The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

A couple hours in the blind tonight brought a couple ducks to hand. Interestingly enough one was a hen Gadwall whose CDC patch held an extraordinary amount of the prized feathers. They weren't as big as a Mallard's, but there were more of them than I've picked off some of those greenhead drakes -- very impressive!

That's what I love about these game creatures. Even a "homely" bird like this hen has a great deal to offer, and will contribute in so many ways from the table to the vise to the water. I'll have to get tying pretty soon here.

(Took a couple coots this season as well. No good for eating, but they have great feathers for small speys and almost-black CDC. As plentiful and occasionally bothersome as they can be, they are the one bird I don't mind shooting strictly for their plumage.)

We're off to a good start! That's one of the only benefits of being out of Steelhead territory -- no decision to make between duck hunting or fishing!

-- T.