great chunk for the GMR!!
You continue to amaze me.

 

SConner; "Oh well, at least fishing was decent for and hour."

That's well past decent for the river. Great Catch!

 

Somehow, all these years I never realized that snappers live in that river. I can't imagine how many times I may have stepped on one in that muddy water. Yikes! I've seen alot of turtles, but I guess I thought snappers were "somewhere else".

Nice bass, by the way.

 

Nice bucketmouth! As for the snapper... just wear a cup when you wade.

 

Nice largemouth! I've taken a few nice ones out of the GMR over the years although smallies are obviously the predominant species. Do you primarily fish the upper GMR?

 

Somehow, all these years I never realized that snappers live in that river. I can't imagine how many times I may have stepped on one in that muddy water. Yikes! I've seen alot of turtles, but I guess I thought snappers were "somewhere else".QUOTE]

I see them fairly regular, just not that big swimming around same hole I am fishing. I did not get a good look at body but his neck was as big around as my forearm. I kind of felt wimpy about leaving, but this animal was clearly out hunting and it was a little intimidating as I stood there in a pair of shorts wondering where he went.

Smithbgfsh - yes, upper GMR. I do not catch many largemouth b/c of where I fish, but they are always a welcome change of pace.

 

that is a great hour! great report as always
I'm with you 'bout the snapper-would have quit while still a head

 

Real nice greenie there. Congrats!

 

I think the biggest thing that bothers me about the snappers is that they can be territorial. When you've got one in the area that's got a "neck as big around as my forearm," you're talking about a 25 pounder...at least. You were smart to give it the water.

Very nice riverine green fish. I'd take that over a 19.5 saugeye any day!

 

I think the biggest thing that bothers me about the snappers is that they can be territorial. When you've got one in the area that's got a "neck as big around as my forearm," you're talking about a 25 pounder...at least. You were smart to give it the water.

Very nice riverine green fish. I'd take that over a 19.5 saugeye any day!

Wiper thanks for the info on snappers being territorial, now I'll have night mares.

I too would much rather catch a bass this size than a saugeye, but in Feb & March the saugeye are much easier to catch. I am still looking for a 20" smallmouth, they appear to be rare out of our local rivers.

 

I am still looking for a 20" smallmouth, they appear to be rare out of our local rivers.

This too is my life's work, not yet completed. I know there in there though. . . I've been :S thuse far, but the hunt continues.

and as for 25 lbs Snappers,

 

I've never heard of anyone being "attacked" by a snapper, you should have kept fishing.

 

Very nice LM for a river fish Scott. Congrats! Your 20" smallie will come....they're in there.

 

I've never heard of anyone being "attacked" by a snapper, you should have kept fishing.

I was talking to a guy who worked for the nature conservancy several years ago, and he recanted how a colleague had accidentally stepped on one while doing some stream sampling. I guess he felt it had simply moved on, so he continued wet wading in waist deep water. The thing circled behind him and bit a perfect "diamond" out of the back of his calf. I'm sure it was a case of mistaken identity, mating season, something, but I can never get that story out of my head whenever I see one when wading.

Not quite the same, but probably 15 years ago I was driving a tractor down the road, and I saw a medium size one trying to cross in front of me. Hadn't had turtle soup in awhile, so I stopped and threw it in the cab. All was cool for about a mile...then the thing went apey. Snapping and lunging at my leg, I stood up on the seat and screamed like a little girl...but it kept coming. I couldn't reach the clutch or brake, ran off the right side of the road, and tore the open window off on a tree! I know for a fact that they get kinda mean in a confined space.

10 years ago I hooked one in the mouth while fishing a tube at Green River Reservoir. It was a monster. Like a dummy, I decided to try and get the hook out, so I lifted it in the boat while my partner was yelling "Don't bring that in the boat!" He was right. As soon as it got it's claws in the carpet, I couldn't hold it back. Now it's in the bottom of the boat, backed in a corner, bleeding, crapping, and on the offensive! My buddy is sitting on the motor, still yelling, and has no intention of "helping." I fought it with the net handle for what seemed like a half hour trying to turn it so I could grab it's tail. That dude was striking like a rattle snake. Finally, it bit the handle and wouldn't let go. I drug it out, got the tail, threw turtle, net, hook and line back in the lake wishing her the best of luck in getting that 3/0 gammy out of it's jaw.

...and then there's the guys who "feel" for them with their feet and hands.

Sorry for the hi-jack, but Scott's story got me to laughing about all that again. I'd have done the same thing. That sucker could have his hole, and I'd move to the ripples, where I could see the bottom.

 

Wow...I've never heard of these killer turtle stories before ... At Least you didn't loose a leg or arm ... I use to hunt turtles by wading creeks and reaching up under cutout banks and overhangs, find the turtle shell, grab the tail and pull them out...Been years since I've done it, but if anyone would like to try it sometime send me a message. I would like to do it again...Yes I still have all of my fingers!!!