Fishingallday31 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Years ago, when I got my first Baby Wake, I was throwing it in a little tiny cove with gin clear water and saw a huge shape moving underwater behind it. I was totally focused on the follower and didn't see the giant, full grown blue heron heading for it until it just plopped out of the sky onto my bait. Keep in mind, this is a wading bird. A very large wading bird. So, there was no grace at all involved in this maneuver. It just flopped into the water like the house falling from the sky in the Wizard of Oz. It grabbed the bait in it's beak and started trying to take off. After a half second of being completely freaked the f*k out, I started yanking on the line as hard as I could and commenced an outburst of profanity that would have made a drill sergeant blush. At this point, the bird was about twenty yards away. I was in a kayak. So me reeling it in consisted less of pulling the bird towards me and was more like we were meeting in the middle. Normally, they are pretty shy birds but I think the fact that it thought I was trying to steal it's food made it hyper aggressive. The bait was cross-ways, about 2/3 of the way up it's beak and I was just hoping the hooks weren't in it too bad. But, it was my first 3:16 so I would have cut that thing open to get my bait back, if it came to it. It's flopping desperately in the water and I'm cursing and reeling as best I can. This probably went on for a couple of minutes and then I realized that this line of action was leading to something bad. Something really bad. The very large, very angry bird was now at my kayak. In case you have not seen an adult blue heron in person, let me take a moment to describe it. They stand about four and a half feet tall. The wing span is easily over six feet. The beak is the better part of a foot long. It is a very sharp beak. So, as this thing gets to my kayak, I am faced with a nearly five foot tall bird flapping six foot wings at me as hard as it can and lashing out with long, clawed legs. There is just not enough room in my kayak for both me and the heron, especially with all that going on. Then, I learned something about herons. It turns out that when they fight, they instinctively stab at your eyes and face with their beak. Oh joy. All I could do to keep it from stabbing me in the eyes was to desperately yank on the fishing line every time it lunged at me, since the bait was still in it's beak. This went on for much longer than I would have liked. I was kind of stuck because I was trying to resolve the situation without hurting it and I know they have fragile bones, so I didn't want to punch, kick or otherwise strike it. Then, because this is Austin, I hear some chick's voice yelling at me from the bank "Duuuude, leave the bird alone! Stop hurting nature!" I look over and there is a group of stoned hippie chicks on the shore, freaking out and yelling at me. Awesome. And, seriously, "stop hurting nature"? Who that f*k says that? So there I am, floating, in my kayak, with a furious heron fighting me in the boat, trying to stab my eyes out, and I'm laughing like an idiot because the only thought that's in my head is "your crane style kung-fu is strong but my dragon style is stronger. " By this time, it was obvious that I wasn't going to get the bait back by just pulling on the line, so I full-on Bart Simpson'd the thing. I grabbed it's neck with both hands and shook until it finally dropped the bait. Once it dropped the Baby Wake, it started screeching and struggled to get airborne but not before crapping all over the front of my kayak. Thanks for the laugh We have Ospreys and Wood Storks down here. Have had both come down on my baits. I gave up on the wood stork, they are endangered and I'll give up a $20 bait in exchange for dodging a DNR ticket from that one Them dudes are freaky looking too. Bald head, look like some sort of prehistoric thing . Alligator took my Hardgill too. Came from below, I didn't even see it coming. Was probably 5-6 feet. I was going to get that bait back, he cut my line .... I have a video somewhere, I'll try to find it. The south has the best dangers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnzeeD00d Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 In case you have not seen an adult blue heron in person, let me take a moment to describe it. They stand about four and a half feet tall. The wing span is easily over six feet. The beak is the better part of a foot long. It is a very sharp beak. Was his name Kevin? LMAO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnzeeD00d Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 So, I was throwing a grub, I've heard people call those the first swimbaits? Oh well, to each his own, and I caught a 55 gal barrel. Mind you I am using maybe 12# test and my line wouldn't break but I ended up pulling the barrel most of the way in before the hook came loose. Oh yeah, I also caught a corn can the same day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat-G Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 In case you have not seen an adult blue heron in person, let me take a moment to describe it. They stand about four and a half feet tall. The wing span is easily over six feet. The beak is the better part of a foot long. It is a very sharp beak. Was his name Kevin? Hahaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilcatfish Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 ive caught a 21" lamprey eel, .32 cal h&r revolver, a braclette, underwear, a mitten crab, a turtle..... all sorts of weird stuff out there ! The gun is interesting. Makes me wonder if it was in the water from somebody trying to dispose of "evidence" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat-G Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 I have caught fishing rod/reel combos (One fresh looking Stradic 2500 ), a boot, albino bass and albino goldfish, turtles, snakes, trash cans and lids, plastic bags, bones, sprinkler systems, fountains, etc. The worst, and I repeat the worst, is trying to get a Wake Jr. back from a f*****g osprey. They have TALONS. Their beaks are sharp. They are not amused when you want Jr. back. It sucks. It hurts. I fought one hand-to-talon for probably a minute before it freed itself and took off. Never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourxquad1 Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Years ago, when I got my first Baby Wake, I was throwing it in a little tiny cove with gin clear water and saw a huge shape moving underwater behind it. I was totally focused on the follower and didn't see the giant, full grown blue heron heading for it until it just plopped out of the sky onto my bait. Keep in mind, this is a wading bird. A very large wading bird. So, there was no grace at all involved in this maneuver. It just flopped into the water like the house falling from the sky in the Wizard of Oz. It grabbed the bait in it's beak and started trying to take off. After a half second of being completely freaked the f*k out, I started yanking on the line as hard as I could and commenced an outburst of profanity that would have made a drill sergeant blush. At this point, the bird was about twenty yards away. I was in a kayak. So me reeling it in consisted less of pulling the bird towards me and was more like we were meeting in the middle. Normally, they are pretty shy birds but I think the fact that it thought I was trying to steal it's food made it hyper aggressive. The bait was cross-ways, about 2/3 of the way up it's beak and I was just hoping the hooks weren't in it too bad. But, it was my first 3:16 so I would have cut that thing open to get my bait back, if it came to it. It's flopping desperately in the water and I'm cursing and reeling as best I can. This probably went on for a couple of minutes and then I realized that this line of action was leading to something bad. Something really bad. The very large, very angry bird was now at my kayak. In case you have not seen an adult blue heron in person, let me take a moment to describe it. They stand about four and a half feet tall. The wing span is easily over six feet. The beak is the better part of a foot long. It is a very sharp beak. So, as this thing gets to my kayak, I am faced with a nearly five foot tall bird flapping six foot wings at me as hard as it can and lashing out with long, clawed legs. There is just not enough room in my kayak for both me and the heron, especially with all that going on. Then, I learned something about herons. It turns out that when they fight, they instinctively stab at your eyes and face with their beak. Oh joy. All I could do to keep it from stabbing me in the eyes was to desperately yank on the fishing line every time it lunged at me, since the bait was still in it's beak. This went on for much longer than I would have liked. I was kind of stuck because I was trying to resolve the situation without hurting it and I know they have fragile bones, so I didn't want to punch, kick or otherwise strike it. Then, because this is Austin, I hear some chick's voice yelling at me from the bank "Duuuude, leave the bird alone! Stop hurting nature!" I look over and there is a group of stoned hippie chicks on the shore, freaking out and yelling at me. Awesome. And, seriously, "stop hurting nature"? Who that f*k says that? So there I am, floating, in my kayak, with a furious heron fighting me in the boat, trying to stab my eyes out, and I'm laughing like an idiot because the only thought that's in my head is "your crane style kung-fu is strong but my dragon style is stronger. " By this time, it was obvious that I wasn't going to get the bait back by just pulling on the line, so I full-on Bart Simpson'd the thing. I grabbed it's neck with both hands and shook until it finally dropped the bait. Once it dropped the Baby Wake, it started screeching and struggled to get airborne but not before crapping all over the front of my kayak. That is the funniest story I have herd thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffmeister Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 ive caught a 21" lamprey eel, .32 cal h&r revolver, a braclette, underwear, a mitten crab, a turtle..... all sorts of weird stuff out there ! The gun is interesting. Makes me wonder if it was in the water from somebody trying to dispose of "evidence" yes definitly, it was in a urban area with apartments all around! but the good thing about it was i do gunsmith work and personally own a .32 h&r, so those springs and other parts were very helpful. There was an old lady standing by me when i hooked it - dont think shell be hanging out at that park anymore- her jaw hit the ground when she sa it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRIZZ Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Turtles,seagulls,loon,otter,habor seal to name a few Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skaugger Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Goose, large frogs, led bobbers, tons of rusted hooks and weights. Nothing too crazy but the frog defiantly was the funniest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestabe101 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Some of you guys must fish in reclaimed city junkyards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedonnguyen Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 the worst has to be a used diaper while fishing a crank bait...i just cut the line...wasn't worth it to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbeastmike Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 i caught/snagged a 30in remote control submarine (red october) a while ago on an MC. who knows how long it was in the lake. it was full of leaches and mud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhonse Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 the worst has to be a used diaper while fishing a crank bait...i just cut the line...wasn't worth it to me Must have been a pretty "chitty" day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedonnguyen Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 the worst has to be a used diaper while fishing a crank bait...i just cut the line...wasn't worth it to me Must have been a pretty "chitty" day that it was...then i began wondering who would throw a used diaper in a lake... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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