Fishing for channels last night when heard one of my reels screaming out drag. Before I got to it the fish quit running. Reeled it in and found that my circle hook had been pinched closed! Whatever it was could swim fast as hell, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a turtle. Gar maybe?

My first thought was turtle, but you seem pretty sure it wasn't... hmmmmm... odds are that it probably was a turtle. or a gator.

Id say turtle, they are not that slow in the water.

might be a big softshell they are fast in the water

I don't know what it could be but pretty sure it wasn't a turtle I have caught monster soft shells out of the trinity some of them had to be atleast 40 50 lbs and as big around as eighteen wheeler wheels. they swim really fast but I have never ever had one bent straight especially closed like that.

A turtle is going to have a higher bite force than a gar. Pretty sure it couldn't be a fish, so turtle is pretty much the only option. That or an alligator.

What were u using?

A big alligator snapping turtle will crush a hook like that. They can swim faster than you think. I used to catch them by hand and line in Rush Creek in Arlington