She (the Mrs) said "we have a turtle." I answered "what kind of turtle?" She says "I have no idea?" "I ask is it a snapper?" She repeats "I don't know". I hobble out there and see no turtle. ''I don't see any turtle!" ..."by the curb" I hobble out further to the curb and find a box turtle... this is a different variety then I've seen before I looks like a miniature of the tortoises that live to be 100 on some remote island that we see on National Geographic specials. I leave it alone.
The next dog walk and scouting report reveals the turtle has burrowed into my mulch in the bed by the corner. My old Gal Dusty sniffed her out. Now I worry the turtle end up in the sewer drain.
Turtles and I have a long history..Snapping turtles in particular. My late brother and I shared a fishing addiction. There was a pond not too far away from home where we would fish for catfish. The process was simple - catch a small shiner (minnow) cut it in half, put on a big hook and throw it out there. My pole was a very basic old salt water procured from god knows where. The line an ancient pre-monofilament. My cast was a throwback to days past. Lay the line out on the ground before me and swing the package in a circular motion a couple of times and let er go.
Not long after I felt activity on the end of my line. I lifted the pole and set the hook. It was different from the start-- I was not in control, the beast dug in and I felt like I had hooked a city bus. I could see bubbles and a commotion in the water.. being a little guy at the time I was not match for the pull.. I inched toward the water...in a few minutes I had a couple of buddies holding me around the my middle. It surfaced it was the biggest snapping turtle I had ever seen. It opened its mouth a bit down and the line gave it up.
I won't say just how big it was - I will say this - it was ancient, strong and pretty amazing. -Snappers migrate in the spring.. I've helped many.
Years latter I heard others talk of the giant snapper..
The ancient one is out there somewhere... my suggestion be careful buy the water.
The next dog walk and scouting report reveals the turtle has burrowed into my mulch in the bed by the corner. My old Gal Dusty sniffed her out. Now I worry the turtle end up in the sewer drain.
Turtles and I have a long history..Snapping turtles in particular. My late brother and I shared a fishing addiction. There was a pond not too far away from home where we would fish for catfish. The process was simple - catch a small shiner (minnow) cut it in half, put on a big hook and throw it out there. My pole was a very basic old salt water procured from god knows where. The line an ancient pre-monofilament. My cast was a throwback to days past. Lay the line out on the ground before me and swing the package in a circular motion a couple of times and let er go.
Not long after I felt activity on the end of my line. I lifted the pole and set the hook. It was different from the start-- I was not in control, the beast dug in and I felt like I had hooked a city bus. I could see bubbles and a commotion in the water.. being a little guy at the time I was not match for the pull.. I inched toward the water...in a few minutes I had a couple of buddies holding me around the my middle. It surfaced it was the biggest snapping turtle I had ever seen. It opened its mouth a bit down and the line gave it up.
I won't say just how big it was - I will say this - it was ancient, strong and pretty amazing. -Snappers migrate in the spring.. I've helped many.
Years latter I heard others talk of the giant snapper..
The ancient one is out there somewhere... my suggestion be careful buy the water.
. Turtle soup is pretty good.
