I had the worse fishing day today, mainly because of rain, I was an hour walk away from home and the day looked clear but as soon as I stepped into the woods where my spot was, it got dark and POURED!!! rain! I spent 45 minutes in that and I even got under thick trees and bushes and no help at all. The little place where I fish by the pond where the most bream and bass congregate, was about 6 inches under water, plus the little place ahd a very fast current where all the bass are under the overhangs of trees and looked deepest.
I did find where most minnows congregate around because I was looking around after the rain stopped. I also saw some newborn water snakes that I spent time catching one to get a close look to make sure they are water snakes. They looked exactly like moccasins in color. I also found a cute little orange salamander, both the snake and salamander were let go, but I did bring home a little creature which I'm sure saint can help me identifying.
Its a cute little turtle that was crawling around in the shallow water, only about 2 inches in diameter. He's so cute, have him in a rubbermaid tub with a centimeter of water and some sand I stuffed in the cooler on the way home and washed. I'll find a pic somewhere to show what he looks like.

That's just the way it goes sometimes when you're fishing. At least you found some other fun stuff to do while you were there.

Yea, rain pretty much kept fish from biting after the storm. I only got one cast in and saw some big bass come looking around, but bream babies ate up the minnows before they bit it. I'm glad I atleast got something out of it. Seemed like a clear day but, I live in the rainyest city in the country, Mobile, so have to deal with it.
Little brother has a little project with a bucket, newspaper, and worms so I will have better bait next time.

Can't wait to see your pic....sounds like the trip at least ended in fun!

I don't have a camera but, my neighbor did get a nikkor camera. He looks like a map turtle but, his face and bottom shell are shaped different. looks sorta snapper turtleish in head and not sure about bottom shell. He is also red-orange on his flesh and bottom shell.

The orange salamander was probably a cave salamander - Eurycea lucifuga. Or at least that's the first thing that pops into my head when you said orange.

As for the turtle, get me some pics of the top, bottom and head and I'll do my best to id it for ya, especially if you're planning on keeping it. I'm not sure what would have a head like a snapper but red/orange on the shell and legs.

Head like a snapper and not insane, you may have something from the musk family Sternotherus, but the orange/red? Er, dunno, maybe an eastern mud turtle, but they're usually tan/gold sorta color.

If you just said red/orange on the bottom, I'd say it was a red bellied, Pseudemys alabamensis. I *think* those guys are threatened/endangered, or at least they were, but the book I have covers the Northeast so I don't know for sure.

Saint, I fund out.
It's a razor back musk turtle 100%. I have found a pic thats exactly like him.

Either he is a cast away pet, or hatchling from a population from a different state because these aren't native to what I have read. Grows only 5" according to internet, and shy. He's eaten a worm, good sign.

Cool. I don't think I've ever seen a razorback with red/orange in it though.

Are you planning on keeping it, or what? I'm not sure the rules in Alabama, but they're commonly available for sale from what I've seen, so I don't think it would get you into any trouble.

Im keeping it, hes a hatchling and it looks alot like him, his redish orange color is more on the neck and underside
I believe they lose the red as they age. I'm sure he's ok, I found him and he's not endangered species. I probaly could find them for sale if I looked. I can either keep him in the rubbermaid, or when I have the 29 empty, I can keep him in their, add it half way with water and stack some rocks. They are more deep water turtles from internet too.

I'd love to see a pic of the one you found. I've hatched out razorbacks, I have one here now that's about 8 months old, (as well as adults) and I've never seen 'em have red/orange in 'em.

It sounds cool.