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JohnM17.
We obviously spend a lot of time on the water. Many of us get to see things that most Americans can only see on TV and maybe not even then. I wanted to share something pretty cool that I saw last week. I would like for others to share their unusual experiences as well. I was at Greers Ferry fishing for Hybrids with my brother. We were setting in a bay and I notice an Osprey ( my favorite bird ) was also fishing. It circled above and then folded its wings and dove into the water. It came up empty. Later it circled again and dove head first into the water and came up with a fish about 13 inches long in its claws. Instead on flying to a nearby tree it headed to a distant shoreline. I assume it was going to share the meal with its young. After a minute or two I looked back up and saw another large bird approaching the Osprey. The Osprey turned around and headed back toward our boat ( 2008 Classic). The other bird was a Bald Eagle and it was determined to steal the fish. They were screaming at each other and the eagle kept diving trying to grab the fish. Finally the eagle got so close that the Osprey was forced to let go of the fish and turn its claws on the eagle. As soon as the fish started falling the eagle folded its wings and dove after it in an attempt to catch it before it hit the water. It failed and pulled up right at the surface. The fish made a big splash and appartently was still alive an swam away. The Osprey was plenty mad and the two birds fought and screamed a couple of minutes before they went their seperate ways. I told my brother that this little episode had made my trip worthwhile. Anyone have another interesting story? 2Sport
Ospreys are some wicked looking little predators, but that must have been one hungry bird to take on a bald eagle. Tha bald eagle has to out mass him by atleast three or four times. Wow! That would have been pretty incredible to see. Snapped this picture of one on Mittry Lake one day. One time fishing in a little backwater called Bettys Kitchen out of my tin boat a buddy and I noticed a huge male bobcat stroll out of the brush and start to pick his way a long the beach just exposed by falling water. He was maybe 50 away from us picking his way along. I didnt have a camera, but I spun the boat around to see how close we could get before he spooked. I was less than a boat length away and the trolling motor was kicking up rocks off the bottom when he calmly and slowly stepped back into the brush. Another time fishing the back bay of Fishers Landing in that hour of light before sunrise I saw a bobcat carefully picking his way along the bank between us and all the houses at the top of the bank. He never even looked up at us. I wonder if one of those part time residents lost a poodle that morning.–Bob La Londe Forums, Free Lures, Product Reviewswww.YumaBassMan.com CNC Molds N Stuffwww.CNCMOLDS.com
In 2002 I moved to TX from IN and was fishing Lake Fork. We were crankin a bridge when all of a sudden I saw something swimming toward us. It turned out to be an armadillo…I didnt even know those things could swim and until I smacked the water a couple of times he thought he was going to get in the boat. It was quite comical to be honest. No pictures as it seemed to happen real quick. One of my favorite pictures I have is of a duck standing on top of a turtle as it sat on a log again on Lake Fork. The computer that image is on has a bad motherboard but I will pull the harddrive and get it eventually. Good times! Judd Lasiter
The year before last I was pre fishing for the owners tournament on Norfork, sat down to take a lunch break and I saw some ducks. So I thought I would be nice and throw them a piece or two of my bread from the sandwich. Next thing I know the duck jumps in my boat and trying to chase me around for more food. Finally he got the clue I was out of food and left. Boy was it mad.
I was fishing in northern Arkansas with a co-worker from New York City. We were fishing a small feeder creek when I saw that beavers had been working the area. As I turned to point out thier work, a beaver tail slapped next to the boat and he went out the other side. He never let go of the rod. I love watching the red foxes playing tag along the shoreline at Lake of the Ozarks. LOZman
Ive seen a similar encounter between a mature bald eagle and an osprey. It was behind State Line Island at Pickwick this spring—The eagle was diving down to get a fish, and the Osprey cut him off–BAD MOVE. For the next two or three minutes, the eagles sole purpose in life was to whip some Osprey butt–and he made his point. The aeriel acrobatics were just incredible from at least 200 feet over my head, right down to the water. I thought that there would be no way an eagle could match an osprey in flight, but this one did. Spins, upside down inverted dives–the eagle stay right with him. Ive never seen wild Rocky Mt Rams fight, but short of that, this was the most impressive one on one Ive ever seen. Mike Whitten
I once saw a bald eagle attempting to catch a small trash duck that was sitting on the water close to our boat while on Lake Ouachita. This went on for 20 minutes or more. The eagle would swoop down quickly to attempt to grab the duck, but just before the eagle arrived, the duck would dive under the water. The duck would come up as far away as possible, and the scene repeated over and over. The duck was actually trying to take refuge around our boat, so some of the action was fairly close to the boat. In the end, the eagle finally gave up and flew away. It was a very interesting experience. KentKent Charles 2002 Pantera Classic & 200 Yamaha VMax
We see alot of things out there, but one time on Ouachita i was fishing mid lake near an island and hear a jet coming, fast,,,,,This F16 slides around the island sideways at no more than 4-600 while two more are chasing, one high , one low. You talk about getting youre adrenaline going !!! The high side almost came to a stop he turned and dove so steep to give chase, and the sounds and visuals were incredible. It was like watching a Top-Gun excersize up close,,,,real close. Those guys must have nerves of steel,,,,,cause they sure think theyre invincible ! D.
Hey Basketman, the same thing happens with the A-10 Warthogs out of Whiteman AFB. They use Truman and sometimes LOZ to train before going oversea. If you are the only boat in that area of Truman, you ARE the target. They come over a bluff wall, you cannot hear them coming, and they scare the —- out of you. After one shook me up, he came back around , went inverted, and waved to me. LOZman
Fishing on Lake Moultrie watching a deer swim accross Angels Cove, gators must like venison! Wild boar roaming the bank while watching bald eagles overhead on Dale Hollow Running up the Cooper River wondering WTH a submarine was doing that far inland. I was paying attention to the sub, I did not see the wake that thing was throwing until it was to late. Let me tll you right now, if you ever run up on a submarine underway, BACK OFF. I was reaching for a rip cord before I hit the water again Just a few that come to mind.
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