Mike Sommers of Auburn caught an 11-pound spiny softshell turtle July 21 in Branch County, Mich. He was fishing for bluegills using 6-pound-test line and an old-fashioned 20-foot pole with red wigglers as bait. He was fishing 10 feet deep and spent 15 minutes bringing the big turtle to shore. The spiny softshell is one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America.
