I went down after some smallies with topwater. It was at 10:00 tonight. The first cast, after the first couple turns of the handle, it becomes heavy, but the lure is still on top and making noise. I start reeling it in thinking I got some small twig or some grass, and feel another thump, then I cant reel. The end of my rod starts shreiking, i'm trying to turn on my light and the rod starts goin crazy. Got my light on and here it's a dang bat tangled in my line and the end of my rod. I imediatly thought, oh crap . I got him loose and safely returned to mother nature. I have had them hit my line, but never actually caught one.

I have had some close calls with bats swooping at my lures on the cast, but they always pull away at the last minute. I have also had one fly so close to my face I felt the beat of it's wings. It was so awesome!

  I'd freaked out cut my line and went home. Bugs snakes spiders and bears are ok but bats

EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW

:-[

I had a friend that happened to. We was fishing one night and a bat became tangled up in his line. He done all he could to get it free from the line. But like me, he was not going to bring it into the boat he ended up cutting his line. Don't know what happened to the bat.

When we night fish for smallies this time of year the bats will drive you nuts sometimes. I have never caught one ,although, my buddie did catch a owl one night on a Pop R. I have been half asleep and set the hook on many a " Bat " bites,lol.

  I'd freaked out cut my line and went home. Bugs snakes spiders and bears are ok but bats

EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW

:-[

They won't bother you, harmless bug eaters.  Untangling them can be "not so easy", you got lucky.  Treat them as a bird, bones are very brittle, handle delicately.