Columbia Basin Waterfowl Report

LuckyStrike · 12-05-2006, 06:08 PM

Bad News;

Things are really solid over here. No I mean the water. All ponds without moving water are 3-4 inches solid.

Good News;

The birds are here. Have seen the river really heating up lately. Three good days on the river, widgeon, mallards and believe it or not some pinny's. Even the Umatilla River has been pretty good.

Geese are really starting to pile in also. We're even getting a few over here in Pendleton area.

Had the Columbia all to ourselves on Sunday, water was low due to drawdown, lots of sand bars, geese really decoying well and ducks were consistent.

Starting to see the rafts building on the Columbia. Most of the birds still appear to be feeding on the Washington side of the river in the new fields around Horse Heaven and all ag fields north of the river. We are getting some ducks in the fields, but my how things have changed over the years.

theslayer · 12-05-2006, 06:38 PM

I was at umatilla this weekend (sunday) with my buddy, the whole slough was definately frozen over and there was not many birds flying. It was pretty much a waste of a trip (since I have to drive up from school @ OSU), I think the average was around .5 birds per hunter. We hunted the river and only ended up with three birds, which was the second best blind for the day, which is really sad. The best blind shot 6 birds for three people. We even had a really good wind until about 11 am. I am really debating on going over for my christmas eve hunt based on what I saw last weekend. Oh well I will be in portland for the break after this weekend and looking to get out to the WMA as much as possible.

-Steve Kuhn

LuckyStrike · 12-05-2006, 07:37 PM

You might try some of the "other" areas of the basin when you get a chance. McCormack has not been good for quite a few years. They are making some changes, but we'll see. If you don't pull a good number, you could be disappointed.

There are several other areas around here that shoot well at different times of the season.

My son came home from OSU over thanksgiving weekend and we shot ducks every day, from the Columbia, Umatilla and local ponds. Although I am not impressed with the numbers yet, they are comin!

Gunner · 12-05-2006, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the post, I have been wondering if the ducks had been showing up on the river yet. I havent done any "river" hunting on the eastside, only at the refuges, but would love to get the duck boat out on the columbia for some green heads. Without giving up any of your secret spots, can you give me some "general" idea of some places to try?
I have done a little scouting around the McNary refuge but thats about it. Any areas a little closer to Portland?
Any help is appreciated and if you want to come down and hunt the LC I would be happy to show you around.

Gunner

Mountain Climber · 12-06-2006, 09:10 AM

Thanks for the update! I've been wondering!

LuckyStrike · 12-06-2006, 04:28 PM

Gunner, with a good size boat (mine is 18 foot) a couple of areas I would suggest would be between Boardman and Tower Road, lots of area, but if you take a boat scouting trip, you will see where to set up. Lots of coves with good cover. There is a ramp at Boardman.

Another area closer to Portland is between willow creek and Arlington, there are a couple of nice islands along the oregon shore. If it is really blowing, then up willow creek on the south side of I-84. There is a ramp at Quesnel Park off of Three Mile Canyon.

That should give you some places to try.

Might see ya out there. I am in a 18 foot alumacraft with a consol.

Gunner · 12-06-2006, 09:20 PM

Thanks Lucky...really appreciate the advice. Can you hunt the Washington side of the river around Crow butte at all...I would imagine thats off limits huh? I have licenses in both states, actually live in Vancouver, WA.
If I make it over there...look for the Duck water, duck boat.

theslayer · 12-07-2006, 12:47 AM

yeah those islands on the river between arlington and willow creek look like they could produce with the right conditions. If I head back east I will try that area or the hat rock area since I definately want to learn the river up there. Hopefully over the break I will be able to use our boat and get up there.

Northwest Pest · 12-07-2006, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the posts guys.

LuckyStrike · 12-08-2006, 08:49 AM

Gunner, you should be okay if you have both licenses. I always assumed that you could hunt the main channel, but couldn't go up sloughs or rivers. i agree the east end of Crow Butte also intrigued me. A lot of the ducks we get seem to come from over there somewhere.

Above McNary (Hat rock) has been slow. There aren't the numbers of ducks resting on the big water yet. Some folks are doing okay at the big cove off of Hat Rock.

Was steelhead fishing up there yesterday and saw very large rafts of goldeneye or whatever those white/black speedsters are. They usually precede the mallards.

Shot some gaddy's last weekend, which is quite unusual for me. We also got three specklebellys which is really odd. They were on the Umatilla River.

LuckyStrike · 12-09-2006, 07:40 PM

My son made it back home yesterday. Went on Columbia today. Light freezing rain, 30 degrees. Beautiful weather! Shot 2 bluebill, 3 widgeon drake, 2 mallards and an "unknown". Never shot one before. Rusty brown head, grey duck bill (not sawbill), white breast, orangish yellow feet. No pics, I know that would have made it easier. Missed many more. New gun..... No excuse. Kid shot better than I did.

duckboy · 12-09-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyStrike

My son made it back home yesterday. Went on Columbia today. Light freezing rain, 30 degrees. Beautiful weather! Shot 2 bluebill, 3 widgeon drake, 2 mallards and an "unknown". Never shot one before. Rusty brown head, grey duck bill (not sawbill), white breast, orangish yellow feet. No pics, I know that would have made it easier. Missed many more. New gun..... No excuse. Kid shot better than I did.

Sounds like a hen goldeneye ... a 1st year bird.