Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: MuzzyHunter28 on December 18, 2015, 08:45:04 AM

Title: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: MuzzyHunter28 on December 18, 2015, 08:45:04 AM

Hey all,
    Went over last weekend had a great Saturday hunt. Coming home the pass got knarley. Looking to get back over there again this weekend. The weather reports today looks like the whole trip from about North bend to Moses could be slow and white....Pass is bad. It will be worth the stressful drive if the water is still moving and some of the back water doesn't have 3" thick ice already. The thin ice the jet sled can break. Any locals have any words on the weather in the area? Any hard core dude hunt during the week in the area? Any info is much appreciated!

P.S Picture from last weekend just shy of a 2 man mallard limit.

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: Bill W on December 18, 2015, 09:43:44 AM

I'd check the pass reports if I were you.  Right now part of I-90 is closed due to spun out vehicle removal.

If it was me I'd hunt the Skagit or Snohomish mouths.  Shorter drive.

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: ducksdogsdownriggers on December 18, 2015, 11:28:05 AM

Was 100% open Sunday.  Unsure what's happened since, been subfreezing most of those days.

+1 on checking the passes.

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: MuzzyHunter28 on December 21, 2015, 10:53:49 AM

Update to the Potholes as of Saturday.

Waited until the pass was opened Friday night. Wasn't that bad at all. Just slow. Hunted down towards the mouth of Crab Creek Saturday morning. Cold and cloudy. Snow on the ground, Only 2 other rigs were parked at the boat launch. Appeared to be perfect duck hunting weather. Sat until 9am. Didn't even see a single duck flying! I was shocked. Weekend prior we slammed them in the same spot. I didn't even see birds until driving past the fields towards George. I guess the cold weather pushed a lot of birds down south in a matter of 5 or 6 days??

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: HunterDan03 on December 27, 2015, 09:03:11 PM

Crusty snow covering food forced lots of birds out of the area. Not seeing a break in the weather either. Might be hosed till the end!

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: C-Money on December 28, 2015, 10:47:57 AM

Slim pickings for sure.

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: npaull on December 30, 2015, 01:20:22 PM

Anybody hunted the area the past few days? Still planning on heading out there this weekend, I'll post an update when I'm there...

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: bowjunkie on December 30, 2015, 04:37:52 PM

good luck npaull i am also heading over to potholes friday morning hope we see some action.

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on January 02, 2016, 07:38:11 AM

Very limited area's to get out on the lake from. All the edges frozen pretty thick

Title: Re: Potholes / Crab Creek area freezing up?
Post by: npaull on January 05, 2016, 02:23:24 PM

So if you can find open water, the hunting out in the Potholes/basin region is pretty good. Lots of northern mallards around, not too shy yet. In two and a half days of hunting my friend and I got 19 mallards...