Most Unusual Animal You've Encountered While Fishing.....??

[Crow Horse]

What's the most unusual or peculiar animal you've crossed paths with while fishing? For me, just a couple of weeks ago an emu walked up to me while I was rigging my yak in preparation for a days fishing. I was more than startled to turn around and look eye to eye with such a large bird. I discovered later after chatting with the ranger that it's been around for about 3 days and they don't know who it belongs or belonged to.

 

Edit: Although that day the bite was off and finding hungry & cooperative bass was extremely difficult, it was an awesome day because of this fellow.  I can't begin to accurately convey how stunned/shocked I was to see it.

[12poundbass]

I’d say you win, unless someone has encountered some other exotic animal. 
 

Mine’s pretty boring, an otter. It’s the only live one I’ve seen in Michigan. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Ol crickety be like “Another human being” 

[Crow Horse]

My list of common critters: bald eagles, fisher, river otters, deer, and beaver. Although they are "common", it's still a thrill to be able to see them.....

 

[padlin]

Not so common, osprey, bear, and either mink or weasels, I don’t know the difference.

[slonezp]

Me being from Chicago, I'd say alligators. Fished around them in both SC and FL. We have corn and rat snakes here that I come across occasionally. 

[ironbjorn]

This deformed eagle. At least, that's what I've witnessed white suburban women experiencing nature for the first time call it on two different occasions.

 

[looking45]

Fishing Bamako dove, my brother and I heard a lot of commotion on the hill. About 10 minutes later a huge brown bear came through the trees. It walked to the edge of the water and stared at us. We left when it started swimming towards us

[slonezp]

3 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

This deformed eagle. At least, that's what I've witnessed white suburban women experiencing nature for the first time call it on two different occasions.

 

Took my grandson fishing last Saturday. He saw his first deformed eagle. He was in awe at the size of the bird.

[Captain Phil]

Over the years I have seen a lot of animals while fishing.  Most were common like alligators, otters, snakes, turtles and the usual water born critters.  I have also seen my share of deer and a few bears.   While fishing in Canada I have seen moose and even a mink.   The coolest thing I saw was a death match between a large black snake and a great blue heron.  The snake had wrapped itself around the bird's bill and I thought it would win.  Not so fast!  The bird calmly began to strike his bill on the ground until the snake went limp.  Heron's are tough.  The most amusing animals I ever saw were a family of raccoons walking down the bank in the Everglades.  The Mama racoon was leading the group with three tiny baby raccoons following behind.   The babies were jumping over one another playing as they walked along.  It was precious!

[Crow Horse]

27 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

This deformed eagle. At least, that's what I've witnessed white suburban women experiencing nature for the first time call it on two different occasions.

 

Isn't amazing how disconnected people are to the natural world? Even here in rural upstate NY I've encountered many people (who've lived here all their lives) who are clueless about the animals & birds that live right around them.

[Bird]

Saw 2 beavers mating this past May. ?

Something I've not seen in years past here in VA but am seeing with regularity now is Loons.

They are efficient and fast under water.

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Big Bass.    I see huge Bucks all the time and think man if I only I was into Deer hunting lol.  

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

I have seen all the usual animals & birds. The most unusual bird was a flock of roseate spoonbill pink in coloring like a flamingo. The most unusual animals would be moose, caribou, marten, mink, bobcat, large river otters out of the water on shore and a musk ox on a trail above the Tree river while fishing for artic char. . 

[Spankey]

Like many of you I was surprised to see mink, otters and beavers while being out, birds that are common but you hardly ever see are neat to see also. 
 

But though deer and squirrels are not uncommon, seeing albino’s of these animals is really cool to see. 
 

 

[Kirtley Howe]

On occasion. I see a wild Karen...but they have become more common lately.

[VolFan]

Humans. And it’s not even close.

[GreenPig]

This baby Anaconda and tiny Alligator.? Most animals look at me like I'm the weird one.

[steve carpenter]

Mountain lion while fishing a river in central Texas. Beautiful

[AlabamaSpothunter]

5 minutes ago, steve carpenter said:

Mountain lion while fishing a river in central Texas. Beautiful

That's crazy, I just watched a quick video of a person using a paddle to fend off a Mtn Lion in a boat.    I knew they'd swim across rivers but not try to attack while doing so.  

 

Texas has the last N. American population of Ocelots, and the first Jags spotted in N. America in many decades have occurred in AZ in recent years, would not be shocked if TX has a few Jags as well.  

[steve carpenter]

The deer population has exploded here and the cats, like bass follow the food. I fish many lakes and ponds on private property and share the water with a lot of wildlife

[AlabamaSpothunter]

13 minutes ago, steve carpenter said:

The deer population has exploded here and the cats, like bass follow the food. I fish many lakes and ponds on private property and share the water with a lot of wildlife

Wish Alabama still had Lions.....FL Panthers are starting to slowly push north from the Everglades, but man has eliminated most/all corridors back to Alabama.    

 

[RobA]

20 years ago I was sitting in a float tube in a small lake in Idaho with no one else around.  I looked up and saw a bear at the water's edge.  We stared at each other for a minute or two and then he sauntered off.  Problem was I had a 15 minute hike back to the ranch where we were staying.  Obviously it turned out ok but I was a bit nervous to say the least.

[Tackleholic]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

A-Jay

Any chance that's Elvis?