Caught a loon...wow

[solbes]

Just rememeber who's been fishing those waters longer I agree they can interfere with fishing sometimes, but I usually just move. Lots of places to fish anyway. I did have one dive under my bow this summer. He was moving so fast it scared the [PoorWordUsage] out of me until I realized what it was.

I had never heard of these occurrences before, but same thing happened to my neighbor's friend this summer. Shook the hook free on it's own I guess.

[Duffman]

I made a fall trip up to the BW three weeks ago, shorts and t-shirt weather in Oct was fantastic.

I had this young loon shadowing me for about a half hour.

Not wanting to hook the thing, I put the rod down and was able to observe it's dives on the Marcum. It was some neat stuff, because for whatever reason it stayed within the transducers signal pretty much the whole dive. I even saw it chasing fish on the flasher. He repeated it for a half dozen dives or so.

Those loons are a huge mark on the Marcum.

[Jack Peterson]

I've been fishing that lake waaaaayy longer than any loon his age!

[tsande00]

I had a loon almost take me and my boy out while we were kayaking this spring on a small lake. We were minding our own business when suddenly we see a loon about 50 feet away screaming at us. I started to paddle away from that shoreline (out towards the middle of the lake) and this darn loon kept getting closer and closer each dive until he was literally within a paddle's distance splashing around and screaming. About 200 yards away I could see another loon...I ASSUME she had some youngsters with her.

Anyways long story short people on the lake start hollering at me to get away from the loon! It's not quit as easy when you have paddles...not to mention the bird can swim faster than me, and appeared to be chasing us! Soon three groups of people on the lake are screaming as if I am some sort of a-hole trying to pick on this poor, poor loon. I'm trying to get away from the Dam loon! I was worried that bird was going to cause a ruckus and dump me and my little boy into the cold spring lake water. Pretty sure we were more scared of that loon then he was of us. I'll never forget that as long as I live.

To catch one though, wow...that would really be a bad sight if you were to actually hook into one.

[cliffy]

I once had one chase a bucktail back to the boat like a torpedo....sort freaked me out. I consider them one of the blessings of living in lakes country. I enjoy listening to them...and I normally have my DSLR and big zoom lens in the boat in case I have an encounter.

[Raider4ever]

I had a loon almost take me and my boy out while we were kayaking this spring on a small lake. We were minding our own business when suddenly we see a loon about 50 feet away screaming at us. I started to paddle away from that shoreline (out towards the middle of the lake) and this darn loon kept getting closer and closer each dive until he was literally within a paddle's distance splashing around and screaming. About 200 yards away I could see another loon...I ASSUME she had some youngsters with her.

Anyways long story short people on the lake start hollering at me to get away from the loon! It's not quit as easy when you have paddles...not to mention the bird can swim faster than me, and appeared to be chasing us! Soon three groups of people on the lake are screaming as if I am some sort of a-hole trying to pick on this poor, poor loon. I'm trying to get away from the Dam loon! I was worried that bird was going to cause a ruckus and dump me and my little boy into the cold spring lake water. Pretty sure we were more scared of that loon then he was of us. I'll never forget that as long as I live.

To catch one though, wow...that would really be a bad sight if you were to actually hook into one.

I would of paddled over to each and every group and struck them on the head with your paddle until they bled. I hate people like that. You get up on me like that, I'm coming after you. It's that simple.

[mrklean]

some people just dont get it they always think sportsman are at fault no matter what

[bobbymalone]

I was fishing from shore on Lake Harriet in MPLS when an old timer hooked a loon. I thought he had a muskie on or something and then I saw the loon splashing around about 100 yards off shore. The guy fought that thing for a while before the drag broke on his reel. A younger guy that happened to bring a pair of leather gloves pulled the thing in by hand (it was XX lb braided line). We were at a place where there is a 3-4 foot drop off the sidewalk into the lake and I carefully netted the loon when it got close. Scooped it up, set it down, and pinned its wings against it's body to prevent it from hurting itself. A woman came and put her scarf over it's head, as it was pecking the living [PoorWordUsage] out of my arms. Flipped it over and the hook was caught in the fat on the breast. Lucky it wasn't buried in its gullet. The guy with the gloves pushed the hook through and snipped it with a pair of side cutters. Hook out, scarf off, I dropped him back in the water and he swam off.

When I turned around I realized there was a crowd of 50 or so folks watching this happen and we got a nice round of applause. A minute or so later the loon came up about 50 yards off and did a bunch of squawking. I like to think he was thanking us.

[Steve Foss]

I was fishing from shore on Lake Harriet in MPLS when an old timer hooked a loon. I thought he had a muskie on or something and then I saw the loon splashing around about 100 yards off shore. The guy fought that thing for a while before the drag broke on his reel. A younger guy that happened to bring a pair of leather gloves pulled the thing in by hand (it was XX lb braided line). We were at a place where there is a 3-4 foot drop off the sidewalk into the lake and I carefully netted the loon when it got close. Scooped it up, set it down, and pinned its wings against it's body to prevent it from hurting itself. A woman came and put her scarf over it's head, as it was pecking the living [PoorWordUsage] out of my arms. Flipped it over and the hook was caught in the fat on the breast. The guy with the gloves pushed the hook through and snipped it with a pair of side cutters. Hook out, scarf off, I dropped him back in the water and he swam off.

When I turned around I realized there was a crowd of 50 or so folks watching this happen and we got a nice round of applause. A minute or so later the loon came up about 50 yards off and did a bunch of squawking. I like to think he was thanking us.

Cool story and happy ending!

Um, I kinda doubt that loon was thanking you.

[Ufatz]

It is interesting to stand back and observe the various attitudes in these Forums to wildlife. We are able, in a few minutes, to skim the comments of louts and boneheads and at the time time smile at the gentle behavior of those who truly understand we are ALL on the same planet-man and mouse; bird and butterfly.

There obviously are circumstances where wild creatures pose serious danger to us and we generally deal with them to protect our lives and property. Well and good. What DOES cause me dismay is an underlying lack of respect I see in today's world on the part of unknowing generally inner urban folks AND those who hunt, fish and spend time outdoors. These people should know better.

Just some observations from an incurable people watcher.

[bobbymalone]

Um, I kinda doubt that loon was thanking you.

don't ruin this for me, foss-man

let me tell ya though, loons are not nice and i'm surprised it didn't draw blood before that woman covered its head.

also, i was amazed at how big and heavy those things are. it wasn't even an adult.

[bobbymalone]

It is interesting to stand back and observe the various attitudes in these Forums to wildlife. We are able, in a few minutes, to skim the comments of louts and boneheads and at the time time smile at the gentle behavior of those who truly understand we are ALL on the same planet-man and mouse; bird and butterfly.

There obviously are circumstances where wild creatures pose serious danger to us and we generally deal with them to protect our lives and property. Well and good. What DOES cause me dismay is an underlying lack of respect I see in today's world on the part of unknowing generally inner urban folks AND those who hunt, fish and spend time outdoors. These people should know better.

Just some observations from an incurable people watcher.

+1

all living things have to do their thing. i hardly see loons or geese or whatever else as a personal affront to your enjoyment of the outdoors and it's sad that more folks can't appreciate a loon encounter as part of their fishing trip rather than a hindrance to catching fish.

[mrklean]

its good no one from PETA was in that group they would have said you fisherman were trying to kill it and eat it probably

[The Chemist]

Up on Bay Lake we were fishing off the dock/ on the bottom and one of the poles started screaming as I seth the hook. An adult loon surfaced and after about 150ft or so of line came out it broke. We tried to use the boat to find it but couldn't it.

At our current cabin we have 3 adolescent loons that have been swimming the shore line for the past couple of weeks. But luckily they have opted to stay away from the boat while I'm trolling.

[Jack Peterson]

Same loon today...draggin shiners. guess what happened? he took it!!! ahhhh!!! you crazy ******* loon!!!

Man, this loon is out to get me! Maybe I should name him something.

[Steve Foss]

Same loon today...draggin shiners. guess what happened? he took it!!! ahhhh!!! you crazy ******* loon!!!

Man, this loon is out to get me! Maybe I should name him something.

[BassNut33]

Wow, I have never heard of someone catching a loon, but I have to agree with ufatz. Loos are one of the many things that make Minnesota so special. The sound of a loon while out on the water is a priceless thing!

[eyeguy 54]

Buddy of mine tied into a loon about 7 or 8 years ago up on big birch lake while we were fishing eyes. hooked it in the wing. brought it in and it cooperated so we got the hook out and it took off ok. it was pretty funny. John hardly ever fishes and we finaly got him out and he catches a bird. lol

[Slabasaurus]

"I'm sure glad there are no Magnetars close by!! "

Me too man. that would be worse than hooking into 5 loons at once.

[My_Key]

I've been fishing a lake near where I grew up for quite some time, and in the past couple years, I have been seeing a couple loons out there. My last trip to the lake, I had one of them hanging out by my boat. I loved seeing it so close, guess I never thought one would grab my crankbait. Maybe next time I'll think twice about fishing near it.

Note: They know where the fish are though, when I moved away from him, I stopped catching fish.

[Chad Peterson]

I was out with a good friend 2 week ago fishing and out of know where this young loon came up by our boat. I laughed because this one seemed to have no fear of us, so I took some pictures and I got lucky with this one. Beautiful birds!

Sniffer

[B@ssmaster]

I fish a small lake near Leech, and the cabin owners have all gotten together and built a nesting platform for the loons. Been putting it out for many years now (with proper permits, signage, etc.) It's fun to watch the adult pair return year after year and raise another young one (some years two chicks), it's one of things I like best about that lake. Nothing beats lying awake in the log cabin and listening to the loons warbling out there in the dark..... But they do have their moments. I was out bass fishing one morning this summer. It was dead calm and the fog was burning off the water just as the sun climbed over the pines. Picture perfect late summer outing. I'm standing on my high deck slinging for buckets, so I have a decent viewing angle down into the very clear water. Next thing I know one of the loons surfaces fairly near the boat. I kind of marvel at how close it was, then go back to fishing. I kind of forgot about it after a few minutes, it's common for them to be fishing fairly near the boats on this lake, so I wasn't really keeping track of where it was at. After a few casts the loon makes a run for my lure as I lift it out of the water! Scared me spitless. It then popped up on the backside of the boat about 5' away. So I sling the spinner bait the opposite direction of the loon, next thing I see is it rocketing under my boat headed towards where my lure landed. I reel it in across the surface really fast before the loon gets close and fire it back the other direction. The loon surfaced in time to see my lure splash and proceeded to dive and swim directly under my boat again! I never figured out if we were just playing with each other or if it was really looking for food, but I think that bird swam under/past my boat about 8 or 9 times that morning as I alternated which side I was casting off of. After that, I decided that I better stop in case it actually figured out a way to get to the lure before I could get it out of the way, or before I got a backlash. I relayed the story to my dad after I got back to the cabin. He figures the loon was playing with the stupid human, not the other way around.

[reinhard1]

great story. while a loon never went after my lure that i know of, i have seen them pop up near me and i have watched them chase trout in clear water close to my boat. i watched one swallow a crappie around 8 in. once and was surprised it gobbled it up fairly easy. i look forward to next year, for my family and myself never get enough of the beautiful sometimes earie sounds of the loon. thanks again for the story. good luck.