Noodling in MO Rebanned!

[Rafe Hollister]

I was about 9 years old when I lost several fish off my stringer to a snapping turtle. I was fishing by myself when it happened & went back to the house crushed because of it. I remember Grandma seeing all the fish heads on my stringer and feeling sorry for me. Stupid turtles.

[Warmouth]

I think I have a phobia or complex about turtles because of my childhood. They are one of the few things that freak me out. I'd rather wrestle 16 smakes than a big turtle.

[Rafe Hollister]

Warmouth said:
I'd rather wrestle 16 smakes than a big turtle.

I wouldn't go that far. Those "smakes" can be killers.

[hobiecat]

On a coupla differnt occassions while fishin, I've caught alligator snappers that I know would go 30+ pounds. One was down in Joplin in a pond on the Atlas Powder Co land. The other one was in a pond on a CA not far from here. I also "saw a buddy" shoot one down in a creek in Joplin out near Lone Elm Road. "He" shot it with his dad's .243 right in the head.

I'll tell ya, both of the one's I caught while fishin... once ya gets'em up close to ya, they'll make ya cut your line quick!!

[Tigerhaze]

I don't know that I've seen outside of zoos or conservation displays any alligator snapping turtles, but have encountered plenty of common snapping turtles. In fact, I used to set trotlines on the St. Francis River near Sam Baker and had a lot of trouble with turtles. I actually didn't mind dealing with the snappers; the large softshell turtles were a heck of a lot worse with nasty dispositions. I guess I would be too if I were hooked on a trotline all night.

[Warmouth]

Rafe Hollister said:

Warmouth said:
I'd rather wrestle 16 smakes than a big turtle.

I wouldn't go that far. Those "smakes" can be killers.

Sorry Rafe, I meant wrastle.

[PoisonSnake]

I figure the alligator snappers that Hobie mentions were regular snapping turtles as well. They are not at all common in the bootheel, and virtually nonexistant in MO outside of the bootheel. I think he is full of chit. Even if they do reside over around Joplin, I don't think that silly chitbag could catch two of them in his lifetime. They were probably soft-shelled turtles and not even snapping turtles. Probably weighed upwards of 2 pounds.



LMAO at DaveT.

[Great White Hunter]

Dave, you meant wrassle.

We caught a couple of snappers out of my FIL lake last summer. My buddy, Hooter has turtle traps.

Those suckers can't get mean, real quick.

[Triton X2]

Great White Hunter said:
Dave, you meant wrassle.

We caught a couple of snappers out of my FIL lake last summer. My buddy, Hooter has turtle traps.

Those suckers can't get mean, real quick.

I was with you until the last sentence.