big c!!

[bone collector 12]

anyone hunted the Columbia around cresent bar lately

[Mfowl]

Past over the bridge at Vantage today. Didn't see many birds rafted up above or below. However the small waters are freezing up around Potholes. The birds will be pushed to the river soon.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

Hunted the river near CB Saturday.  Dead-except for a few divers.  Fewer birds around than I had seen in previous weeks.

I heard that there are birds in the Brewster area, but have not made the trip, so I cannot confirm.  Anyone?

[boneaddict]

Up until this last week, all the water was wide open.   Closing up fast now though.

[RailRob]

noticed some between there and dam. plan on hunting the general area this weekend..

[magnus100]

Drove by Brewster(mouth of okanogan) a couple days agao and there were quite a few birds there.

[vandeman17]

Not many birds flying up and down the river between Wenatchee and Entiat yet but they will be here soon if the weather stays the way it is.

Side question and apologies on the thread jack, I have access to an 18 foot boat if I want it but I would have to go over to the westside to get it and then drop it back off. I saw an 14 foot boat that I like but not sure it would handle the big C. What do you guys use?

[Mfowl]

Vandeman- I would go with the 18' boat. The Columbia can be daunting at times. I've left the ramp in good conditions and limped back through 4' rollers and whitecaps. Throw in a load of decoys, another guy or 2, a dog and gear it pays to have a lot of boat. I use a 16' Crestliner and at times its just not enough. The 14' boat could work for a short trip in a bay or slough but on the main river safe is better than sorry!   

[vandeman17]

Vandeman- I would go with the 18' boat. The Columbia can be daunting at times. I've left the ramp in good conditions and limped back through 4' rollers and whitecaps. Throw in a load of decoys, another guy or 2, a dog and gear it pays to have a lot of boat. I use a 16' Crestliner and at times its just not enough. The 14' boat could work for a short trip in a bay or slough but on the main river safe is better than sorry!   

That is what I was thinking. I want to fish some of the small lakes around here in the summer too and that is part of the reason for the smaller boat. Just wish I could afford two. 

[Spuddieselwwu]

I hunted south of crescent bar this last weekend... It was a slow morning shoot, real slow after about 9am.

[cryfowl]

I will say straight out, I am not interested in shooting your puddle ducks.  I know a lot of people get tight lipped when they talk birds, but I only head east for divers.  So, is anyone seeing any divers?  I'm still after a mount worthy redhead.  Almost made the trek over last week, but work intervened.  May head over Sunday if there are any divers around.  I usually hunt south of the Vantage bridge, but willing to go either direction for an opportunity at a nice Drake Redhead.

[Mfowl]

Cryfowl- We took a drake and hen Canvasback and some ringnecks up in the Potholes area last Sunday. There were also divers rafted up on the main body of the res itself that I had not seen earlier in the month when I was there. They are starting to show and with the lakes begining to freeze up pretty good out there, they'll be on the river soon. However, no Redheads specifically.

[Spuddieselwwu]

I will say straight out, I am not interested in shooting your puddle ducks.  I know a lot of people get tight lipped when they talk birds, but I only head east for divers.  So, is anyone seeing any divers?  I'm still after a mount worthy redhead.  Almost made the trek over last week, but work intervened.  May head over Sunday if there are any divers around.  I usually hunt south of the Vantage bridge, but willing to go either direction for an opportunity at a nice Drake Redhead.

Cryfowl- We were north of the bridge and saw a few redheads. Mallards in the AM, pass shot on divers in mid morning.  Didn't shoot any redheads, just canvasbacks.

[cryfowl]

Thanks for the info.  We hit the redhead migration just right last year, but it was early in the season and the birds weren't full color.  It's a four hour drive for me, so hate driving that far just to end up shooting goldeneye and bills.

[RailRob]

does that little bay there have a name?