yesterday was a pretty typical June-fishing afternoon, couple of barely 1-pounders on the neko and some bites on my finesse jig.  i was working a spot under a foot-bridge for the past hour (great shade, has a bunch of overhanging trees to skip under) when i felt a huge bite on the neko.  Realizing the weight of the bite, i did a strong hookset and was delighted to feel a lot of weight.  reel, reel, reel, what is that... a 3 foot wide snapping turtle emerged from the mud.  upon closer examination, i saw the hook was only on the edge of the mouth, so i grabbed my long-nose pliers, said "I'm ready to face death" to myself, and gave the turtle one last pull closer to me when... POP!  the knot had broken...

 

feel free to criticize my blatant disregard for my own personal safety, but I refuse to cut line.  i hate snapping turtles ?

No criticism. I would have made a reasonable effort to get the hook out. 

 

If a big snapper bit you in your face  it would look like someone opened your face with old fashion fifty pound can opener.

I’ve retrieved the hook from small turtles but, a 3’ wide snapper?  I think he’d have owned that Ned rig. 

I try to get the hook out, like when I snagged a guys broken off line with a big snapping turtle attached to it. I used my long-nosed pliers and stayed as far away as possible.

They can't snap very far in the water if you stretch their necks out a bit. I've unhooked a few of them without any issues with regular needlenose pliers. 

Saw a big one today.

 

I like swimming with them......naked

You've got every Louisianan on BR imagining how many gallons of turtle sauce piquante you could make with a 3-foot wide snapper ?

9 minutes ago, BayouSlide said:

You've got every Louisianan on BR imagining how many gallons of turtle sauce piquante you could make with a 3-foot wide snapper ?

Enough to invite me over! 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Enough to invite me over! 

 

Nearly enough to invite everyone over ?

i hooked one last year on my favorite spinnerbait.  no way was i allowing him to take it.

i woulda fought to the death 

On 6/27/2021 at 1:01 PM, Kenny Yi said:

a 3 foot wide snapping turtle emerged from the mud.  upon closer examination, i saw the hook was only on the edge of the mouth, so i grabbed my long-nose pliers, said "I'm ready to face death" to myself

 

There are so many in my home lake, but haven’t hooked into one.. yet. I have no idea what I would do so I guess this thread is good for me to prepare! 

Last week I hooked the biggest turtle in my pond with my jig, he ambushed my swim jig and took it with him. 

Caught my first snapper this year fishing a pit boss next to a fallen tree, got him close to shore, grabbed his tail and carried him to my truck where I used a jaw grabber and needle nose pliers to get the hook out, gave him to someone who likes to eat them, had just tied on a new hook and bait and didn't feel like giving it up.

We have a few in a pond near me that look like upside down wheelbarrows swimming around. It’s rather impressive when they come up and breech the surface like a submarine. 

 

I have more soft shells in my lake than snappers .. They arent too friendly either if you’re trying to unhook them…

24 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

I have more soft shells in my lake than snappers .. They arent too friendly either if you’re trying to unhook them…

One of Those drew a good bit of blood from my buddys thumb the other day 

On 7/5/2021 at 12:38 AM, Deephaven said:

I like swimming with them......naked

 

 

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

One of Those drew a good bit of blood from my buddys thumb the other day 

I caught a big one once, hooked him at the end of his snout. I still have the scar on my thumb where he got me as I tried to unhook him.

8 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I caught a big one once, hooked him at the end of his snout. I still have the scar on my thumb where he got me as I tried to unhook him.

Here’s the one that got him 

On 6/27/2021 at 2:01 PM, Kenny Yi said:

… i hate snapping turtles ?

One trip to Brennan’s in New Orleans for turtle soup with a glass of wine, and you’ll change your mind. ?

Seen some big ones.....hope I never hook one......Here's a little one.......