Rather than put my boat/motor/trailer away by November 1st in my father’s roomy (but packed) storage garage for the winter, this year I opted to keep it in my own garage in hopes of getting out for some musky “hunting” during November.
It paid off.
The two days my son Andrew and I managed to get onto the water resulted in one boated musky each time out. Our excursion on November 6th was especially memorable for two reasons: 1) I caught my first-ever November musky; 2) We met Loon(ey), pictured above.
I’d always thought the expression, “crazy as a loon,” was disrespectful to loons, but I now think differently. In the spring, loons will make quite a ruckus to drive you away from their nesting area. And, it is wise to steer clear. Let ‘em live. Let ‘em grow.
But in November? The loon that harassed us for at least two hours that day made more ruckus than all the loons I’ve ever encountered before combined. The flapping of the wings, the haunting tremolos (the loon’s call), the dive-bombing around and under the boat picked up by the sonar, the click of the reels as the loon sought to disrupt our musky fishing by tugging at our live-bait musky suckers (or maybe it was just hungry?!)
Let me be clear: Looney sought us out. Looney entered our territory. Looney disrupted our fishing. Not the other way around.
Why? Was its winter quarters near the Gulf of Mexico not yet ready? Had its flight been canceled or delayed due to the government shutdown? Was it injured, desperate? Had its partner taken off with another loon, leaving this one with a broken heart, destined to remain until it would be caught in the soon-to-form ice?
I feared we might inadvertently hook the thing. Looney was spoiling for a fight. We even tossed our smallest sucker at it as a sort of peace offering/sacrifice. To no avail. Looney didn’t even acknowledge.
Toward the end of our two hour standoff, during which we had to monitor the suckers quite closely, I raised one of the suckers from the depths to check on it and a nice musky responded to that action with a satisfying (and spectacular!) strike. Landed it, then released it to fight another day.
Which lake, you ask? You know better than to ask. Choose one of the following, or add your own: Area Lake, Banana Lake, Lake Noname, Lake Nunya (as in “none of your business”). Though, if you ask nicely…
I know the Bible doesn’t call Satan “crazy as a loon,” but the behavior on display that afternoon mirrors Satan’s approach: brazen, unafraid, crafty, distracting. The Apostle Peter’s description comes close to our experience that day: “Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Satan is not funny or entertaining. He is not a silly little red entity with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. He is a terrorist with honey on his lips and hell in his heart. He is a liar and a murderer who puts out his hand for a friendly greeting while clutching a weapon in the hand that’s behind his back. He will do whatever it takes to attack, assault and afflict you.
But there is Someone much more powerful than the devil who holds him in check. In fact, Jesus Christ has already won the victory over him on Calvary’s cross, descended into hell to declare it, and risen from the dead to prove it. His victory is ours by faith.
The writer to the Hebrews describes this victory: “Therefore, since the children share flesh and blood, he also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil).” (Hebrews 2:14)
The lakes are frozen over. Muskies (and loons!) will have to wait until next Spring. Satan won’t take a break, however. But I rest secure in the knowledge that Jesus is with me, that his words and promises will sustain me.
God’s peace be with you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
It paid off.
The two days my son Andrew and I managed to get onto the water resulted in one boated musky each time out. Our excursion on November 6th was especially memorable for two reasons: 1) I caught my first-ever November musky; 2) We met Loon(ey), pictured above.
I’d always thought the expression, “crazy as a loon,” was disrespectful to loons, but I now think differently. In the spring, loons will make quite a ruckus to drive you away from their nesting area. And, it is wise to steer clear. Let ‘em live. Let ‘em grow.
But in November? The loon that harassed us for at least two hours that day made more ruckus than all the loons I’ve ever encountered before combined. The flapping of the wings, the haunting tremolos (the loon’s call), the dive-bombing around and under the boat picked up by the sonar, the click of the reels as the loon sought to disrupt our musky fishing by tugging at our live-bait musky suckers (or maybe it was just hungry?!)
Let me be clear: Looney sought us out. Looney entered our territory. Looney disrupted our fishing. Not the other way around.
Why? Was its winter quarters near the Gulf of Mexico not yet ready? Had its flight been canceled or delayed due to the government shutdown? Was it injured, desperate? Had its partner taken off with another loon, leaving this one with a broken heart, destined to remain until it would be caught in the soon-to-form ice?
I feared we might inadvertently hook the thing. Looney was spoiling for a fight. We even tossed our smallest sucker at it as a sort of peace offering/sacrifice. To no avail. Looney didn’t even acknowledge.
Toward the end of our two hour standoff, during which we had to monitor the suckers quite closely, I raised one of the suckers from the depths to check on it and a nice musky responded to that action with a satisfying (and spectacular!) strike. Landed it, then released it to fight another day.
Which lake, you ask? You know better than to ask. Choose one of the following, or add your own: Area Lake, Banana Lake, Lake Noname, Lake Nunya (as in “none of your business”). Though, if you ask nicely…
I know the Bible doesn’t call Satan “crazy as a loon,” but the behavior on display that afternoon mirrors Satan’s approach: brazen, unafraid, crafty, distracting. The Apostle Peter’s description comes close to our experience that day: “Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Satan is not funny or entertaining. He is not a silly little red entity with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. He is a terrorist with honey on his lips and hell in his heart. He is a liar and a murderer who puts out his hand for a friendly greeting while clutching a weapon in the hand that’s behind his back. He will do whatever it takes to attack, assault and afflict you.
But there is Someone much more powerful than the devil who holds him in check. In fact, Jesus Christ has already won the victory over him on Calvary’s cross, descended into hell to declare it, and risen from the dead to prove it. His victory is ours by faith.
The writer to the Hebrews describes this victory: “Therefore, since the children share flesh and blood, he also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil).” (Hebrews 2:14)
The lakes are frozen over. Muskies (and loons!) will have to wait until next Spring. Satan won’t take a break, however. But I rest secure in the knowledge that Jesus is with me, that his words and promises will sustain me.
God’s peace be with you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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