Here in the neighborhood we have two ponds to fish in. Today I went down to try my luck but I didn't catch anything (until later). While I was there I saw three other kids fishing as well. One of them started flipping his bait near a duck and before I even thought about saying something it happened. The duck made a lunge for the bait and got it. All of a sudden he was hooked and trying to get away. As the kid pulled on the line the duck went the other way after a short fight the kid just cut the line and let him go. At that point I lost it. Really cool kid now there is a duck with a hook in his mouth and about 30 feet of line attached to it. The duck took off to the other side of that pond where two more ducks went up to him. They swam around with the one kept shacking his head and drinking water. I watched this for a while and just couldn't stand it anymore. The kids friends seemed upset and the one that hooked him just sat there and didn't say a word. So I went home, grabbed my kayak and a fishing net. I went back to the pond thinking there is no way this is going to be easy. To my surprise the kids were still there and even better there was a guy and his little girl feeding "all" the ducks. As I got out of my truck I hear the guy say there is a duck with a hook in his mouth. I grabbed the net and went down to see what we could do. At this time the kid that hooked him came over and started talking. I let him know how I felt about the whole thing and then we started baiting the ducks back in. I got some bread from the guy and managed to get the duck close enough to step in the water and net it. As fast as I could I grabbed the duck, held him close and the kid that hooked him in the first place was able to got the hook back out. I think he knew we were trying to help because once a had a hold of him he sat still until I was ready to release him. At that point he was gone.
I could tell the kid felt bad and we just made the point stick. These ducks are use to people feeding them and every time he flipped his bait near him he thought it was free food. I hope they both learned their lesson and keep some distance in the future.
This is the first time I ever caught a duck. I just wish it was for a different reason but I'm glad I did it.
Ok now I'll stop patting myself on the back but I just feel good that I was able to do something to help.
I could tell the kid felt bad and we just made the point stick. These ducks are use to people feeding them and every time he flipped his bait near him he thought it was free food. I hope they both learned their lesson and keep some distance in the future.
This is the first time I ever caught a duck. I just wish it was for a different reason but I'm glad I did it.
Ok now I'll stop patting myself on the back but I just feel good that I was able to do something to help.
