The smooth softshell turtle is a flat, freshwater turtle with a soft, leathery, olive-to-gray carapace lacking spines or bumps, giving it a smooth, pancake-like shape, plus a long neck and a tubular snout. It lives in large rivers and streams of the central United States. Females reach about 14 inches. It buries in sandy bottoms with only the snout exposed. This summary was AI generated
Water type
IUCN Status
Threat to humans
Source: Fishbase
BiteGuide combines your real-time weather, water conditions, and target species to suggest lures and colors that'll work right now. Built on millions of real catches from the world's largest fishing community.



Find out what lures to use, download the Fishbrain app!



Smooth softshell turtle
Lewis and Clark Lake
12 in · 1 lb
Smooth softshell turtle
Tims Ford Lake (Elk River)
length · weight
Smooth softshell turtle
Michael J Kirwan Reservoir (West Branch)
length · weight
Smooth softshell turtle
length · weight
Smooth softshell turtle
length · weight
Smooth softshell turtle
length · weight
Smooth softshell turtle
length · weight
Smooth softshell turtle
14 in · 5 lb


Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app
Scan the QR code to download the app!

Free trial available