As a youngster, I remember Dad taking me to a Pocono lake (Brown’s Lake?) where he was able to rent a wooden row boat for the day.

It was equipped with live wells, two old life vests, and an old coffee can so we could bail out the water that leaked in.

This was my first opportunity to go “lake fishing.”

Dad was a firm believer of using live bait. I think his old tackle box held three Red Devils, three old plugs, needle-nosed pliers and plenty of large fish hooks and wire leaders.

I don’t remember if he caught any bass that hot Saturday, but I do remember him catching three snapping turtles. His old bait casting rod really strained to pull them close to the boat. His line probably wasn’t strong enough to lift them in, and frankly, those big gaping “jaws” made me glad he had to cut the line.

Dad wasn’t happy because he lost three of his best size 4 hooks. The live minnows that dad put on those hooks were weighed down with the big red and white bobbers. Those slow-moving minnows, intended for the big largemouth bass, were too easy for the “snappers” to pass up.

Throughout that morning Dad pointed out a number of “periscope-like” snouts that we could see among the pond lilies. These were the turtles rising to the surface to gulp some air before they slowly submerged looking for something else on which to feed. They are opportunistic feeders. Their diet includes some plant matter, but usually, minnows, tadpoles, or frogs.

“Snappers” even take a few ducklings who are unaware what is lurking beneath them.

Snapping turtles are the largest turtles in our state with a carapace (top shell) possibly reaching 12 to 15 inches (males.) Those males could weigh 30 to 40 pounds.

Snapping turtles can be legally “harvested” and they are regulated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Turtle soup is a delicacy to some. Snappers hibernate in or near the body of waters where they live and they have a life span of 30 or 40 years.

Females, usually in June, may travel quite a distance from their aquatic habitat to find a suitable spot to lay their 20 to 40 eggs. They are about an inch in diameter, as in most reptiles, they are leathery, not brittle like bird eggs. They prefer loose soil to more easily excavate a nesting hole with their back legs and sharply clawed feet. Often an old cinder railroad bed “fits the bill.”

Unfortunately, many turtle nests never last too long due to raiding raccoons or skunks. If the nests remain undiscovered, turtle hatchlings have less dangers to face once reaching their aquatic homes.

Unlike many other aquatic turtles, they seldom bask in the sun. “Snappers” prefer to find a shallow area of the water and lie their submerged to warm their bodies.

Be careful if you find one out of water. Know that their beaked jaws are very powerful.

If you dared to pick them up by their 12-inch tail, they can reach your knuckles with their long necks.

Test your outdoor knowledge: Another roadside flower has very “woolly” 10-inch leaves. It is called : A. Turkish Taffy B. morning glory C. common mullein D. knapweed

Last Week’s Trivia: Easy to identify, the Queen Anne’s lace has a single purple floret in its center.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.