This one comes from a guy who goes by the handle of Cone Stold...

The Four-Legged Surprise

One day, my uncle and I were fishing for bass from a 12-foot jon boat. We were using plastic worms and shiners.

Attached to the rod I was using was a spinning reel with 8-pound test line, and on this line I had tied a 3/0 Aberdeen hook baited with a shiner. I made my cast and began "freelining" the shiner.

After about 20 minutes, I decided to check the bait. As I was reeling in the line, I seemed to get hung up on something. Thinking I had snagged a stump or tree limb, I gave the line a sharp tug. I was surprised when the "snag" started to fight back!

I loosened my drag and tried to bring whatever it was to the surface.

"What do you have on there?" asked my uncle.

"I don't know," I replied as I struggled with the rod.

Finally, I worked my catch to the surface, and I found myself staring at the extended head and legs of a huge turtle! It was fighting like mad. I grabbed the net with my free hand.

"What are you going to do?" asked my uncle.

"I'm bringing it on the boat," I pronounced.

"Do what?" exclaimed my uncle incredulously.

After several minutes, I had worked the swimming turtle next to the boat. I put the net around his head. Then, setting my rod down, I grabbed his tail with my other hand and hoisted the monster into the boat.

The turtle just lay there in the bottom of the boat, so we resumed our fishing. After about ten minutes, he started to move around , so I propped both my feet on its shell to hold him still. But, that wasn't enough. The irate turtle started to thrash around in the boat, and it was all I could do to keep the net around its head. With my feet firmly pressed down on its back, I grabbed the sides of the boat and held on as tightly as I could to keep the turtle immobilized.

I told my uncle that this trip was over, and we had to try to get back to the dock. After what seemed like forever, we pulled up to the dock, where we were then able to dispatch the turtle.

It weighed 30 pounds, and it was an experience I'll never forget.