Kayak Angler Captures Bald Eagle Crashing Into The Water & Swimming All The Way To Shore With Massive Fish

A fisherman by the name of Jake Stem was spending an afternoon out on the water ripping lips, and it turns out that he wasn’t the only one looking to fish that day. Luckily the outdoorsman had his camera handy and quickly shot one of the most impressive bald eagle videos you’ll ever see.

At first glance in the clip, it looks like the big bird could be just taking a dip in the water or even be hurt. However, the commentary that Stem delivers on the situation reveals that the eagle had swooped down on a fish a good minute or so before he started recorded and had been swimming the water ever since.

Stem is a like a kid in a candy store as he describes what he saw as the eagle uses its massive wingspan to paddle its way shore:

“Guys check this out, the bald eagle, I saw him go down and slam onto a fish way out in the lake and now he’s been swimming. I’ve seen this before on video, but never in person. I’m pretty sure he got a fish, a lake trout or something.

Way bigger than what he can take out of the water. I don’t think it’s hurt because I watched him go down and heard him splash on something, so let’s see if he pulls up a giant fish or not. I’m all the way zoomed in, I don’t want to get too close to it and bother him. Let’s see this giant fish he pulls out, I think I can see it behind him.”

Last time I saw something so American with that large of a wingspan gracefully swimming through the water like that, Michael Phelps won four gold medals at the London Olympics in 2012.

And you might as well give this bald eagle a gold medal for this makeshift triathlon. The thing went on through the air, land, and water to secure what appears to be a gargantuan lake trout. I never really knew that eagles could paddle through the water like this, just another reason why the footage (along with the eagle) is so impressive.

The whole thing almost brings a tear to your eye, seeing the circle of life play out in such an incredible fashion. The bird utilized its literal “eagle eyed” vision to track down the big fish swimming beneath the surface, and though it couldn’t fly off with it like it originally intended to, it adapted and overcame the issue like a true American would.

The Instagram video is captioned:

“One of the CRAZIEST things I’ve seen on the water!! I heard this BIG splash into the water and saw these eagle a ways away in the water. After a few minutes I saw it getting close to shore so figured it was dragging a big fish. So cool to see!”

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A post shared by Jacob Stem (@jake_stem_fishing)

Cue up Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to Be an American” after that video. Actually, you know what, I’ll do it for you:

The Majestic Bald Eagle

Few creatures capture the spirit of the American wilderness quite like the bald eagle. With its snow-white head, piercing yellow eyes, and powerful wingspan that can stretch over seven feet, this bird of prey has become a living symbol of freedom, resilience, and natural beauty.

Once on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and the use of pesticides like DDT, bald eagles have made one of the most inspiring comebacks in U.S. wildlife history. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, including the banning of DDT and protection under the Endangered Species Act, their populations have soared back across the country.

Today, you can spot them near rivers, lakes, and coastal regions, where they fish for trout, salmon, and waterfowl—often seen swooping low over the water with incredible precision.

Range Across North America

Bald eagles are found throughout North America, from Alaska and Canada down to northern Mexico. Alaska alone holds the largest population, with tens of thousands nesting along the coastlines and rivers. In the lower 48 states, they’re most common around large lakes, reservoirs, and coastal regions, especially in the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, and Florida.
During winter, northern eagles migrate south in search of open water and food, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles to reach ice-free rivers and lakes.

What Bald Eagles Eat

These birds are opportunistic carnivores with a diet that’s all about efficiency. Their favorite meal? Fish—particularly trout, salmon, catfish, and other species that swim near the surface. But they’re not picky eaters. Bald eagles will also hunt or scavenge waterfowl, rabbits, small mammals, and carrion (including roadkill or dead deer during winter).

They’ve even been spotted stealing prey from ospreys in mid-air—earning them the nickname “pirates of the sky.”

Speed and Power

Despite their size, bald eagles are powerful and agile fliers. They can reach speeds of 30 to 35 miles per hour during regular flight and up to 100 mph when diving for prey. Their sharp talons exert a grip strength of nearly 400 pounds per square inch, strong enough to snatch fish straight from the water.

Bald eagles are not just hunters but also symbols of loyalty, often mating for life and returning to the same nesting sites year after year. Their massive nests—sometimes weighing over a ton—are among the largest in the bird world.

Whether you’re watching one soar above Yellowstone, perch along an Alaskan coastline, or circle a Midwest lake, seeing a bald eagle in flight feels like witnessing a piece of living history—a reminder of nature’s power to recover when given the chance.The post Kayak Angler Captures Bald Eagle Crashing Into The Water & Swimming All The Way To Shore With Massive Fish first appeared on Whiskey Riff.