Lower Columbia huntable?

Gooseman · 01-08-2009, 10:49 AM

With all of the other rivers on the rise, how does the lower Columbia look?

Is the Aldrich point ramp useable?

Will it be too much of a mess this weekend?

stlhdr1 · 01-08-2009, 12:08 PM

Great question....

I'd be more concerned with the lack of birds in that area right now and that was before all the flooding....

Keith

Wigeon Pete · 01-08-2009, 03:18 PM

I was down there puddle duck hunting on Saturday and never fired a shot. I've never seen is so dead. I went back on Sunday and took a couple of guys diver hunting, despite the fact that there were about 20% of the normal numbers I'd like to see. We had a great (albiet short) hunt then ate lunch as we watched the birds land in the decoys (including a nice drake can).

Pete

Gooseman · 01-08-2009, 03:46 PM

Pete,

My biggest concern is they are predicting 4 to 6 feet more water than you experienced last weekend. Are you going down this coming weekend, or are you staying in the valley? Somehow I volunteered to donate the boat to a large group for the weekend.

Gooseman

QH's Paw · 01-08-2009, 05:58 PM

When it comes to Aldrich Pt boat ramp, it isn't just the ramp you have to worry about when there is alot of rainfall. There have been several mudslides across the roads to the boat ramp over the years. What you need is a report from someone down there today.
The river itself is probably still rising, judging from what I saw on the river, while diver hunting today.

NeverGuess · 01-10-2009, 12:37 PM

Any reports from Saturday the 10th on lower river? Thinking of heading out tomorrow unless it's totally dead.

stlhdr1 · 01-10-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeverGuess

Any reports from Saturday the 10th on lower river? Thinking of heading out tomorrow unless it's totally dead.

Haven't heard a word from some locals I know down there. They usually call when theirs a lot of birds in the area....

Keith

steelheadslayer · 01-10-2009, 04:43 PM

Saw quite a few boats head out and not a lot of shooting. We found lots of bills but didn't have the right set for em. Will be back after em tomorrow with, hopefully, the right set up.

Launch only when you can see real well, there is so much debris floating down that you could get in trouble real quick, full size trees just under the surface.

NeverGuess · 01-10-2009, 05:50 PM

Those reports add up to unlikely....

any tie breakers? someone get me excited, please!

Gooseman · 01-11-2009, 07:17 PM

Good number of bills & buffies.
Some puddle ducks, but couldn't really hunt them as the water is pretty high!

With the dropping water levels, keep your eyes open as there are new obstacles in the waterways.