Two years ago I was fishing the FLW League event on Lake Bemidji. I got a bite on a Redtail and it took off with the line. I fed it line until it stopped. At that point we look up and see a loon about to swallow a big minnow. I quickly reeled up the line and pulled it away. Luckily the hooks didn't catch anything.
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Humana Insurance Representative-Brainerd and Mille Lacs Area
We had a young Loon follow a Bucktail on several occasions one day. Finally we chose to move. Didn't want to catch the little guy. This was in Northern Wisconsin.
Years ago on Mille Lacs -- my Dad and I were fishing and he cast out his line with a minnow hooked as bait; a Sea Gull snatched the minnow (hook and all) out of the air. He had to real in the live gull -- until we could release it from the hook in its beak; but I have not heard of a Loon going for bait before. That's a first for you it sounds like! Were you able to release the bird ? They are a beautiful lake bird in so many ways with their young -- as well as our State bird of Minnesota of course... Quite a story! Have fun, Malmo Mike