Inclement weather should rattle birds
Whunters hoping for a little help from Mother Nature may have gotten their wish Monday when a blast of frigid weather pushed its way into the Canadian prairies and gave straggling birds a migratory nudge.
According to a report posted on the Ducks Unlimited website, most of the holdouts finally have taken flight in a southerly direction and any open waters should soon freeze over. That said, there have been reports that large numbers of mallards and geese – both Canadas and snows – are still dragging their feet in Alberta. However, with temperatures quickly dropping the reluctant birds are expected to join the annual migration in the coming days.
Migrating birds will make their way south through Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming on their way to places like the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah and the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge southeast of Elko, Nevada. From there, some of the birds will move west across the Silver State and others will fly south through Clark County.
Along the way they’ll stop at the Kirch, Key Pittman and Overton wildlife management areas along with the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps Ash Meadows. How long it takes for the birds to show up depends on the weather conditions along the way. A little turbulent weather accompanied by cold temperatures would do a lot to keep them moving this way.
Regional forecasts call for cooler temperatures in Southern Nevada by week’s end. Overnight lows are expected to drop below freezing at the Kirch WMA and Pahranagat Valley, while Overton will see lows in the mid to upper 40s. Unfortunately, there is no storm activity in the forecast.
Only bluebird skies.
While nice weather is just that, it usually doesn’t bode well for duck hunters, so they tend to prefer things a little on the nasty side.
When it’s clear and sunny and winds are calm, ducks tend to spread out and are somewhat unpredictable. They can float around with few cares. They don’t need to find cover, and they have an easier time picking out hunters hunkered down in a blind or hiding in the tules.
All it takes is the glint of sun off a shiny shotgun barrel, a reflection off your face or a movement that lets the sunlight highlight your silhouette. Once they know you are there, the birds will flare off in another direction.
The key to bagging ducks is recognizing their flight paths and, when possible, setting up where you have a chance of intercepting passing birds. Like other animals, birds are creatures of habit, and when holding in a location for several days, it doesn’t take them long to develop patterns. But they also learn your patterns as well. Where you can, change up your set and adjust in your own pattern.
Between now and your next outing, you can follow the duck and goose migration by checking the Ducks Unlimited Migration Map at ducks.org. There you will find updates from DU professionals and other hunters that may help you make plans.
Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His “In the Outdoors” column, published Thursday, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own. He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@ gmail.com.
LAKEMEAD— Striped bass are biting anchovies outside of Hemenway Harbor and Callville Bay Marina, as well as near the Boulder Islands.
The fish near the islands are coming from depths of 50 to 60 feet. Most of the fish are 1 to 3 pounds. Anglers are still bringing in smallmouth bass on plastics and shad imitations in coves that have good shore vegetation.
LAKE MOHAVE/ WILLOW BEACH — Anglers are bringing in rainbow trout below Willow Beach from the shoreline as well as boats. The fish are taking Powerbait and spinners. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are biting on plastics and shad imitations, especially on warm, cloudy days. Anglers are finding stripers at the mouths of coves north of Katherine Landing.
LAUGHLIN — Anglers are catching their limits of stripers near the south end of Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area. From shore or boat, striper fishing is good from below Davis Dam past Casino Row. Rainbow trout are hitting Powerbait, worms and Rooster Tails.
LAS VEGAS URBAN PONDS — Fishing action around the ponds is starting to slow down with the arrival of cooler temperatures. The Nevada Department of Wildlife won’t be able to begin its seasonal rainbow trout plants until water temperatures drop and hold in the low 60s or below at all of the urban ponds. Generally, that puts the first plants somewhere near Thanksgiving.
KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA — Water levels continue to rise, and aquatic vegetation has started to decline along the shorelines of area reservoirs. Rainbow trout action is the best from boats for those using Powerbait or night crawlers. Lure fishers are doing well using spoons, such as Kastmasters and Super Dupers.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR — Trout action has been very good, with rainbow and tiger trout taking a variety of spinning lures and spoons. Bait anglers have been doing well from the fishing dock and dam using the usual Powerbait in rainbow, green or orange colorations, as well as a chunk of night crawler combined with a mini-marshmallow.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR — Rainbow trout action has been very good, but the best action fishing has been found by those using boats or floatables to get away from the shoreline. Water levels continue to rise, and that has anglers finding improved action off the dam. The fish are taking Powerbait in rainbow, orange or green colorations, as well as small spinning lures.
UPCOMING EVENTS — The Nevada Department of Wildlife is offering two free fishing classes in the coming weeks. The first is a family fishing clinic Nov. 17 at Floyd Lamb Park from 9 a.m. to noon. The class will cover the basics of fishing, including casting skills, fish identification, bait and lure selection, knot tying and rigging your tackle. Loaner rods, tackle and bait will be provided free.
The second class is Fly Tying Tuesday at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at the NDOW Las Vegas office, 4747 Vegas Drive.