Nothing worse than losing a fish…
Anyone who fishes regularly knows getting the fish to bite is only part of the equation. Actually getting the fish into the boat, or in some cases, on shore, can be just as tricky. Anglers spend a lot time (and even money) considering things like “hookup ratios” and “landing percentages” when it comes to selecting line, baits, hooks, rods… just about every decision you make when you’re considering a technique is trying to answer “how am I gonna keep this fish pinned?”
The line can break, the hook can bend out, a bad hookset can result with weak hook penetration or you yanking the bait out of its mouth, and if you don’t have your drag set properly, you can break the line or not set it properly. Honestly, there’s a lot that can go wrong when you’re trying to bring a fish in, but one thing you certainly don’t plan for is… having your catch stolen by a bald eagle.
But getting robbed by a hungry bald eagle (not the worst way to get robbed) is exactly what happened to a fly fisherman near Sitka, Alaska. Situated on a beautiful stream in the picturesque Alaskan wilderness, our fisherman had hooked into an Artic char and was getting ready to reel it in when he noticed a bald eagle lurking in the trees above.
And he knew exactly what was about to happen…
While the guy could’ve tried to gun it with the reel, he just stood there in awe as the line flew off the reel as the eagle flew away with his dinner. The eagle eventually pulled the fish right off the hook, and lucky for him, he at least got his fly back.
“Got a fish on, and this guy is trying to steal it.”
There were some more colorful words that followed…
Bald eagles are more prevalent in Alaska than anywhere else in the world. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the state is home to an estimated 30,000 of the birds. While the bald eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782, the species has been a spiritual symbol for Alaska Natives for far longer than that.
If you’ve never seen one in the wild, I’d encourage you to try and find a way to do so. Where I live in southern Wisconsin, you see them every so often, and it’s a pretty breath-taking experience every time. Big, beautiful, majestic… it’s just something you have to see to understand. Of course, eagles are primarily fish eaters, so Alaska’s widespread waterways and world-class fisheries offer excellent habitat and provide abundant food sources for the birds, which is why the state is home to such robust eagle populations.
In addition to Alaska, there are also sizeable populations in northern states like Minnesota, the aforementioned Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington, and believe it or not, Florida… quite the opposite of Alaska. Florida maybe have a more tropical climate compared to those states mentioned above, but it also has a ton of water which makes for great eagle habitat.
Once endangered due to habitat destruction and the effects of the pesticide DDT, bald eagle populations have made a strong comeback thanks to conservation efforts. They were removed from the U.S. Endangered Species list in 2007.
So remember the next time you’re fishing in Alaska, one eye on the line, and one eye on the sky…
