Duck Hunt or Sturgeon

Thick-N-Thin · 12-05-2001, 09:42 PM

I really want to get out this weekend. My delima is should I duck hunt near the willamette (North of Eugene) or sturgeon fish the fishery.

I know I can find some good sheet water to hunt on some flooded farm fields next to the willamette now, but has the Duck hunting picked up in the last week or so?

How's the sturgeon fishing in the last week been? I know the weather hasn't been all that good as far as the wind goes. The east wind really sucks.

willametteriveroutlaw · 12-05-2001, 09:56 PM

I don't sturgeon fish so I have 0 input on the fishing. If it gets good an windy any you can find a slough out of the wind thats whare I'd be. Espically if its near a convient food source. I've heard quite a few reports of the goose hunting really getting good with this terrible weather. Hopefully with this weather will get some more northern birds. If you goose hunt though, let the duskys fly please, Finals are over next week and I'm itchin to slay some honkers.

birdhunter · 12-06-2001, 09:01 AM

Well, I just slaughtered the ducks this morning. Limit in 15 minutes on some flooded fields where I usually get only a few for all day. Definately more northern birds that just came down.

On the other hand, sturgeon fishing has been pretty awesome. I'm going to try to go this evening and catch another keeper. Will let you know how that is.

So I guess if I had to choose, I'd probably duck hunt because you can sturgeon fish the rest of the year. Good luck.

Hoosier Daddy · 12-06-2001, 09:10 AM

Ducks in AM, Sturgeon in the PM!!

birdhunter · 12-06-2001, 05:26 PM

Go duck hunting.

Thick-N-Thin · 12-06-2001, 10:10 PM

Thanks guys! I'd like to go Duck Hunting, but my buddy wants to go Sturgeon fishing Saturday.

Sounds like the Duck hunting is getting a whole lot better! I'll probably Sturgeon fish Saturday and then Duck Hunt Sunday. I Can't complain to much other than if I drive all the way to the Fishery from here and the East winds hit hard. Then I'll have to use my buddy for drift sock!

Good Hunting!

MoJet Driver · 12-07-2001, 09:44 AM

Thick-n-thin,

If you are going to the Fishery you will have to take the long way around. Landslide has covered the exit ramp.

Go duck hunting instead!

Flathead · 12-07-2001, 01:47 PM

TnT, let us know how you do this weekend. I haven't seen any ducks between Harrisburg and Corvallis this week while out driving around scouting. But the geese are everywhere. I even had a small flock land in the field in front of my place in Halsey yesterday.

Thick-N-Thin · 12-07-2001, 03:38 PM

Yeah Mojet I was just reminded about the exit mudslide there at the Fishery. Might still try going up to the next exit and back tracking. I still should just go duck hunting instead like you said.

I'll let you know how the hunt was when I go Sunday Flathead!

Gotta go get things ready! Have a great weekend guys

Tilla · 12-07-2001, 04:43 PM

There is a front moving in Saturday, could be darn good for the ducks! I like the leading edge. It should be moving in between midnight and noon. :grin:

Thick-N-Thin · 12-11-2001, 06:56 PM

Flathead,

I didn't end up going hunting Sunday. I got home late Saturday from sturgeon fishing.

I talked to guy atthe office who hunted Fernridge actually hunted Cantrel (the south side of W 11th) and he said there weren't many ducks, but the ducks that did fly went straight to the guys with 4 Robo ducks. Sounds like those things pull them in. Don't know if I would spend the money since next year they may be lawn & garden ornaments!

Flathead · 12-12-2001, 11:57 PM

TnT, I hunted geese on saturday and picked up 3. 2 Cacks and 1 Tav. To sick to go out on sunday. I stopped in at the Fernridge headquarters last Monday and as usual the guys in the reservation hunt area did pretty good, especially blind #1W, and the rest of the area was slow. That rice paddy on 1W sure is the place to be out there. They need to do more rice throughout the refuge.

Thick-N-Thin · 12-13-2001, 06:16 PM

Flathead, Sounds like you had a good day of goose hunting! I haven't been out hunting fernridge for a many years. Last time I was out there. I went pheasant hunting and a seen another guy get shot in the face from another hunter hunting accross from him. That was enough for me to see.

I use to hunt that area before it was set-up under the draw permits. It's a great area. I think that the lack of rain has been the problem for that area. I know they were trying to pump water into it from the lake. I'm not sure if that has any effect on the rice.