Headed over to Harveston yesterday. I was suprised by how clear the water was. I could see so much more than usual, but I still didn't see any fish. It was a cold day and the past couple of days have been cold, so I didn't expect to see any fish close to the bank. I fished for a little while, then decided to take this opportunity, with the clarity of the water, to just walk the lake and study the contour of the lake floor and look for structure.
As I came around the other side of the lake near the playground I noticed a clump of branches that were all tangled together with fishing line, which isn't unusual to find, but this one was moving. As I got up close I saw that it wasn't just branches. There was a turtle caught in the line.
The line had gotten wrapped around his leg and he wasn't able to free himself. Luckily he was close enough to the bank that I was able to reach down and grab him, clip the line, and free him from that mess. When I put him back, he swam off as happy as a pig in slop (or as happy as a turtle in a lake, as the case may be).
Now, I realize that this was probably caused from a fisherman getting his line snagged and he ended up breaking it off. It probably sank, got caught up in the debri on the bottom of the lake, got tangled, then caught the turtle which dragged it to the bank trying to get free. I realize that. But I can't help but think it instead may have been a fisherman that got snagged and dragged that entire bunch of branches in, saw that rat's nest, clipped it off and threw it all back in the lake. I really hope not because there was a trash can ....
...only about 20 feet away. So, if you're out fishing at one of these city parks and you get snagged and end up hauling in a bunch of debri, please take the extra 30 seconds after clipping your line to walk over to the trash can and throw it away. It will keep the lake and the park looking nicer, it will keep fishermen from getting a bad name for littering up the park, and it might just save a turtle.
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