gynormus snapping turtle

[crappiefisherman]

I read in another forum of a fellow who came across a stringer of fish with a turtle eating the fish, this reminded me of a situation in snap hollow on bull shoals.I was fishing on a very foggy morning when i thought i was sneaking up on a new stump that had floated in.As I approached the stump i noticed it had what appeared to be spikes , reminded me of a dinosaurs sheilded back.It was the largest turtle I had ever seen Was comparable to the one in bass pro in springfield.At least 3 feet across and dead as a hammer.It was hung on a trot line.It was sad knowing this animal was prolly 100 years old and was a big turtle when i was a kid camping on bull shoals with my parents.PLEASE if you put i trot line out , check the darn thing often.And regurdless if you think someones gonna run it while your gone, mark it clearly so Your fellow fishermen dont lose lures on the thing.

[Phil Lilley]

I think you're not to leave a line out more than 24 hours without checking it.

[RSBreth]

I come across lines strung up and left without proper markings on them all the time.

Lines left for weeks. Lines left so long the hooks are rusted off, even.

And every one gets cut, rolled up, put in the boat, and thrown away when I get home.

I ran quite a few trot line when I was younger with my brothers, and we always marked, checked, and pulled them out when done.

Not hard to do right, like most things.

[Kayser]

Trotlines, like limb lines, are fun and effective. I hate to think of them getting banned because of a few idiots not checking them (and killing big fish and turtles). I live by the rules: "If you set it, run it the next day, early in the morning. That way you won't have as many dead things or baitless hooks."

Rob

[Wayne SW/MO]

I agree that if they are abandoned, they're trash.