Owens River/Valley

[deadducks]

I am leaving on Wednesday for a 3 day hunting trip to the Owens River/Valley. I plan on hunting from Lone Pine on up to Bishop.

I plan on trying to find a few holes to set a couple dekes, and then jump shoot the rest of the area. I have heard the area where the river dumps into the lake is good and also possibly Benton Crossing. When I was deer hunting up there this year, I heard a few locals talk about 5 Bridges. I will be trying for ducks, geese, quial.

Any suggestions are welcomed and I will post back what I find.

Thanks in advance for any information you may provide.

 

[D Sea]

I don't have any advice on where to hunt, but do offer a word of caution. You said you are going to be hunting for ducks, geese and quail. Make sure that you do not have any lead shot shells on you person while hunting waterfowl. I've heard a couple of guys were ticketed for that last year.

Sounds like a good trip. If the hunting doesn't pan out, remember the Owens River is open year round to trout fishing.

Good luck.

 

[DKScott]

That would be the Lower Owens only is open to fishing

 

[ronk]

Deadducks,

I envy you. I have been dying to go the past two seasons. I just can't convince SoCalWaterfowler to make the trip. I have been fishing there 6 trips a year my whole life. If you take warm springs rd off the 395 there is a good size pool there where the river crosses. The river changes every year so I don't know how the spot is right now.

I also hear there are ponds past five bridges but I have been scouting them yet. There is a rock quary right at 5 bridges I have seen tons of ducks there, but it is obvisiouly private property. I don't know who to ask for permission.

I have also heard where crowley dumps into the owens there is some nice spots for ducks but I have never been there.

Another place to jump shoot is start at the campground (below plesant valley reservior) and walk down river. It is a catch release section (Where I spend most of my time) I have jumped some nice fat greenheads through there.

The only bad thing is my buddy just got back from a 2 day trip last week and I had him count the ducks he jumped......he said he didn't see a single duck, but he stayed in the catch and release section only.

My guess is that spot gets hammered pretty good by the fly fisherman and I think they push the ducks down river a bit. I don't think between 5 bridges and east line st. there is too much fishing pressure right now.

Hope this can give you a few places to scout let me know what you find.
Ron

 

[mouthcallinmatt1]

If you're staying south of Bishop, give Tinnemaha (sp.?) a try. I've always wanted to hunt ducks there but haven't made the trip. I understand that you need to access it by taking the road that goes to Westguard Pass and then head south along the river until you get to the lake. It looks good but like I said, I don't know how good it is.

As for the Crowley Lake area, don't bother unless you have a snow mobile. That's the only way you can get to any huntable areas up there right now.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Orygun]

Just a reminder. If you take that road to Tinnemaha Resrvoir, take your sweet time. There is a lot of debris from the rail line that ran through there: metal, spikes, glass, etc. I did that road a number of times and picked up a flat from it more than a few times. Also have sharp rocks and if your real (un)lucky you might catch your tire on a spear head.

As an alternative, try the road that runs along/nearby the canal from Big Springs Hatchery. We use to open the gate and drive through it and head to the lake. If you have ground clearance you can get within easy walking distance. You should end up behind that alfalfa field the elk hang out on.

 

[deadducks]

Thanks guys, I will post my results and findings when I get back on Sunday.

 

[deadducks]

Heres my results for two days of hunting up in the Owens Valley area.

On Wednesday I pretty much just drove around Owens Lake/ponds looking for birds. Not much in that area. I headed up to Tinnemaha Lake and scouted that out. I drove in from Aberdeen Rd. off the 395. I went all the way to where the Owens Rvr. dumps into the lake North end. Some brids there but most of the birds were closer to the south/east end of the lake. There were a few honkers there also, but there were rafted in the middle near the islands.

Thursday I went a little further North and found some creeks that had moving water. The rest of the area was frozen, with about 12-20 inches of snow. This area I hunted on both Thursday and Friday. This area called for a semi-tough walk in the snow. A pair of snow-shoes or x-country skies would of made the wakl much easier and faster. It took about 1-1 1/2 hours to get into this spot.

Thursday I managed 6 drake mallards. I passed on Pintails, Gadwalls, and a few teal. On Firday, I hunted near this same spot and the birds had moved to another creek near-bye. I managed 3 drake mallards, drake Pintail, and drake Gadwall. I passed on several earlier shots on the gaddies and passed on all the possible shots.

On Thursday I heard only two other hunters in the area. Friday only one other hunter and he showed up later in the day. I did spot a few Honkers in the fields near here but they did not get close enough for the shot.

I thank those of you who lead me in the right direction, and a special thanks to Hronk. I met with him for breakfast and payed off my deer debts. Thanks Hronk.

 

[karstic]

Excellent deadducks. One of these days I'm gonna do an Owens Valley cast n' blast. I guess it will have to wait till next year.