Turtles and bass

[Functional]

At this point I might be in my own head but I always find it cool to see turtles (in this case not snapping) on the water either swimming around or on logs. The past year or 2 I've been putting it together that the more turtles (lately any quantity of turtle) I see in the area I'm fishing the less likely I am to catch a bass. This has been across multiple lakes. 

 

Is there some type of connection there or am I just connecting dots that arent there and getting in my own way?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

This is excellent question, and one I'd love to hear answers from qualified fish biologists on.

 

I've always disliked the amount of Turtles in my home lake, and if I could ever get concrete data to support their removal, I'd start buying those turtle traps.  Mine aren't the snapping variety, more like a Slider of some sorts.  

 

We know what they eat, many of the same things that much more important organisms do like Bass, and Bream, and they obviously eat Bass and Bream fry.    To what extent, and to what potential effect this has on a fishery is the question I have.

 

I don't think there is a connection to not catching fish when you see them though, or I'd be catching a lot less fish.  

[Team9nine]

Quite a few studies on this subject have been done over the years. One study mentioned, “experiments have shown that largemouth bass avoid feeding on active painted turtle and red-eared slider hatchlings. Largemouth bass also develop learned avoidance to all hatchlings of these species after just one experience with an active hatchling…”

 

You can also search and watch “Use the Turtle Pattern for Springtime Bass” on YouTube, which is just what it sounds like.
 

I also recall either a Bill Dance or Doug Hannon tip (pretty sure it was one of those two) to fish where you see turtles rise to the surface in a pond or lake, as it was suggested the turtles use the same cover and structure as bass, which is usually right underneath them when they come to the top. 
 

All that said, I have a friend who will absolutely pick up the trolling motor and leave an area if he spots turtles, as he is convinced the two (bass and turtles) don’t mix together ?

[Johnbt]

Sometimes it's hard to avoid them. I've never had much luck around a lot of turtles.

 

 

[Derek1]

It’s funny you say this. A couple ponds i fish have gone a little down hill the last  couple of seasons. There is certainly a lot more turtles now. Snapping and sliders. Two of the snappers are about the size of upside down wheel barrels. They eat stuff. 

They must be  a hundred years old. 

[T-Billy]

I've never seen more than a half dozen on one log in my area. Turtles sunning themselves is always a welcome sight for me in spring and fall. Bass like to lay up against that same sun warmed wood IME.

[Jar11591]

On one of my main lakes, the snapping turtles, loons, and bass often inhabit the same point to feed on the perch and bluegill. Whenever I’m fishing this point, if the snappers and loons are there, the bass are usually there as well. 

[LonnieP]

I’ve never had much luck fishing cover when the turtles are laying out.

[Tennessee Boy]

  It may just be superstition on my part but I associate turtles with a soft bottom,  decaying muck, and no current.  None of these things are indicative of good fishing.

[Cbump]

Why are bass more important than turtles?

[TnRiver46]

5 minutes ago, Cbump said:

Why are bass more important than turtles?

Flavor 

[scaleface]

I dont think turtles have a negative impact on bass but on the other hand , when they are sunning on   a log and dive in when approached  , I seem to do poorly on those spots .

[WRB]

Turtles not only eat bass eggs they eat all fish eggs and fry as well and can damaged small lakes and ponds. 

Tom

 

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

  It may just be superstition on my part but I associate turtles with a soft bottom,  decaying muck, and no current.  None of these things are indicative of good fishing.

I agree with this. Seems to be where I see them. 

[Cbump]

Turtles are reptiles. 
 

 

Since we’re now just throwing random facts out. 

[LCG]

A pond I fish regularly is littered with snapping turtles. I have accidently hooked into 3 this year on a wacky rig, Ned rig, and while crappie fishing. Those things terrify me

 

 

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Flavor 

Turtle is delicious.

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Turtle is delicious.

The only one I’ve had wasn’t bad but it wasn’t delicious 

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, Cbump said:

Why are bass more important than turtles?

They are easier to peel.

[scaleface]

You cant find a more turtle infested area than Mississippi river back water and largemouth bass thrive there .

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 hours ago, Johnbt said:

Sometimes it's hard to avoid them. I've never had much luck around a lot of turtles.

 

 

Your avatar makes me happy every time I see it.

 

I grew up fishing in the summers in the OBX, and one of my favorite areas to fish was right down from that Lighthouse at the Cape Point.       I love my white sand beaches in the South, but OBX is truly an awesome place. 

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Turtles not only eat bass eggs they eat all fish eggs and fry as well and can damaged small lakes and ponds. 

Tom

 

Yeah this is what has always concerned me about turtles.    I've heard some pretty bad stories of small ponds especially being devasted by turtles.       My home lake is only 200-300acres, and I constantly see turtles.   Not so much sunning on above water objects, but sunning themselves at the surface of the water, and then they'll dive back down.     

 

It's always been that way since I was a boy on this lake, so I doubt it's a problem, but I always wonder if the fishery could be better if they were thinned.  

[Cbump]

My grandpa used to fry soft shell turtle with the catfish when he caught them on his trot lines. As far as I remember there were no complaints on taste. 
 

I wouldn’t even know how to  clean one. 

[CrashVector]

I've noticed that wherever I see lots of turtles, that's exactly where the bass aren't.

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

The only one I’ve had wasn’t bad but it wasn’t delicious 

Come on over for some Cajun smothered turtle soup.

 

It'll change your life.

[1984isNOW]

I hooked into a good size pickerel the other day and a monster snapping turtle came out and tried to chomp at it wile I was bringin it in, I never wanna dangle my toes in the pond again. Was freakin crazy!

 

I'm sure any ecosystem out of balance will have a negative impact on a particular or a few species that inhabit the area. I feel like turtles are all the things above, good, bad, ugly, beautiful - show us where bass might be and where bass might not be. But they are a huge pain with they bite your bait.

 

Much love

[Woody B]

Back during this years mayfly hatch there were a bunch of turtles cruising around where I was catching bass.   I never saw a turtle catch any of the small fish feeding on the mayflies, or eat any mayflies.   A few looking like there were spewing a small stream of water out of their mouths 6 inches or so.  I suspect there were trying to get the mayfly feeding fish to come to where the water was landing.   

 

We call them "Softshell Cooters".   A friend of mine catches them all the time.  (set hooks I think)  He got one last year that was too big to fit in a 55 gallon drum.  The meat is good when it's cooked right.