Osprey Took the Bait

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mattawoman Creek

Here is a very unusual catch. Sunday, April 1, we were fishing the Potomac River, and up into Mattawoman Creek and throwing a top water plug. I guess it is safe to say, if you have an osprey dive bomb on your lure, that you are doing a good job in resembling a dying bait fish. I have had a few birds notice my lure before when fishing top water, but they almost always turn away before they pick up the lure. This time I suppose the bait just looked too good, and the osprey picked up my lure. I tried to pull it away from him before he hit it, but I ended up just setting the hook. After several minutes of trying to get back as much line as possible so it would be less likely the bird would get tangled, the osprey gave up. It sat there motionless and watching us in the water, as we attempted to get the lure out of its talons. I was shocked and relieved at how calm the bird was, and we were able to remove the lure with no apparent damage. We were extremely happy when it flew away.

Attached are a couple of pictures. We did manage to catch some bass, but the story of the day was this catch.