On a crisp January morning in 2014, I photographed a Bald Eagle fishing at Booneville Lake in Logan County, Arkansas. Winter draws eagles here because the lake offers open water and a steady food source. Watching a Bald Eagle lock onto a fish and commit to the dive is intense, and capturing that split second is even better.
Booneville Lake is one of those places where patience pays off. Eagles often circle first, then suddenly drop with purpose. When everything lines up, the result is a powerful display of speed, precision, and raw strength.
Photographing Bald Eagle Fishing Behavior
To photograph Bald Eagle fishing at Booneville Lake, I set up near the shoreline with a clear view of the water. A tripod helped me stay steady while tracking the bird through the approach and dive. The calm surface of the lake created a strong reflection, which added balance and movement to the frame.
Timing matters here. Eagles move fast once they commit, so staying locked on the bird before it hits the water is critical. I watched for body posture and wing angle to anticipate the strike rather than reacting after it happened.
Gear and Camera Settings
For this image, I used the following setup:
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
- Lens: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
Camera settings:
- Aperture: f/7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec
- ISO: 640
- Exposure compensation: -2/3
- Focal length: 500mm
An aperture of f/7.1 kept the eagle sharp while softening the background just enough. The fast shutter speed froze both the wings and the water droplets. Dialing in negative exposure compensation helped preserve detail in the white feathers of the eagle’s head.
Observing Bald Eagles at Booneville Lake
Booneville Lake is a reliable winter location for Bald Eagle photography in western Arkansas. Eagles are most active early in the morning, especially on cold, clear days. This moment stands out to me because it combines strong light, calm water, and classic hunting behavior in a single frame.
If you have photographed Bald Eagles at Booneville Lake or spent time watching them hunt, I would enjoy hearing about your experience in the comments.