Unusual Catches While Fishing?

[FishnDave]

What's some of the stranger things you've caught while fishing?

I'll start.

I was wading a river when I saw something strange float by..I chased it down.  It was this bat.

While flyfishing one evening, I lasso'd (not hooked!) at Cliff Swallow with my backcast.

 

A seagull once dive-bombed and caught my popper on the surface of the water before I could get it away from the bird.  It happened really fast, I really didn't mean to catch it.  It was released unharmed...the hook was stuck in its beak, but not past the barb.

Trolling a big 12" long baitfish in Cabo San Lucas, MX, an Osprey dropped down and plucked it from the water and flew off with it.  I put a lot of pressure on it with the saltwater rod and reel, but it didn't even budge in the air.  The hook eventually pulled out of the bait.  Strong bird!!

I was fast-reeling in a Mepps spinner over 30' of water, and somehow managed to hook and land a grapefruit-sized rock.  How the...?

Clams, turtles, frogs, crayfish....I was flyfishing after dark once, and a muskrat swam over my line and hooked itself.  It freaked out and swam to shore and onto land....which made it much easier for me to release it!

I had to unhook a duck that hit a lure my son was using.

[OzarkFishman]

I've caught a few birds  ... man does that suck (especially in a well populated area with lots of eyes watching). There just isn't an easy way to get out of the situation other that cutting the line, which I didn't do.

I also caught a muskrat, but mine was on a setline on a river. That being said, I've been told my ID skills suck these days ... so it could have been a cat, dog or whale ... all I know is it was a mammal.

The rock thing is interesting ... must have been a light rock.

I caught a sheet this past weekend at LOZ ... it broke me off, but I got it to the surface (a bed sheet .... looked to be queen size). It gave quite a fight with that light action rod.

I also caught a piece of a tire with a bolt attached this weekend, at least that makes sense around docks (think redneck bumper pads).

[FishnDave]

Oh yeah!  I forgot about that type of stuff....I had a big fish yank an icefishing rod right out of my hand and down the hole.  About a month later, the water had cleared up beneath the ice and I spotted my rod and caught it back!  And I've caught other rods while out fishing.  Various types of plastic, of course, ... a shoe (no foot in it)...a water snake.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

I caught a seagull once in Cape Cod. Using eels. Went for the back cast and felt a tug. Then it took off flying. darn near spooled me lol. But I reeled it in and got it out of its beak without incident. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

Oh and I caught a (presumably) used condom once...simply cut the line..

[FishnDave]

20 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

Oh and I caught a (presumably) used condom once...simply cut the line..

Oh man!  You win!  Or lose?  Cutting your line was probably best.  You might even wanna just chuck your whole rod and reel into the water.  Forever.  Then cry while taking a really long hot shower.  And have a hazmat team scrub you down. 

Fortunately I haven't caught one of those, but I have seen them float by in the river.

[Flysmallie]

26 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

Oh and I caught a (presumably) used condom once...simply cut the line..

Those can be used to transport drinking water. 

[Johnsfolly]

2 hours ago, OzarkFishman said:

I also caught a muskrat, but mine was on a setline on a river. That being said, I've been told my ID skills suck these days ... so it could have been a cat, dog or whale ... all I know is it was a mammal.

That was funny. I don't care who you are !

[fishinwrench]

Had a gull dip down and eat a Pop-R once.  I reeled it in and was trying to be gentle but the gull started screaming and acting stupid, eventually I got pissed off and stomped it into a bloody mess on the front deck.   The stain was still there when I sold the boat.   

I still own the Pop-R 😊

[moguy1973]

17 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Had a gull dip down and eat a Pop-R once.  I reeled it in and was trying to be gentle but the gull started screaming and acting stupid, eventually I got pissed off and stomped it into a bloody mess on the front deck.   The stain was still there when I sold the boat.   

I still own the Pop-R 😊