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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34 |
Here is some pics of what we believe to be a smooth soft shell turtle. My son caught this tonight using shad sides as bait. I have done a little reserach and really can't find a lot of info on these turtles. I would think this turtle would actually be good for the pond. I have huge snappers I am planning on getting rid of, I believe they are eating all my small fish. Anyone know much about these soft shell turtles?
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 99
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 99 |
they make good turtle stew.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34 |
they make good turtle stew. Got any recipes?
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 122
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 122 |
We used to call those pancake turtles, but those were spiny soft shells. You might check them out, they look a lot like this guy. They do bite, and eat fish.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287 |
Hey all. Let me just jump in here with my usual "Ain't no way those turtles are putting a serious dent in your fish population". Ok, carry on. PS. Don't mind me, I'm "differnt". PPS. I don't even have enough experience to have an opinion, but that never stopped me before.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 122
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 122 |
Hey all. Let me just jump in here with my usual "Ain't no way those turtles are putting a serious dent in your fish population". Agreed.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,997 Likes: 285
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,997 Likes: 285 |
Also agreed.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287 |
The truth shall set me freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
They're fast, and can easily catch unwary fish. They have razor sharp jaws, and a lightning quick bite. They aren't prolific breeders like the various sliders. I wouldn't want more that about 1 per acre.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823 |
...commonly referred to up here as "animated pancakes" When they're big enough, they eat just as good as a snapper...which isn't really all that often. Oh...and ask me how I know they can bite!
In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times. My wife figures I'm due to die any day now...
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287 |
Hey Matt, how do know that softshells bite?
sorry
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 13
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 13 |
Thats a nice size soft shell! I've caught a few of those while fishing for small catfish using 8# line(forgot my catfish rod only had bass pole). They sure hiss and bite alot but I'm not sure which is worse, their bark or bite...
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823 |
Their bite is MUCH worse than their bark, I can assure you. When I young and puny (at least I ain't young anymore) had a buddy that swore their "beaks" were just as soft as their shells. I decided I had to get that hook back out of one's mouth, rather than just cut it off. NASTY surprise! Way faster than a snapper, and once he felt some flesh between them jaws, he was determined to hang in there. Screaming like a lil girl, swingin' him around smackin' him on the boat seat. He finally did let go...and cost me a tetanus shot, some stiches and a really great tongue lashing by grandma. "They EAT stuff and they don't have teeth! Didja really think he couldn't bite?" They seem a bit slow to actually bite...but don't be fooled.
In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times. My wife figures I'm due to die any day now...
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287 |
See, now that story shouldn't be funny, yet I find myself laughing at the image of a young Matt swinging a poor turtle around like a New Year's Eve party favor and screaming like a girl.
sorry again (and sorry to you girls also)
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2 |
sure breaks up the monotony of swingin' a dead cat
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 |
A softshell turtle's neck can come out about half his body length, so if you try to grab it, you need to grab by the back.
Water dries, rocks crumble, and trees die. The only thing that is eternal is the reputation we leave behind. - Ancient Viking Proverb
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,287 |
sure breaks up the monotony of swingin' a dead cat That's funny, I never tire of swingin' a dead cat. Swingin' LIVE ones can get old though.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823 |
Oh sure...laugh at me, why dontcha? Well, the wife does the same thing. I have the scar to prove how unfunny it seemed at the time...but it's a itty bitty one, I guess. That kinda backwards crescent moon shaped thing on my right index finger just below the first knuckle. Hey, it hurt REAL bad at the time...
In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times. My wife figures I'm due to die any day now...
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