Well, we have come to the tail end of this year’s hunting season and what an end it was. With all the severe weather we’ve experienced, ducks have been everywhere. Hunters from Whidbey to the Skagit flats reported a great end to the season with many limits being taken.

Living up above the Seaplane Base, you could consistently hear shots coming from the duck blind down by the beach.

This is one of the prime areas to hunt on the island and it has limited pressure. Designated blinds in which you have to sign up for are set up, making it a prime place to hunt with some beautiful scenery included.

Penn Cove is another popular area that can prove to be difficult to hunt in extreme weather. It has limited access and sitting in a boat with big waves can make duck hunting a miserable experience­­ — if something like that is possible!

The Skagit flats and Fir Island are two other areas which produce a lot of action for waterfowl hunters. I have said before these areas can be crowded, so it’s best to get out there really early in the morning or on a weekday when there is less hunting pressure.

Snow geese as well were reported to be plentiful this season.

On a trip just to see, I drove down to the flats and was amazed by the numbers of snows in the fields. Most of these were on private land but if you were lucky enough to have permission to hunt these areas, you sure could have had a blast as well.

Fishing has had to take a back seat to Mother Nature.

Just as the water subsided in the rivers and the steelhead started biting we’d get another bad storm front moving in and the rivers would rise and become unfishable.

Hopefully we can get a break soon and we will have a stretch of good luck. Maybe some of that magic the Seahawks had to reach the NFL playoffs can rub off on the weather.

That being said, you might try fishing at Fort Casey.

I have heard now is the time to try and catch steelhead on their way to the rivers. If you have ever given this area a try, please let me know the details, successful or otherwise.

I know there are a lot of zipper lips out there but if you could just share a little that would be great.

If you just want to get out and soak a line, then you can always try some bottom fishing.

I could eat flounder or green ling 24/7 and fish tacos are some of my favorite ways to prepare them both.

Fishing has picked up at Pass Lake as well.

I have seen numerous float tubes every time I go by there. You my not be able to take them home but boy, they sure feel good tugging at the end of your line!

Things will slow way down for now and then ramp back up as spring approaches, so now is the time to plan your excursions for the coming months.

Whether it is a trip to the coast or a trip inland, now is the time to get the pre-planning done to make it easier when the time comes.

Until next week take care, be safe and I look forward to hearing from you.

If anyone has stories they’d like to share, they can e-mail me at whidbey_fff@yahoo.com.