THE CAROLINA TRACE
T.U.F.F. Club
Sanford, NC 27332
Lake Trace Hotline
919-499-1300
by Miss Libby
Posted on Thu Nov 16 2017
Lake Trace Fishermen be advised!
On November 10th a CT resident fishing from shore cast a top water lure into the lake. He hadn't noticed a juvenile bald eagle perched in the trees behind him. The bird swooped down, hit his whopper plopper 45 feet out and got treble hooked in a talon. Of course this nature lover did not want to cut the line with the bird in such a fix. So it was reeled in and lifted out of the water with a fishing net.
The fisherman was able to get a hold on the bird's neck and shoulders and got the hook out. However, the real ordeal began when he got the bird's talons freed from the net. The eagle sunk its talons into his thigh and hand. Fortunately, it released its grip on his thigh but then used its free foot to latch onto his forearm! The man was able to get up, walk towards the house (with bird attached) and get his wife's attention. Together they were able to get the bird unlatched and control its feet. It was eased back in the lake, and after a few seconds, the young eagle flew away, apparently unharmed. (Our brave fisherman confided that he's OK but not sure he'll be using that lure again anytime soon!)