On the Moraine, Part XLII

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

Many of the memorable stories happened in the summertime. Perhaps that is because between the crop seasons, there is some almost relaxing times.

One Saturday, it was probably late July, a Cadillac comes up the driveway. It was a current model at the time, but please understand in the 1960s, Cadillacs seemed to be about 30 feet long.

Four men got out, and they were not well dressed. It didn’t make us feel too good; however, they soon put us at ease. They were seeking permission to “fish” our creek (Franklin Branch) for snapping turtles.  

They said they had started at the head of the creek and were coming down to where it entered Rocky Fork Creek. They were from Columbus and had been at this for several weeks.

Dad said have at it.  

They pulled some old gunny sacks out of the trunk of their car and headed for the end at the bridge at Route 506. We stood around in amazement. We had never even seen a turtle in the creek.

In about three or four hours, they came back and each had a huge sack full of snapping turtles. They were soaked up to their knees. They threw them in the trunk of the Caddy.  

We asked how they caught them. It seems as though the turtles go into the bank, head first and mostly under tree roots. You catch them by reaching in with your bare hands and pulling them out by their back legs.  

We asked about getting bit. Not a problem, they always go in head first, they said.

Not a sport I would want to take up.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.