The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

STORY

THERE'S THIS LAKE, YOU KNOW, IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN, THAT'S REALLY
DEEP, AND THE THING'S NOT THAT WIDE EITHER. SOME OF THE FOLK
AROUND THERE CLAIM THAT THERE'S REALLY NO BOTTOM TO IT. AND THAT'S
NOT ALL THEY CLAIM EITHER. THERE'S SOME PRETTY WEIRD STORIES
CONNECTED WITH THIS LAKE. HEARSAY HAS IT THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF
FISHERMEN TRYING TO CATCH ON THE LAKE. THEY BROUGHT IN A SMALL
WOODEN ROW-BOAT. YOU SEE, THE LAKE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME
OF THE DENSEST FORESTS FOUND IN THIS AREA AND IT'S SEEMINGLY NESTLED
IN THE MOUTH OF A CRATER. WELL, THESE FELLAS HAD CAUGHT A COUPLE
OF FISH AND HAD STRUNG THEM AND DANGLED THEM OVER THE SIDE OF THE
BOAT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY FELT THE BOAT MOVE AND THEN A
STRONG TUG JERKED THEM OVER AND OVER. THEY TURNED AROUND TO LOOK
AT THE REAR OF THE BOAT AND THEY SAW A HUGE HEAD CHEWING ON THE
FISH. IT WAS A MONSTROUS TURTLE. THE BOAT STARTED TO TAKE IN
WATER SO ONE OF THE FISHERMEN UNTIED THE STRINGER AND LET THE FISH
GO. SINCE THAT TIME, NO ONE DARES TO FISH, SWIM, OR GO BOATING
IN THE LAKE. THIS LAKE IS KNOWN AS " LOST LAKE ".

Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS ONE WHILE WORKING IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN ( 1958 ).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): MONSTER

Date learned: 00-00-1958