. As with fishing the problem that plagued waterfowl hunting this year...water. Welcome, I know you will get a lot out of this board, Maybe it should include hunting??

Jet~~~

WildHawg · 01-22-2001, 06:47 PM

Howdy Birdhunter,
Read the "River Why" many years ago. Great book--I would recomend it to anyone, not just Oregonians!

What river do you think was his "secret North Coast River." I have my ideas, we'll have to share them some time, but NOT on the board.

I live west of Salem, and hunt private property next to the Willamette that probably should have been a refuge (it was considered before they picked Baskett Slough instead). Last year, when every one else was getting skunked, we were killing them. This year with no water, we too were getting skunked. Even the geese wouldn't cooperate. Straight up the worst year of hunting I have experienced since the early 80's.

You are on a career path that I at times wish I'd pursued. Keep it up. Ever need a fishing partner to hit that "Secret North Coast Stream", have driftboat, will travel.
See ya, WildHawg

01-22-2001, 07:07 PM

Welcome to Ifish BH. It's great to have another knowledgable member of our BB, and one who also appreciates civility. We do get on each other on occassion in heated threads (topics + replies), but we are comparitively civil about things with a lot of knowledgable people on here. ... My daughter also goes to Oregon State and I am really looking forward to the Dawgs coming up to Reser Stadium to play the Beavs in the re-match. Man I really hope it comes on "Dad's Weekend" down there next fall - that will make for an even more fun 'frat party' afterwards

. If not for that missed FG up at Husky Stadium (not fair to put it all on the kicker of course), the Beavs could have been co-national champions! Mind boggling, considering where they've been the last 28 years. Go Beavs! - RT

Jennie@ifish · 01-22-2001, 07:24 PM

Welcome Birdhunter!
Stay away from my little birds, though, OK? No chickadees for dinner here!
Jen

Barnyard · 01-22-2001, 07:28 PM

Don't want to change the subject but as a huge Dawg fan I too believe the Beavs could have been national champs..They play Florida football, fly all over the field

RW · 01-22-2001, 11:00 PM

WildHawg, You mentioned "The River Y", and that you didn't want to talk about which north coast river it is on the db. You don't have an e-mail address on your profile, so I can't get ahold of you with my guess. E-mail me with yours. RW

Fishplay · 01-23-2001, 01:44 AM

Welcome birdhunter from another beaver fan. I'll have to look up that title.....sounds like interesting reading for a stormy day.

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FISH!........GET IN THE BOAT!!!!!

Osprey · 01-23-2001, 07:43 AM

Welcome aboard,Birdhunter

A missed fieldgoal would have tied the game,after trailing the whole time,they might have been co-champs...if the take Eastern Wash. off their schedule.....see ya next year.....Go Dawgs

Hoosier Daddy · 01-23-2001, 07:45 AM

Hey, good to see ya Birdhunter. I grad'd from OSU in '92. What are you studying?Email sometime if you want to do a fishing trip.

WildHawg, I thought you were down south somewheres (Umpqua??), where west of Salem are you? I spent a little time in Rickreall as a teen, mostly Salem though. I too would be interested in your guess on "why", since I am currently reading it for about the eighth time.

THE REEL HEY_YALL · 01-23-2001, 12:21 PM

Welcome aboard terdhunter...errr birdhunter. Glad to have you aboard, but if you really want to get in good with everyone you will just say that the huskies are by far the superior team. I look forward to hearing your posts/replies on different things in the future. I am an authority. On what? I guess we'll just have to find out, but I'm an authority pretty much on everything.

Save a fish, eat a beaver.

birdhunter · 01-23-2001, 02:51 PM

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Glad to hear that there are a lot of people out there who appreciate literature and football. I've got a couple of quick responses and comments.

To Jet and WildHawg: Sorry you didn't do so well on ducks this year. Most people I talked to also had a terrible time with this low water. I took a couple of trips over to Sauvies and that was really dissapointing. Still, I hate to say it, but I did great this year for ducks and geese. Apparently though I'm just about the only hunter in the state who did well from what I've heard. All season long I took limits of mallards and woodies as I floated the rivers. I can remember 4 drifts where there were 3 of us in the boat and we all took limits home. All good ducks too (ie no merganzers). Mostly mallards, woodies and the occasional diver. Just some good old fashioned pass and jump shooting. Last day of the season (sunday) I still managed to get 6 mallards during a drift for steelhead. Plenty of geese too. I got my first banded goose this year on a float trip. Last weekend of deer season I took a float down a nondescript river in Oregon with a friend who also had a tag. Brought a 3pt, a forked horn, 1 goose and 4 ducks into the boat ramp before noon. Now that is what I call a good drift.

To Jennie: Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of touching your chicadees. Gotta say I really love your website. I've been visiting it for months now and am always thoroughly entertained. Keep up the great work.

Re: The River Why. I talked to Duncan once and no matter how much I begged he wouldn't tell me where the Tmanawis River is. I've got a pretty good idea though. All I'll say is that it is N of Otis. By the way, I'm on my 5th reading of the book.

Chnookie: You ready for this one? I'm majoring in biology and zoology and minoring in chemistry and fish & wildlife management. Also have a pre-Vet option. I know, I know. I still don't know where I find time to go out fishing and huting, but I guess if you really want to, you make time. Prioritize.

Finally, its nice to know that we have a resident expert on everything hey_yall. Although I imagine that there are some others over here who might challenge you for that title. Good luck to everyone and once again, thanks for the warm welcome.

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Hoosier Daddy · 01-23-2001, 03:19 PM

DAMN. I thought I was busy in school, but I did less than half of that.

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aye fsh · 01-23-2001, 08:35 PM

Hey Birdhunter!
Really cool board, eh? The wife (a.k.a. aye catch!) speaks very highly of you, will drop by the lab sometime soon to meet you and perhaps discuss a fishing trip trade.
c-ya soon.

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ayefsh,there4ayeam

birdhunter · 01-24-2001, 10:38 AM

Hey aye fish,
Yeah, I've been hearing great things about you too. Great pics of the sturegeon. I'd love to get some of those. All I've ever done is catch shakers. But those were all on trout ultalight rods. Let me tell you, that was really fun. Occasionally I would hook into something bigger, but 4 lb test just didn't cut it.
I'd love to do a trip or trade sometime. I can just about guarentee fish out of the Clack this time of year (although I don't like to say it). 5 drifts = 8 steelhead. 2 wild, 6 hatchery and a hell of a lot more, um.... "released" near the boat. We'll call it long distance catch and release (the catch part is mostly implied).
So yeah, stop by the lab sometime and I'd love to plan out something. I don't have any plans yet for this weekend so if you have any ideas or are ambitious I'm up for it. From what I hear the smelt are working well for sturgeon, but FYI I still do have a whole freezer full of shad that I would love to get rid of. Talk to ya soon.

Kwiky · 01-24-2001, 10:54 AM

Hey Birdhunter, you spend much time on the 1st floor of Nash? I'm on the 2nd floor.....

Kwiky

birdhunter · 01-24-2001, 01:45 PM

Kwiky,
I don't spend any time at Nash. It's almost all Cordley or StAg. Microbiologist, huh? I work in the virology lab on campus. I don't know if you know anyone there, but they all love to fish too.

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