It doesn't matter where we are fishing. At this time of the year it's time for the snapping turtles to move to there beds in the swampy areas for there winter sleep before the ground gets frozen and hard. I watch the swampy area on every outing now for the paths being cut through the stalks and brush in the soft mud of the swamp. If you look closely you will see a two lane highway leading through the mud. I figured I would mention about this so others can enjoy this part of nature we never get to see too. It's really visible in the farm ponds and smaller bodies of water we fish at.

Ever hooked a snapper? I have a couple of times and it's definitely an adventure.

I hope I never do! I've seen one snap a branch the size of my thumb with one bite

Ever hooked a snapper? I have a couple of times and it's definitely an adventure.

Quite a few, if u can get them off of the bottom they can be fun. Had a neighbor growing up that ate them.

I never hoooked on one before my buddy did though.  took for ever to dragg that sucker in it was huge and it was off the bottom haha

That's the only thing I have ever caught fishing a spinner bait. I'm up to 9 as og the time of this posting. The snapping turtles in Alabama love the dang things.

They put up one hell of a fight too. Hardest part is getting the bait back w ithout getting bitten. After the first one took a chunk out of me. (He got eaten for that stunt) I've started using a 3/4in stainless pipe to wedge their mouths open. Cut the barb off and it slides right out. I just think its cruel to leave a hook and giant lure sticking through their mouth.

That's the only thing I have ever caught fishing a spinner bait. I'm up to 9 as og the time of this posting. The snapping turtles in Alabama love the dang things.

They put up one hell of a fight too. Hardest part is getting the bait back w ithout getting bitten. After the first one took a chunk out of me. (He got eaten for that stunt) I've started using a 3/4in stainless pipe to wedge their mouths open. Cut the barb off and it slides right out. I just think its cruel to leave a hook and giant lure sticking through their mouth.

 

i wont hesitate to leave a hook in a turtle lol. im not going nowhere near those big ones with horns sticking out of their heads, all hissing at me and such. one night me and my bro in law were fishing off my uncles dock at smith mountain lake. we kept catching the same giant turtle over and over for awhile. didnt matter the bait(nightcrawlers, live bluegill, cutbait bluegill) this guy kept on eating our baited hooks and we kept on cutting the line. it would be like "i got a nice one on" then like "dangit, i think its that turtle again"...by the time we gave up on fishing due to his presence, the turtle had like 8 or 9 hooks stuck in him.

That's the only thing I have ever caught fishing a spinner bait. I'm up to 9 as og the time of this posting. The snapping turtles in Alabama love the dang things.

They put up one hell of a fight too. Hardest part is getting the bait back w ithout getting bitten. After the first one took a chunk out of me. (He got eaten for that stunt) I've started using a 3/4in stainless pipe to wedge their mouths open. Cut the barb off and it slides right out. I just think its cruel to leave a hook and giant lure sticking through their mouth.

How do u cook one? I understand that they're pretty good eating.

Haven't cAught a snapper here in FL yet but hooked a few when I lived in NJ. We had some huge ones in the spots I fished.

Thanks. That is very interesting about the snapping turtle. Did not know it.

 

Isn't Mother Nature fantastic? Without any rule books, schools, TV, Internet, Facebook, etc. animals have a strong instinct as to what to do and when to do it.

 

If you think about it you can see how wonderful it is.

How do u cook one? I understand that they're pretty good eating.

Kill it, clean it, gut it, and boil the meat. Its a drawn out process to clean and gut it. You can boil them, fry them, grill them.

We fry them up with fish when we have a cookout, or grill them over the fire when we're camping.  It's not the greatest thing in the world, but it's alright.