Heron Eats Trout

[dpitt]

Saw this Tuesday, below the tennis courts in the trophy section, made a short video.   Amazed it could swallow, such a big trout. It killed it first, before swallowing it.  Lot's of Heron's on Taney, wondering what kind of  impact they have on  trout population?

 

 

 

 

[Quillback]

When we were fishing the White during Jigfset we saw a heron get a trout.  I bet they eat quite a few.

[tjm]

We have lots of herons here and I've seen one eat a bass that size a couple times. But they don't seem to reduce the numbers of bass over all. My thoughts are that the herons feed only in shallow water and that only occasionally will trout or bass be in proximity to them, their necks are only so long.  At RRSP a couple years ago I saw a crow kill a trout,  at a riffle, and eat it, two days in a row, and have to assume that in a small stream like that the trout would be more vulnerable.   It's why wild trout are so shadow shy and movement shy. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

First heron I've ever seen with his own theme music.  NICE!

[netboy]

I have had a few swoop in and try to grab hooked trout I had on the line. One actually got a trout and tried to fly off but dropped it when the line tightened. I have seen them catch many trout and also sculpins. They are a nuisance along with the otters.  

[Terrierman]

Down the hatch!  Cool video...

[Flysmallie]

They mostly go after the smaller stuff but can swallow a good sized fish when they get an opportunity. 
 

Many years ago I was fly fishing for ladyfish off the beach and one wondered up and stayed close. 
 

I caught a smallish ladyfish and tossed it his way. Of course he grabbed it and ran off. Never really thought any more about it. 
 

The next morning I was headed down to the beach to try again and he was waiting for me at the end of the boardwalk. 
 

He fished with me every morning on that vacation. He never got close enough for me to touch him but my wife and kids watched one morning from the condo balcony and thought it was hilarious. They said that bird followed me around like a dog. 

[Flysmallie]

Here’s another one eating on the James River. 

Gotta get it headed in the right direction and then down the hatch. 
 

[dpitt]

27 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

They mostly go after the smaller stuff but can swallow a good sized fish when they get an opportunity. 
 

Many years ago I was fly fishing for ladyfish off the beach and one wondered up and stayed close. 
 

I caught a smallish ladyfish and tossed it his way. Of course he grabbed it and ran off. Never really thought any more about it. 
 

The next morning I was headed down to the beach to try again and he was waiting for me at the end of the boardwalk. 
 

He fished with me every morning on that vacation. He never got close enough for me to touch him but my wife and kids watched one morning from the condo balcony and thought it was hilarious. They said that bird followed me around like a dog. 

Great pics! I'm sure you named it?

[dpitt]

Their neck's must be super elastic, saw one eat a decent size white bass, and it looked like a cartoon as the fish passed down to it's stomach. They have a wide profile.