Tally: 2 lmts. kokanee, 1 Osprey!

[Kodiak1]

Fished Lucky Peak this A.M., and did quite well. In addition to our downriggers, we were longlining a Shasta Sling Blade and hoochie on top, and they were hammering it on occasion. An osprey suddenly hovered above us, then dove, we were thinking at the Sling Blade. Got up in the air again, circled and then dove again. To our horror, she comes up with the dodger and squid, and takes off. She peels off 650 feet of line and then crashes into the water. We frantically pull up the dr's, the lead core, and start heading towards her. We got pretty close, not knowing what we would do when we got there, and she takes off, still with the gear. Then, all of a sudden, she releases it from her talons, and we breathe a sigh of relief. There is nothing in nature we love more than osprey, and remember when they almost disappeared from Idaho in the 60's. If I was responsible for killing one, don't know what I would do. I have caught swallows, and a seagull before, but let me tell you when you hook an osprey, you have a significant pull on the rod. Seemed like the drag meant nothing!!! In hindsight, I should have put the boat in neutral and let the gear sink. Mike
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