Fishing the Birds
2/14/00
Some folks say fishing is for the birds. That may be true to them, but for us fishermen, birds can lead us to fish.
I discovered this first-hand in the 1970s while fishing at Clark's Hill. I had heard stories of how sea gulls would gather over schools of white bass, so when I saw gulls circling and diving in Big Creek I headed over to them. Casting a Shyster with a Doll Fly tied 18 inches behind it, I caught several of the 2 pound fish before they quit feeding.
When hybrids and stripers were introduced in lakes in Georgia, fishermen quickly found out the gulls would point the way to them, too. One afternoon I was heading in about an hour before dark and I saw gulls diving. When I stopped, I saw some big swirls. Casting a crankbait, I quickly hooked up with a six pound hybird. I caught six of them, all weighing 5 or 6 pounds, before it got dark and they quit feeding.
Gulls can fool you, though. They will circle and dive on groups of loons, too. I have seen dozens of gulls following a single loon as it fed on shad. So if you see loons in the water where the gulls are diving, and no swirls of fish, make a few casts anyway but don't expect too much action!
Fish like bass, hybrids, stripers and white bass, as well as loons, will chase schools of shad near the surface and make the gulls dive to catch them. The birds will also pick up injured and dead shad the fish leave after hitting them, but most of those hurt shad will be eaten by the fish before the birds can get them.
Ambush points like long shallow points, humps and shoals are good spots to watch for gulls. Fish will lurk on these spots and wait on shad to approach. When they attack the school of shad, the baitfish will head to the surface, attracting the birds. Drop a shad shaped plug in the area and you should get bit.
During the winter lots of gulls move inland in the south to escape the bad weather on the coast. That is the prime time to fish the birds in Georgia - from November through March. A few birds may stick around during warm weather, but you are more likely to see them in cold weather.
We also have a lot of terns on our lakes - often called Judas gulls by area fishermen. Terns will dive and pick individual shad off the surface, even when there are no game fish nearby. Hence the name - they betray the fishermen trying to follow them. If you see single birds diving, especially if they are smaller than seagulls, they are probably terns. They will dive on schools of fish like gulls do, but they will often mislead you.
Fishing Lake Oconee on Sunday, February 13, I heard a splash and looked to see a big bird on the water. At first I thought it was a goose, but it turned so I could see its head and pouch and I realized it was a pelican. That was the first pelican I have ever seen on any freshwater lake I fish. Wonder how it found its way to Oconee. It was obviously finding plenty of food, we watched it dive four or five times before we left the area.
Go fishing and watch the birds. They might help you catch more fish!
Do you fish the birds?. If you do, tell me how in a "fishtale." Also, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have thoughts you want to share about this topic, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale" or discuss it in the chat room on every night at 8:00 ET. Tell others what you like.
ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK - 02/15/99
- Ice Fishing
Ice fishing sounds like fun to me.
TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK - 02/16/98
- Getting Tackle Ready
Make sure your rods, reels and line is ready to land that trophy you are
going to hook on your next trip.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
