Remains of a close call

No I haven’t wrecked another trailer.

Today we were in a bay on Barkley that has an active Osprey nest in it. I’ve always admired Ospreys more than Bald Eagles for their fish catching prowess.

We were pulling cranks down a deep cut bank. Fishing had been slow due to a 10 degree increase in surface temp in a week. I was looking forward ,out of my top. I had the top up to keep the sun off an elderly passenger who is a stroke survivor. All of a sudden one of the clients lets out a yell. When I turned around, I saw an Osprey on the water behind my boat. It picked up to fly just as a client snatched a 11” crappie from its grasp. Seems the crappie hit the crank and was hooked. The Osprey saw the fish on too, behind the boat. It had a good grasp and was trying to take off, crankbait and all. Thankfully it didn’t get hooked.

Here is the rib cage of the crappie after I dressed it. Close call! I’ve mounted an Osprey for the Woodlands Nature Center in LBL so I know close up how impressive their talons are. Attachment 401785


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Great story and not something you see every day!
Bob

They are fished machines

Bet that was awesome to see. I had a bald eagle pull some weeds off a bank I was fishing. Only about 20 feet away. I was enthralled at it's size and strength. He finally yanked the clump of weeds and flew right over me about 10 feet up. Yes, I looked up and got a face full of dirt. This was at Toledo Bend where we have seen eagles and ospreys carrying fish.

Amazing story!

Really neat story, thanks for that.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

That’s awesome. I’ve seen them up close snatch some big fish out of the water.

Really neat story, thanks for that.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

good stuff for sure , competition for a meal can sometimes be pretty intense .
nice read sir
KABOOM went that osprey for sure :highfive

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by "D"

Bet that was awesome to see. I had a bald eagle pull some weeds off a bank I was fishing. Only about 20 feet away. I was enthralled at it's size and strength. He finally yanked the clump of weeds and flew right over me about 10 feet up. Yes, I looked up and got a face full of dirt. This was at Toledo Bend where we have seen eagles and ospreys carrying fish.

---

Bald eagle nests are something else. If you get a chance at a safe distance to get a photo the nest looks like it is built out of logs! LOL We have a nest about 5 miles away that has been in use every year for ages. By now it is completely hidden by branches and right on a lake for convenient hunting.
Bob

One of the things I miss since retirement is watching osprey and eagles on a daily basis. Seen them lift some large prey off the water.

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

Thanks for that story Doug, very cool. I’ve been close to some wild birds and they impress me every time. I’ve watched an osprey snap branches off a tree with its body weight for its nest. And the clients didn’t have to pay extra for the show. Good deal!

Cool picture. I've had an osprey dive down towards a fish I had hooked, but it flared off before it got within 10 feet of the water. Very fun to see that close. Ospreys are the best fishermen on the lake...they have to be. It sure is disheartening to be fishing with everything in the tackle box & not getting bit, then have an Osprey or Eagle swoop down a pluck a nice one right out of the water in front of you.

Jim

Thanks for sharing. [emoji106]

Here in Florida we have several osprey visit a pond behind our house on a daily basis. Lots of bass and tilapia in the pond, amazing to see.

Did some research and Osprey can rotate the outer toe backwards to help them carry fish, which they typically do head-first for optimal aerodynamics.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app