TexasKayakFisherman.com

Today is my birthday, so I decided not to waste it and snuck off for some early fishing. I was bass fishing a small pond near lake Whitney this morning on my girlfriend's 10' pescador and doing pretty well. Bass were jumping everywhere so I dropped the grub and threw on a top water. First cast into some sticks and I notice a large crane land near my lure, and before I had a chance to even process a thought he had it in his mouth.

This bird is so large that it's actually dragging the yak towards shore. My first thought, as I'm attempting to reel in a bird from the sky, is that I can't kill this majestic looking animal on my birthday! That HAS to be some kind of bad omen. I play "bird whisperer" for the next 10 minutes to try and calm the frantic thing down.

He either wore himself out, or maybe realized that I was his only hope against a freshly unpackaged treble hook, but eventually I had a hand around his neck to hold his head still. This doesn't change the fact that this thing has a pair of freaking velociraptor talons that could rip out my eyeballs, but he didn't flinch. He let me work the hook out of his nostril for a solid minute.

He jumped out of ankle deep water on to the front hatch of my kayak, gather himself for a few seconds and flew off. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

I caught bunches of seagulls and pelicans when I lived in Fl. I finally caught so many it wasn't anything to unhook them. When you get them close put a towel across their eyes and they generally calm right down.. I hated catching them but they dive bombed my bait and would even go under after it at times.. I tried to never break off the line or leave a hook in them. Unlike fish, the hook or line can eventually kill them.

What a story. I have never caught a bird and I am so glad this has never happened to me. You were remarkable to keep your cool while the bird was stressed. My wife is a very big animal lover and believes that animals have an instinct and know when someone is trying to help or asist them.

My hat is off to you. Spring

Great story. Better than the time I tried to hit a water snake with a lure. I went from, Oh yes I can to now what, in three seconds.

Happy birthday.

Once while btb my buddy was throwing a top water cigar minnow and had a pelican dive on it while he was reeling it in the pelican kept trying to take off but couldn't luckily it eventually got unhooked before he got to it and didn't have to handle it I have had seagulls snag shrimp and of course treble hook and that is always a mess, another reason I don't use live bait much anymore

Fishing a public park in college (playa lake in Lubbock) frog topwater around some Lilly pads, when a big white park duck comes crashing out of the reeds. He caught it and set the hook himself. Now I have to get this honking quacking thing off while about ten folks gather around. The duck never calmed down and I still have a scar to go with that story. Got him off the hook. But it was not pleasant.

i was catfishing on the guadlupe and ended up going duck fishing. i thought i just caught a monster when my pole bent over like that i ran over and set the hook and was fighting it for a seconded untill i noticed i was pulling in daffy. Had a live perch out and it some how hooked the duck in the leg. The bad part is there were some kids with it. Bad part is when some kids bye use saw and they were feeding earlier that morning and made friends with him. also couldnt get the guy close enough to pull the hook out the line snapped he kept flying off he was a fighter

Cool story, let us know if it greets you somehow next time you go there. Oh and happy birthday!

Caught a 2' water mocassin once...

While surf casting from the beach in Cabo a pelican dive bombed my Crocodile spoon. Once it grabbed it and took off it was like trying to pull in a huge kite on a windy day. Finally got it to the beach and went to pull the lure out, but every time I tried it would snap at me. So, while myself and a handful of local fisherman stood there scratching our heads my sister-in-law came down to the beach and calmly walked up to the bird, bear hugged it and removed the hook. The pelican took off while I stood there with my jaw dropped and the locals started cheering for her! She had recently been on a week long trip to the Midriff Islands on the Sea of Cortez to count Pelican eggs which made her an expert I guess. Go figure.

crane or heron or egret?

livetofish wrote:crane or heron or egret?

I had to google it...definitely an Egret.

sorry for thread hijack

You ride a Triumph?

livetofish wrote:sorry for thread hijack You ride a Triumph?

First Triumph mention ever! Nice. Yes I ride an 01 Thunderbird 900 at the moment.

I've had a seagull swoop down mid cast and catch a lure on his wing. The best thing to do is take off your shirt and throw it over his head. They don't freak out as bad with their head covered. Glad you had a solid catch and release!

par3bass wrote:

livetofish wrote:sorry for thread hijack You ride a Triumph?

First Triumph mention ever! Nice. Yes I ride an 01 Thunderbird 900 at the moment.

Almost bought a 2007 Rocket until the wife killed the idea. She like the MG Norge. Hey, whatever the boss says as long as it has two wheels and a engine.

Took this pic last year. Couldn't figure out why it wouldn't fly away as I got closer. I didn't notice the lure until I got home and looked at the pic on the computer. You can see the lure just to the left of its eye. Can't tell if its hooked in the face or wing. Whichever, I hope it finally fell out.