Loons on a 5 weight fly rod.
Just came back from a day and a half of fishing from one of my favorite interior lakes.

The fishing was wonderful, but on one hookup, I got into a very large fish, couldn't get it in very quickly. I noticed not 70 feet away, a big healthy loon watching me. The fish then took a reel screaming run toward the loon (not by choice I'm sure), and within seconds, the loon had dove under and I knew it was after my fish.

All of a sudden my 3 pounds trout felt like a 15 pound Steelhead. It dragged out almost the entire backing. I knew the loon had gotten a hold of my fish. Anyways, it finally let go, and left a half dead fish on my line that didn't fight much.

When I got it to my float tube, I noticed beak marks had taken most of the scales off and gouged one eye.

Anyways the fishing was spectacular, with tonnes of hook ups and big fish.

Same thing happened to us this past weekend, buddy hooks a 12 inch fish, and right in front of the boat a loon takes the fish and doubles his rod. The loon let go and waited for us to toss the fish back...spash fish goes in water and the loon dives to retrieve. Luckily the loons are hesitant to take the bigger fish, I had a loon watch a 4#'r the whole fight, but he never grabbed hold.

Don't you guys know its against the law to fish for Loons with live bait?

I read somewhere along time ago that you can purchase a special whistle that freaks the •••• out of the loons!!!
never seen this magic whistle tho!!
Tight lines

It is best that you try to fight a Loon for your fish because once they learn that a hooked fish is an easy meal they will go after others. You can land a Loon on a 6wt fly rod and 4# tippet if you have enough backing. It is somewhat like fighting a big Spring Salmon, long screaming underwater runs, getting shorter the longer the fight goes on. Once you get the Loon to your boat a loud shout will usually convince it to let go of your "prized" catch.
Fish On!

f,n loons are most definately the seals of the lake, leighton loons are especially adept to scooping your fish, any ways im on Roche tuesday and chronie fishing and on one of my 2 rods- down goes corkie,grab rod and think the world records on line, however when loony starts a floping on the surface just a freaking ,my hopes dashed. if anyone sees a loony with a new tongue piercing on Roche let me know

Back to Fly Fishing Page