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Turtles On Senkos? Anyone?

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Fishing a wacky rig senko the other day and hooked something huge.  Did not fight at all like a bass and felt like a turtle clawing at line with arm the way they do.  Line broke before saw it.  Anyone catch snapping turtles on Senkos?

  • Global Moderator

Snappers will eat just about anything, and senkos are certainly on that list. 

  • Super User

i have caught snappers on a fluke before and i have also had them bit clean through like someone used a pair of scissors on them so yeah, they will bite lures.

I fish a small lake loaded with snapping turtles around here.  I throw a wacky senko a lot there, and do well with the bass, but I average 1 - 2 snappers a trip on senko's

I had a giant Red Ear Slider (these are the turtles you will usually see basking on the banks or on stumps) come up and blow up on a spook. I thought I hooked into a 9lber, you should have seen my face when I saw it was a turtle lol

  • Super User

Times I get bored Ill toy with turtles. The waters I fish are rather clear so Ill just inch the senko along in front of the turtle. They will follow for quite some distance then I will bring in the senko and once the turtle starts to leave Ill toss right back at it and repeat.

 

Oh but one thing these turtles can attract bass Ive seen quite a number of bass following a turtle and throw just behind the turtle and catch one of the bass.

  • Global Moderator

Turtles aren't the only thing you have to worry about either. This guy got my jerkbait this spring. 

20150330_105729_zpsgdfcpixw.jpg

  • Author

Huh, I always figured turtles mainly ate based on smell/scent, I guess I should not be surprised by this though.

  • Super User

Turtles will go after just about any lure you're throwing. Senkos are no exception. caught several on them and had them bite off senkos in half. 

Turtles aren't the only thing you have to worry about either. This guy got my jerkbait this spring. 

20150330_105729_zpsgdfcpixw.jpg

Man! That must have been hard getting that guy unhooked!

I have a Senko that I retired with a triangular bite cut clean into it.

I've also caught plenty of snapping turtles when catfishing...gets annoying after a while.

  • Super User

All I've ever caught on senkos is water.

Hootie

I kind of caught a large snapping turtle here in NJ on a wacky rigged senko. He let go of it once I pulled his head above water, and the hook was bent almost 90 degrees ! The thing was huge, I thought I hooked a large branch or something. 

Yup I caught a giant snapper on a senko last year. I thought it was a huge fish but then it just felt like it cemented itself to the bottom. After a while I just cut the line and gave up. I saw a huge one try to get my frog last weekend that wouldn't have been good.

Usually I've had worms senkos bitten in half. Figured it was snappers. Caught a Giant snapper on a jig. Ready to pull it up on shore to get the hook out then line snapped.

Last week i was fishing a waky senko and as soon as it hit the water something slammed it.  I set the hook and the line snapped (which is a feat since i was using 20lb braid) and there was a huge swirl.  I didnt see what it was, but it has to have been a turtle.  I cant imagine a bass doing that.

  • Super User

Ready to pull it up on shore to get the hook out then line snapped.

That's why they call them snappers.

Hootie

This is by far my favorite fishing story. It was a slow day and "bam!" something huge thought it was a 20lb catfish. had a little bit of kicking. and pulling. Had 8lb line with spinning gear. small senkos by the way. It's taking drag. finally I get it in and all I see is this massive snapper with a senko in it's mouth. the shell was about 2 and a half feet in diameter.

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