The Online Source for Washington Fishing Information
Top waters and annoying birds?
Nothing is better than early, cool summer mornings than the sound of a bass explode at the surface as it engulfs your topwater bait! This has always been my favorite and most exciting ways to fish for bass.
When you start getting into the larger topwaters say...5 -inch poppers, or walk the dogg type baits I have allot of issues with birds wanting a piece of my lure. Last year I was using a zara and saw a bird come down from behind me and knew exactly what it was doing. I retreived as fast as I could to beat the bird but it didn't work. So the bird (I think they are called blue herrings) is just sitting in the water with the spook bait in its beak, both trebles are clear and not in its mouth or anything but its just sitting in the water staring me down like I need to make the next move.
After about 30 seconds of us staring each other down I see his wings start to expand and I jerk as fast as I can and actually cleared the bait and got it back to the boat and the bird flew off unharmed.
The very next week an osprey came into the area I was chuckin my spook, so I didn't want to take any chances. Set the rod down on the deck and pick up another one. That stupid freakin bird is doing fly-by's actually trying to get my spook off my deck. The second fly-by it flew close enough for me to reach out and grab it. So the third time I was prepared and swatted at it with an older rod. After that the bird was still just hanging around the boat mocking me. And I really wanted to use that spook that day.
So I have a question, what do we do in these situations? What if its tourney time and I need to use my spook, but I got some stupid bird that wont leave?
When you start getting into the larger topwaters say...5 -inch poppers, or walk the dogg type baits I have allot of issues with birds wanting a piece of my lure. Last year I was using a zara and saw a bird come down from behind me and knew exactly what it was doing. I retreived as fast as I could to beat the bird but it didn't work. So the bird (I think they are called blue herrings) is just sitting in the water with the spook bait in its beak, both trebles are clear and not in its mouth or anything but its just sitting in the water staring me down like I need to make the next move.
After about 30 seconds of us staring each other down I see his wings start to expand and I jerk as fast as I can and actually cleared the bait and got it back to the boat and the bird flew off unharmed.
The very next week an osprey came into the area I was chuckin my spook, so I didn't want to take any chances. Set the rod down on the deck and pick up another one. That stupid freakin bird is doing fly-by's actually trying to get my spook off my deck. The second fly-by it flew close enough for me to reach out and grab it. So the third time I was prepared and swatted at it with an older rod. After that the bird was still just hanging around the boat mocking me. And I really wanted to use that spook that day.
So I have a question, what do we do in these situations? What if its tourney time and I need to use my spook, but I got some stupid bird that wont leave?
Views: 43
Comment
-
Comment by Mike Bess on May 6, 2009 at 12:19pm
-
You ever had pelican? Tastes like chicken.....
-
Comment by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on May 6, 2009 at 8:18am
-
there is nothing more realistic to a big bass than gulls chasing baitfish on the surface, it is the most realistic presentation you can make, Mike don't use the comorants unless you like fish tasting peperoni, If you want something totally unique try gull, for some reason they usually tast a little like french fries from Mcdonalds.
-
Comment by Jon Werner on May 5, 2009 at 9:22pm
-
I have had seagull drop down on lightly weighted paddletail swimbaits, but it was not too close of a call. However, I came very close to catching an Osprey last Summer. It came over my head toward my topwater, so I had little notice. It is annoying though. As someone mentioned, if the birds are out hunting on the surface of the water, fishing tends to be good.
-
-
Awesome quote Josh, "change your pad and keep fishing". I'll start saying that to Eric from now on.
-
Comment by Eric DeLay on May 5, 2009 at 11:54am
-
That is awesome Josh. You get first prize by a mile.
-
Comment by Josh Potter on May 5, 2009 at 11:28am
-
I had a bunch of gulls messing with my sammy last year on the columbia during the NW Bass Championship. I kept fishing it and when the bird would pick it up I would just give it a twitch and it would fall out. I was fishing right in front of the park above Richland on Sunday.... lots of people around and gulls. My partner at the time was "nervous" about me accidentally hooking one in front of all those people. I told him to change his pad and keep fishing. Then it happened... I pulled a little late and the sammy fell out of the bird's beak and snagged his foot. For those of you who have hooked one of these winged rats you know what happens next. It starts screeming like hell and every gull within earshot flies over and starts attacking this hooked bird. People are starting to point and stare and my partner is pretending like I don't exist. My only concern is retreiving my $18 dollar bait. I'm thinking this is going to get ugly. It actually turned out OK. It took awhile and I can't make the claim that, " No animal was harmed in the filming of this program" but I got my sammy back and the emotional scarring that was inflicted upon those watching the ordeal is probably beginning to heal.
-
Comment by BigBass Dez on May 5, 2009 at 10:43am
-
Instead of purchasing just a fishing license also pick up a hunting license and that way your deck can have rods one side and a few shot guns on the the other side . It only takes one bird to set the example on and the rest will take note .. This info came out of my favorite book ,you know your a redneck when! great read, thank jeff foxworthy for the advise !
-
Comment by Mark Byrne on May 5, 2009 at 12:35am
-
Hey, Chris B, that same thing happened to Rich and I when we were fishing Silver! Sounded like we were being attacked by a jet! I was throwing frogs!
-
-
I'd pack heat for the eagle type of birds. Hawks, eagles, herons, puffins, cormorants, grebes, seagulls, coots, and of course pelicans can add a unique flavor to duck/goose pepperoni.
-
Comment by P.J. Koshi on May 4, 2009 at 8:25pm
-
There is quite a large seagull colony on Goose Island on Potholes and I have encountered some of those birds coming down on the topwaters, but you just have to reel like a mad man and be careful. I know a guy whos girlfriend will just spend time with a slingshot and marbles in the back of the boat trying to pick of seagulls. It's good target practice :)
Blog Posts
Old Farts Tournament on Potholes
Posted by Tom Melowitz on September 7, 2019 at 2:45pm
New Group Added!
Posted by Eric Urstad on April 3, 2019 at 7:38pm
© 2024 Created by Jordan Doucet.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Washington Fishing to add comments!
Join Washington Fishing