Kapowsin Ducks

[towerboy74]

Anyone been out for ducks on Kapowsin this fall? hows the action been? Looking to take the Kids out for a close by cast and blast. Yes I know about the stumps there. Thanks for any info.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have not done it in years, but used to cruise along looking for ducks along shoreline, then row towards shore until they flew (progress due to motor has stopped) and would bring "steely" spoons and catch chums near where the creek flows in, lots of fun catching 4-6 lb chum on trout gear.

[Ductsquatch]

I have been out to Kapowsin three times this year..........nothing to brag about..........

Last time I was out there might have been somewhat better, but couple yahoos  cant hit nuthin shootin semi autos w/out plugs at EVERYTHING flying by....regardless of range.........geese in the stratosphere.....cormorants.......blue herons...........kinda made it hard to do anything.............
Will be going out again in next few days..................
3 trips.........2 Bufflehead Hens
 

[Firedogg]

After going by tbe lake and stopping to check out the far shoreline with binoculars I'd say wait a few days to a week for a weather change. South end of the lake just on the far side of tbe pilings were three ducks. Nothing in the middle or along the shoreline. The north end beyond Erickson's there was a handful, and I truly mean a handful with only 5 to be found in the marshy area where the creek comes in.
  Not many birds in the area at all. The flooded area farter south at the Clay City road had nothing on it.. Lake Ohop, where you can usually at least see some birds near the houses at the middle was smooth as glass without a bird to be seen except for the north end with a group of a dozen or so cormorants.
 There was no body on the water so it wasn't because they were chased off. Nothing worth going out for there yet.

   Now in the morning on my way home from work there was about two dozen geese and a bunch of ducks in a flooded cow pasture west of Meridian at 288th, but those property owners already have friends they let hunt out there now and then.

[Firedogg]

 Stopped by to check out lake Kapowsin again today for this thread.  A few more ducks out in the middle on the backside of the island, maybe a dozen or so rafted up on the lee side since it was a bit breezy there. At the boat launch, the game warden looked to be writing some paperwork for a couple of gentlemen at their truck/trailer in the lot who's boat was still in the water, not sure if he was writing tickets or just checking things out... but hey, he's out there watching.
  South end of the lake by the pilings there were no birds on the water, but three bald eagles sitting in the cottonwoods and alders.

  Still nothing in the valley at the Clay City Rd and only one bufflehead at the south end of Ohop where the creek leaves the lake. So overall not many birds in the area yet.

[Ductsquatch]

Thanks!
I think I might row out from the boat launch south of Erickson's and try that island area just before dawn Monday morning.
Appreciate the updates. Very awesome.
I see that Game Warden there a lot. I think he needs to check plugs on some of these guys.........its like a warzone out there sometimes..........then turns out to only be two or three guys.......but I'm starting to whine now......

[Firedogg]

I make it easy fir him when he's checking plugs, he can tell what I have from a distance with my O/U   

[Ductsquatch]

Sweet!
I have Mossy 88 pump.
Makes me mad when guys are holed up in the reeds and open up with 10-15 shot volleys and when they come out...........there's only 2 of them......almost half a box of shells in one flurry...........takes me a few minutes to go through that many shell............AND I pick up my empties..............but I am ranting again..........
Guess I will just put the ducks on notice for the morning..........and go get ready.......see how it goes............hoot!...........I mean QUACK!

[towerboy74]

Thanks for the input guys. I hit it with the kids over the weekend, few divers flying around, not a whole lot of shooting going on either. but it was good to get out with the boys. On aside note hit Rap john Monday, had the lake to ourselves, had 2 groups of ducks land dang near on top of me putting out the dekes befor shooting light. teal, and gadwalls from what i could tell. saw good # of ducks but was sunny out and most were passing over at a couple hundred feet, but got a few takers to come down. ended with 2 greenwings, a gadwall, and 1 hen mallard. saw a few geese high too. cant wait to get back out after the cold and the rain moves back in to keep them flying low.

[Ductsquatch]

I STILL have not made it out to Kapowsin for ducks. Nothing promising on here, nothing promising on Ducks Unlimited............broken oar on the boat, truck wouldn't start New Years Day............grrrrrrr.
I will make it out today.......just not before dawn like I wanted...........I did have a quick question.........I might find out before I get a response since I am heading out there today one way or another, but.............IS RapJohn OPEN??
WDFW pamphlets are the most confusing things to read. I was under the impression the lake was closed. I was pretty sure it was closed to gas engine boats, I row so not a concern, but I thought the lake was closed down completely after October. Seems I read that...........might have been fishing pamphlet though....
So now I go...........see if I can row

[bowNarrow]

There 2 blinds to hunt out of... one on each end of the lake no other hunting allowed except the 2 blinds

[Ductsquatch]

you can't hunt out of the boat?...........
don't have the "blind boat" happening yet...........but it is in the plans......
just wondering when I do get the blind boat done if I can even use it there then.........
Is that public land? or private land with state boat ramp? Guess I am kinda new to this at this old age. Used to hunt and trap ALL OVER..........including rapjohn..........them days be gone man dang shame

[Troutdreamer]

Rapjohn Lake in Pierce County has a register-to-hunt program and requires hunters to hunt from two established blinds. Registration for the blinds is on a first come basis and is established by parking in one of the two mandatory parking lots at the WDFW Rapjohn Lake Access Site.