Bartlett 4/23 (Sat)

[PhishingPhreek]

Fished Bartlett with my brother (Travis) and his friend (Chase). Got on the water about 10:30 from the only opened ramp, which was a mad house! Went straight back to the "No Wake" markers and trolled just about everywhere up there. The wind was so bad I could never get the boat slow enough without getting tossed everywhere. Throw in all the pleasure boaters and it felt pointless to be out there. We saw 1 dead crappie floating on the surface just of a point and around a small cove so I felt we should fish around there. With my luck, we managed catch most of our tiny fish through this area. I caught 3 dink LMB, Travis got 1 sunfish and 1 crappie (12 inches). What was interesting about this one was that there were no eggs and it did not turn black... so either it finished with a spawn (which I doubt) or it bounced it self from spawn mode. Chase managed to catch 1 more species out of this lake that took about 30 minutes to boat... it was a 30-40 turtle. Yeah, he caught a turtle on my g/f's cheap pink pole with 6lb P-Line Fluorocarbon. I was hoping it was a giant Flathead (as were a lot of the boat passing by watching all 3 of us work together to get this thing boated) Anyway, after we finally got this buy boated, we pulled up to shore so we could handle it, take some pictures and pull the hook out of his paw/claw/hand (whatever you call it on a turtle). None of us really wanted to deal with killing it and cleaning it so we went ahead and threw it back.

So while the fishing wasn't that great, it generally makes a poor trip worth it when you boat something after a long fight. haha Some pictures are below. 


In the picture is my brother Travis (Tan one holding the turtle) and Chase (the red one who caught it)


I gotta bring this guy more often. I caught my largest bass the last time I brought him fishing with me 5 years ago or so... and it was only 100 yards from where we caught this turtle! haha

[OneBlade]

With the boat ramp situation and arrival of summer heat, I guess only go there on a weekday at this point.  What excitement thinking you had a big cat on the line and then up comes a turtle?!  By the way, call the burn unit - the guy wearing all red has got to be in pain with that sunburn.

[PhishingPhreek]

I just talked to him. He said he was in pain yesterday but is feeling fine today. Damn kids and their quick healing capabilities. haha

[Fishless]

I can't find the daily limit on turtles in the fish regs seen numerous turtles at bartlett but never one that size

[Fishless]

sent that pic to buddy at g and f (thought it looked like a snapping turtle) he thinks it is a large soft shell turtle.

[PhishingPhreek]

It was a soft shell turtle. I could tell by its shell that was very soft.

I hadn't ever really seen, or known they existed, until we pulled this guy up.

[sandman]

Good eatin'

[menrats]

we lived on the mississippi when litle about every other year my old man would find a snapper coming up in the yard to lay eggs. the louisville slugger brought some tasty turtle soup the next day.