Snappers! Incredible (freaky) creatures!
To date, I've pulled a 25lb, 32lb, 40lb and 50+ lb (scale only went to 50lb) out of my pond!
But this is the one that really had me boiling! It was a Saturday morning after getting my new fly rod combo the day before. I had caught several BG that morning when I thought I got snagged on a log.
Nope! It was this guy and he snapped my new fly rod right in two (and yes, I was partly to blame for that but at least I learned my fly rod's limitations
).
I eventually had him on the dock by the tail, yet still hooked to my fly and by myself standing there on the dock I was at a loss as to what to do next. So out of my hands he went, finding his way over the edge of the dock and back in the pond
.
Although I was pretty heated, he wasn't too happy either. And if I can post the video I have of him hissing and snapping, I'll get it posted.
Regarding the huge number of Painted(?) turtles in my pond, I'm fine with the ones who don't hang around eating pellets. Those end up netted and relocated.
PS - I drove back up to Cabela's and they exchanged my fly-rod combo, no questions asked
