Winnie and Leech water levels

[Bufflehead]

 Reports from many are saying some landings are near impossible to launch from with water levels in both down around 12 inches

 Reports from the Third River Flowage is, people have been knocking the lower units out on stumps and logs because of the low water level.

 Trust me, getting caught out on the TRF with a strong NW wind and broken boat motor could spell disaster, as with many other areas of these big bodies of water.

 Many areas you have been in the past could have under-water stumps, logs or rocks that you never encounterd before.

 Pay attention, ware your PFD at all times when your boat is in motion. Lets make this waterfowl season as safe as possible.

 These low water levels can and will effect all bodies of water in the northen part of the state, where we have had the least amount of rain of anywhere in the state.

 I suggest doing some pre-season scouting. Getting to your old honey hole on opening morning and finding the water level too low to hunt/launch your boat from, is not a great way to start the day or the season for that matter.

 Finding another spot on opener will/is not easy. The little extra work will pay off big time in the long run.

 Some reports say that alot of the rice is growing on what is now mud flats. That alone will shrink the amount of huntable water. then the ducks won't be using much of the mud grown rice, with out water.

 Time will tell if this lack of rice in the water will shorten the time migrating ducks will stick around.

 Many of the beaver ponds and slews i checked are bone dry. Something I have never seen in my lifetime. It's been reported that this has been a dryer year then back in the dustbowl days. That should tell you something.

 I see the year as either a boom or bust. Either the ducks are going to poor into the little water we do have and if your there it will be shooting like never before or they will migrate else where and it will be slim pickens.

 I understand North Dakota has had some rain late this summer but friends from there say the slews that have water have many feet of mud around them and they will be tough to hunt. That along with more and more people making the trip out there, it's putting more hunting pressure on the birds. Which could all help to move birds our way

 Take Care, Chuck

 

 

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[shakey legs 2]

I don't know about public landings on Leech but I do know that many cabin owners have had to first extend their docks and in August, many of them could not get their boats off the lift without a winch.  They are taking their lifts  out weeks/months earlier than normal.  It probably means as Bufflehead reported that the public access' are in tough shape.