need to stop the pain

[nautikos]

hello again and thank you for the greetings back in April when i signed up. Things are not working out all that well for me up here and i'm thinking of moving down to either Longview, or Vancouver, WA. Is there someone who can tell me how much of a struggle it might be to find good duck hunting down your way? I've always been a serious duck hunter but i don't think the Wfdw has good programs down there for public hunting like they do up here. I have it somewhat dialed in but the fishing here stinks and i'm having problems with Canada. I'm driven through twice but leave it to a rotten female to send me inside just because...well just because shes a woman with an attitude and i'm a white american male)

if i don't get this cleared up by the end of august i'm moving down to Portland area. It's always been a dream to live there but just don't know the duck hunting and i've been waiting all year for my pups 2nd season to begin up here now that i have a great spead of deeks in the corn stubble. I've only been fishing 2 times this year and i'm feeling so darn frustrated not being able wade a river in the evening. Instead i'm suckin on a 7 11 slurpy and watching my dog jump in lake Whatcom. I'm standing at the side of this 7 11 before getting in my truck, with the sun bearing down against me thinking and dreaming i was standing in a river down your way fly fishing, and seeing the bugs in the air and steelhead in the riffles. What few there are it seems...And some Kings that are on there way. I guess it's a matter of time before i decide. my simms waders and boots and great gloomis fly rod just sit in my apt and i'm feeling like a lost and utter hopeless idiot. at 54, time is short and i dont' want to waste any more time.

thanks for bearing with me. i was looking on google earth and keslo, longview and woodland areas and around the chelales river, has some good farming country that im sure holds some birds. the duck hunting sites are not all that eager to share which i don't blame anyone. i'll scout on my own but if anyone wishes to give me some info on good summer kings and steelhead fishing i would like to live in that area. less than 20 miles a drive would be good on gas.

[Twise95]

Sauvie's Island in NW Portland has some great opportunities for duck hunting. I've been out there a few times myself for ducks, never personally hunted them but I've been on plenty of ridealongs. I think it could be exactly what you're looking for!

[Arctic]

If you come down this way, for a vist, or for permanent... I would love to learn more waterfowl techniques! Im an avid wing shooter, and we have some excellent hunts, but still, I am relatively new to the sport. Only having 7 seasons total under my belt. I know of great areas to hunt, and would love to have a veteran in my boat, or in the blind with me! Im sorry to hear life has been kind of bass-akwards lately. Sauvie island is a Wildlife Management type hunt. First come, fist served on one side of the island, and a 'draw straws' type of operation on the other. But, the area surrounding the island, both the mainstem Columbia, and the Multnomah Channel draw birds. This particular area, is considered to be one of the premier hunts in the NW. And it can be good, but more often than not, we leave with less than an impressive haul of Ducks. But when we get out on the River side, its a different story. So many birds, you get to essentially choose your shot. You can pass on hens, or small birds, like Wigeon, or Teal, and drop 7 Goose-sized, Greenheads if thats your fancy. Whatcom... Thats the town on the Nooksack? Right? Pretty sure, but you are right, in the recent years that particular Mt. Baker glacer river has seen some of the poorset sport fishing opportunities in its history. that river used to hold two world records for Chinook, and one for Steelhead until the 1970's I believe. Hope everything starts to strauighten itself back out, and you can find time to come out with me and help me harvest some of the most beautiful Northern waterfowl youve ever seen! Theres a few of us that speak with a 'Fowl mouth. Let us know when you are a lil closer to the Portland/Vancouver area! Otherwise, keep us informed of life in general up in the Bellingham area!

[nautikos]

hey Ted, sorry i never answered in my other meet and greet post. i fly fish for salmon trout steelhead and stripers back n calif where i was cooped up 47 yrs. not so much as trout but when i lived in alaska, those 6 yrs the upper kenai was great. I didn't target the bows like i should have and only had a boat 2 of those 6 yrs. my bad on that.

I can really appreciate hopping into anyone's boat for a duck hunt. I'm supposed to be getting a check for around 20k in September or sometime this fall and one of the first things i'm hoping to find is a good used boat. About the border issue thing, it was bad luck. an airport cop without a gun said he was going to impound my truck because my lic. plates were expired. that's right. my plates expired for the first time in my life and was having a rough time paying all the bills and high rent in silicon valley. I had no warrants, never a felony, dui drugs or any other henius crime. Never had an arrest warrant ever. I couldn't believe what this idiot was gonna do so i went to my truck to leave and he followed me then reached through the window and grabbed my arm and then i nailed him in the nuts. I was out of jail the next morning with no bail amount. The judge gave me 200 hrs community service and that was it. 23 yrs ago but Canada, thinks we live in a perfect world or it just depends if i can find a immigration officer who has some common sense. Really frustrating to be going through this.

so, if someone has time, how good is the Cowlitz? I release most of my fish, and probably will never kill a steelhead. I catch a hen king, she goes back into the water too. I do like to backtroll for kings and will keep a few if the run looks to be strong. I miss my smoker and sold a lot of stuff when in AK before moving down. I didn't mention Suavie island but know about it and last week was reading up about how it's hunted. U don't need a lot of water. they will come into a good spread depending on what it looks like. As for Fowl mouth talking, I'm trying to master my Zink SR1 paralizer honker call. it's a beauty. There doesn't seem to be much housing rentals down in cowlitz county in the towns i mentioned. i sure would like to stay away from apt living. in longview, there is a nice house for rent right now. maybe Vancouver would be my last option.

When flying over head, the Williamatte valley sure has a food source for ducks. what nice farming real estate that area is. When i'm ready to untie from the dock, i'll let ya know. I appreciate this help. no family and just me and my dog.

[Arctic]

You sound like a good enough guy, thats had some s*** thrown in your general direction. But you are seem like a physically, and mentally tuff individual. Thats good enough for me to ask if you'd like to hunt with me! The Wilammette flyway sees the real deal "Black Cloud' of birds when the time is right. The public waterways, and sloughs on the Upper Willamette have been some of our best Fowl grounds. Both for Ducks, and Geese. The Cowlitz sees an pretty epic return of hatchery planted Summer Steelhead, and the last few years I have had decent luck with the Kings. There should never be a problem with turning fish loose either! I actually have not harvested a Fall Chinook Hen in exactly 19 years. The first OR Salmon I hoooked was a dusky, colored up, Wild Hen on the coast, and I even second guessed killing it as a 7 yr. old, but I did anyways... And that has always stuck with me...not in a good way either. But ive never had a bad experience, even in combat zones with releasing "keeper" fish. Im lucky I 'spose, since Ive heard of people getting harassed or beat up for catching and releasing too many, or releasing Hens!... And like I said before, keep us posted on your whereabouts, and how life in general is treatin ya! Hopefully soon we will get a chance to bust on some birds or catch and release some Fall Chinook!

[nautikos]

Arctic, that's a pretty cool aviator you chose. A king snout at freeze up. Well, not bragging but i have 19 mounts and 1 snow goose. This fall i hope to get my 13 lb western canadian done. It was my first honker and my 1 yr old pups first honker. 1 shot 2 kills. over water. Poof!! what a moment. Winchester Supreme BBs. Had that box for many years. Speaking of a mental case....lol. we all need to be physically and mentally tuff because i think a civil war is coming at the next election if conservatives win. In my opinion i think that it is going to be very ugly. Interesting for sure. Played baseball 4 yrs of college and I can stay in the blind all day as long as there is coffee. I never served in the military but hope to take guys out fishing and hunting when i get my boat. have a good rest of the summer. About the nooksack, i never knew it held 2 world records. It's an interesting river. I've fished it just above deming once. no grabs. i take the dog there almost every day, not to fish but to let her run around and jump in the river.

[Arctic]

Thats actually a Goodnews River Sockeye! And thats exactly how I saw the fish. Just the head pokin outta the snow.
I need to get some birds mounted. I dont know why I dont do more. WE have some of the most unique looking Ringneck Ive ever seen. Blue bands on their bills, and chrome, not white stripes! Last year we saw a lot of "Silver Stripe" Ringnecks! I also took a monsterous Greenhead with a band from Russia. And another from a call manufacturer in the Missippi flyway! The bird was 9 years old, at least! A 13# Western! Thas a tank bird right there! It amazes me how large birds get. Baffles me how the hell they get their fat feathers off the pond! At least we come from the same end of the political board. Im with you for sure, but we can always discuss ways to solve the nations issues between sets of birds! You have a good remainder of the Summer up North, and give the Nook another shot before you leave. I used to pound the Stillaguamish for Summers with Black jigs. I never used floats, I just drift fished 'em. Seemed like the super spey Fly flickers used black marabou leeches, so I bought Black jigs before I started to fly feathers and fur! We will talk soon!