I'm so pissed, mainly at myself for allowing it to happen, but things were going so well this morning with cool temps, fish feeding well and catching BG on the fly rod. Then changed to a different (sinking) fly and hooked this Snapper.




Here's a 1 minute clip of the Snapper, giving a good chomp at about 48 seconds in the video
http://youtu.be/68LF9d2_Vxc

I was just trying to get it close enough to the dock but while trying to navigate the 9' rod and a 30-40 lb(+?) Snapper on the other end, the third section of the fly rod snapped.



So now it's a trip back to Cabela's in hopes they will replace the rod or at least the third section.

So much for a long weekend of fly fishing

Damn!

I learned a long time ago that landing nets are your friend when it comes to things on the end of the line that either
1) Weigh more than the breaking strength of the line 2) have things in their mouth that you don't want to get your fingers near or 3) flop around too much to make grabbing them with your hands difficult. (trout, large catfish, northern pike, walleye, turtles)

OOPS!
Back to Cabelas - 10 year limited warranty?
G/

Appreciate the tips, Scott and my landing net was nearby, but was of no use in this particular situation due to size, weight,,,,, fear,,,etc.

Crane with bucket would have been helpful

I've ruined a few perfectly good landing nets by attempting to scoop up a turtle. When they get that big, you need a hydraulic grapple!

Forget it, Sparkie.
I nearly bit on the Yeti cooler until I checked the price.
There's no way in heck I'm sending you a freakin' hydraulic grapple.

You guys need to start catching bigger fish. That way you'll have to upgrade your landing nets too!

Next time I get a snapper in the pond I know who to call. Wow you don't have to see the snapper to snag it!

Who you going to call?

Snapperbusters!

What do you charge?

Cecil, I've got some 65# Power Pro braid here, I can tie on a small single strand wire leader and a #2 circle hook. A piece of chicken gizzard and tie it to something that the turtle won't drag into the pond. Leave it in the pond until the crawfish clean the hook or the turtle eats it.

It's not the weight of the turtle that does the damage, it's the bite force. What's your landing net woven from....aircraft cable?

I've doubled up on the steel leaders ever since I had a couple of 20 lb single leaders bitten in two. But, that was probably my fault for leaving the lines in overnight without checking them.

Kevlar

I used to catch large softshells and the only way to get them in the boat or up on the pier was with a landing net.

I was using the blue nylon knotted ones (that's what the net bag was made from). I did have one where it wouldn't fit into the net and the hook caught on the netting as it bounced off of the frame of the net. Hook stayed with the net, turtle disappeared into the lake. That was a BIG softshell!!

Yeah, the single strand ones are prone to kinking, and if that happens, it'll break pretty quickly. But, you don't need to crimp them like you need to crimp sleeves on the multi-strand.

We used both for saltwater fishing - wahoo and sharks. The single strand worked better because it was thinner and harder for the fish to see.

Cecil, this is the third snapper I've caught while fishing and yes, just from snagging and each time it's been on the front foot, or paw or whatever it's called. The first two were removed, weighing the second one at 22 lbs. And as much as I really don't like being close to them I'd love to know how much this one weighed.

Has to just be dumb luck because I can't seem to catch them any other way! And dumb luck seems to follow me quite closely,,, or maybe that's overstating the obvious

Which is also why I no longer sit on the dock with my feet dangling in the water

Smith and wesson 40 works real good for landing snappers.

My snappers must have dull teeth!! For the past month, I have been catching them on 20# mono. while trying for CC. I drag them along with the canoe to the shoreline and haven't lost one yet. I have been catching them often enough that they are becoming a real nuisance. I guess they don't get hook shy like CC!!!

How big have they been and what have you been using for bait?

Thanks!

My guess is between 15# to 30#, but haven't weighed any. You have me curious on that now and I might try to weigh a few. When I put the one into a full size trash can, the shell almost didn't sit down in the bottom.

I have been trying chicken livers for the CC, and the snappers REALLY like those. However, in trying worms or live/dead fish, they take those easy enough. I switched to the livers because I didn't want to gut hook any LMB with the worms, etc. I have been jug fishing with hook depths set from pond bottom up to 1' deep. As long as I check the lines within 12 hours I am OK, if longer the snapppers seems to break the line. When I do catch one, they almost always go to shore and bury themselves in so you can't see them. Don't try to pull them free with the line because you probably will break it. A paddle, stick, etc, till they are loosened up and floating/swimming.

My experiences also. A hooked turtle will go to shore and attempt to free itself. And they can get a LOT of leverage with those claws...if they're not hooked too deeply in the throat, they can pull or straighten a hook once they get a front paw on it.