Loons!

[muskiemanAD]

Was on Tonka yesterday morning and boy there are a lot of loons out there! We actually had to leave a spot because everytime we casted the loon would follow and even take swipes at the bait. The first few times it happens you think there is a fat Muskie following...

[Nick Kuhn]

I swear when there's a lot of recreational boats out on the water loons naturally migrate towards the fisherman. Sunday I let the wind just blow us over a weed flat. There was a mom and baby loon (well, the baby is almost fully grown) and they let us blow to within 10 feet before they finally decided they should move. My topwater had their attention but they never moved toward it.

[RK]

Hiya -

They're starting to group up and migrate, and I think a lot of young ones are around that maybe aren't used to seeing boats and fishing lures. Always a momentary shock when you first see one following.

I've been in the boat when a loon was hooked on a muskie lure. It was not fun. REALLY not fun. One very angry bird with a beak like a dagger - and loons are a lot bigger than you think they are. The fact that there were two complete sets of eyeballs in the boat by the time we got the thing unhooked and on its way was fairly remarkable. I never want to go through it again.

EVER...

Cheers,

RK

[cbrooks]

I hope I never hook into one.

[10,000 Casts]

I love loons, I had a buddy that hooked into one on a shad rap and he said the same thing as RK.. I like when they just stick thier head in the water and watch the bait pass by but I know a few that are down right annoying and have to follow every bait that passes and follow it to the boat, it's fun for the first time, then you start to get annoyed.

I'll take the good with the bad. I have never seen a loon in a spot where I didn't want to be..

[reinhard1]

loons are something i look forward to every year. i love to hear them in the evening when everything is quiet and camped near a lake. i watched them chase trout in clear waters and was amazed how fast they are under water. probably my favorite bird next to the bald eagle. good luck.

[muskiemanAD]

You are right it is cool seeing them the first time. However when it was following every cast it got a little hairy, sure didn't want to hook one. It came into the top water from a ways away, they must have good hearing!

[Sackett]

Once one came from underneath the boat up in the west arm on Eagle Lake. I thought it was the head of "the one" coming to smash my crankbait. Bloodrush........then disappointment.