Copperheads

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I went fishing this evening and while I was walking up the stairs to leave (it was dark) i was checking where I was going with a flashlight. Suddenly I see a 2.5 ft copperhead 3 stairs ahead of me and nearly crap myself out of fear. I just stood there and waited till it had passed and then got out of there asap. 

 

So, do any of you guys have any advice on dealing with (aka avoiding) snakes while fishing? I am extremely afraid of snakes. We see Northern water snakes in the water all the time but this was definitely a copperhead.

 

P.S: A quick google search led me to the "leave them alone and they will leave you alone" idea, but these little fellas are pretty well camouflaged. Any advice there?

 

Thanks!

 

Brian

[Raider Nation Fisher]

.22Magnum snake shot. Gotta show em how much you care.

Honestly, they are all over the place down here. My two feist will sound on them if they see or smell them. Then Mr. No Legs gets blown in half. My current count for the year is: 17 copperheads, 1 6ft black snake (he acted like a cobra and got his hide tanned for it), and 2 water moccasins.

Best advice. Buy some snake boots or snake gaiters. Offers more protection then bare flesh. Carry a snake stick, aka axe handle with you. Doubles as a theft deterrent.

[Darren.]

I'm a fan of snakes here. Don't kill 'em, they serve a purpose!!

 

I've encountered copperheads a number of times, never an issue. They're docile compared to Cottonmouths!

 

When necessary, I just use the tip end of my rod to move the snake from point A to point B. If you don't feel comfortable moving a snake in such a manner, don't. Just move yourself along.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I'm a fan of snakes here. Don't kill 'em, they serve a purpose!!

 

I've encountered copperheads a number of times, never an issue. They're docile compared to Cottonmouths!

 

When necessary, I just use the tip end of my rod to move the snake from point A to point B. If you don't feel comfortable moving a snake in such a manner, don't. Just move yourself along.

Yes they do serve a purpose. They make great belts, wallets, and boots.

If they are a threat to me or my dogs when I'm out and about they are getting the business end of my boomstick. Otherwise they are free to do as they please. My Mountain Feist got bit in the neck by one about four weeks ago one night. She is fine and I honestly think it made her stronger than before.

[rockchalk06]

KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!

 

I don't leave my house without my Glock. That said discharging your weapon at a snake may not always be the safest or the most "legal" method to protect yourself at times. If I'm bank fishing in grass, I have a thick pair of 10" waterfowl boots I wear. I've had hundreds if not more strikes on these boots and no holes in the legs!

[SirSnookalot]

Water mocs, one reason I'm doing very little bass fishing.

[Bluebasser86]

Snakes feel for larger animals/threats through vibrations. If you're in an area where you think there may be snakes you can stomp your feet so they have a chance to get out of the way. A long stick is good for redirecting any that you come across that don't move. As much as I spend time on the water I've only ever seen one copperhead and one water moccasin. Cottonmouths are extremely rare in our area, copperheads are more common but are very spooky and tend to make themselves scarce when people are around. I honestly worry much more about my dog finding one than myself getting bit. 

[aquaholic]

Get a snake shooter. Any type of .410 revolver should work.

[Sam]

On Lake Gaston a few years ago we saw a big, and I mean big, copperhead sunning itself on a rock along the bank.

 

Another guy in my bass club is floating along the bank heading towards the snake and before he turns the bend I tell him there is a rubber snake on the rock ahead of him.

 

He slows up and gets close to the snake and then all of a sudden he jumps back and floors the trolling motor heading out to sea!  I thought it was funny. He got a little PO'ed but he got over it. The copperhead never moved and we left him there for others to enjoy.

 

I have copperheads at my house. Sometimes I will go outside or in the garage and smell a horrible smell. It is my wife throwing moth balls around to scare the snakes away. She does this every few months.

 

I still subscribe to my uncle philosophy on snakes: Snakes are like leaky rubbers...you don't f#@% with either.

 

Just a word to the wise.

[Brian6428]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm too young to carry a gun and I fish some residential lakes where shooting would be frowned upon. I'll look into some nice boots, though.

 

Brian

[BassinLou]

Best advice, keep your eyes moving at all times. Watch where you step. In all my years of fishing by the bank, I came across my first snake last week. I acknowledged it and moved pretty wide around it and kept fishing. Like Darren said, use your rod tip to usher the snake along.

[derekxec]

snake proof boots...me and my friend were fishing in corbett area some years ago and i jumped over a guard rail and didnt see the cottonmouth and kicked it in the water on accident lol

[Brian6428]

Snakes feel for larger animals/threats through vibrations. If you're in an area where you think there may be snakes you can stomp your feet so they have a chance to get out of the way. A long stick is good for redirecting any that you come across that don't move. As much as I spend time on the water I've only ever seen one copperhead and one water moccasin. Cottonmouths are extremely rare in our area, copperheads are more common but are very spooky and tend to make themselves scarce when people are around. I honestly worry much more about my dog finding one than myself getting bit. 

That's good to know, from what I've read and heard on this thread they sound like a snake that I really wouldn't want to see lol.

 

Brian

[Sam]

Brian, fishing in Louisiana one time after a hurricane we saw the mocs on the bank of the bayou and one was at least three-feet tall curled up on the bank.

 

Others would hit the metal skiff as we ventured down the bayou and you could hear the thumps.

 

All I remember about that trip was that three-foot coiled up moc on the bank watching us as we went by.

[Bankbeater]

Read up on them so that you will know their habits during certain times of the year.  When I was 13 I stepped on one that was sunning itself.  Luckily I stepped right behind its head so it couldn't bite me, but it did hit me with its tail.  I think screamed like a little girl, and jumped maybe 2 or 3 feet up in the air.

[slonezp]

Move. All we have in IL is rat snakes, corn snakes, and garter snakes. Poisonous or not, it's still kinda freaky when you have a snake trying to hop a ride on the boat. 

[MarkH024]

Move. All we have in IL is rat snakes, corn snakes, and garter snakes. Poisonous or not, it's still kinda freaky when you have a snake trying to hop a ride on the boat. 

The population of snakes has exploded around here in the recent years of West Nile virus with the abundance of crows that are missing. By my folks house, they have snakes constantly. My mom just loves it... 

[Nice_Bass]

KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!

 

I don't leave my house without my Glock. That said discharging your weapon at a snake may not always be the safest or the most "legal" method to protect yourself at times. If I'm bank fishing in grass, I have a thick pair of 10" waterfowl boots I wear. I've had hundreds if not more strikes on these boots and no holes in the legs!

Hundreds???

if that were true I would say you are doing something wrong...............

[GaBankFisher]

Read up on them so that you will know their habits during certain times of the year.  When I was 13 I stepped on one that was sunning itself.  Luckily I stepped right behind its head so it couldn't bite me, but it did hit me with its tail.  I think screamed like a little girl, and jumped maybe 2 or 3 feet up in the air.

Under this circumstance, it's acceptable to scream like a girl...

[rockchalk06]

Hundreds???

if that were true I would say you are doing something wrong...............

Rarely do I have to explain myself, but come out to western Kansas and do a few early Pheasant hunts. You will appreciate 10" boots

[Nice_Bass]

Rarely do I have to explain myself, but come out to western Kansas and do a few early Pheasant hunts. You will appreciate 10" boots

I think you may need to stop pheasant hunting in the reptile house portion of the zoo then if that is the case...

[rockchalk06]

I think you may need to stop pheasant hunting in the reptile house portion of the zoo then if that is the case...

Isn't there a nice little corner of the red light district that you can show your hard on off to other than here?

[Nice_Bass]

Isn't there a nice little corner of the red light district that you can show your hard on off to other than here?

Wow.  You took that to a whole new level, way to be mature there LEO.

Anyhow I will just put it in plain English for you. 

 

You are a liar and have not been bitten by snakes "hundreds of times if not more". 

Or, to put in your terms; "I only had two beers officer"

[rockchalk06]

Wow.  You took that to a whole new level, way to be mature there LEO.

Anyhow I will just put it in plain English for you. 

 

You are a liar and have not been bitten by snakes "hundreds of times if not more". 

Or, to put in your terms; "I only had two beers officer"

Have a nice day. Make sure you slap your dog when you get home!

[Nice_Bass]

Have a nice day. Make sure you slap your dog when you get home!

Keep it classy leo, hope your time here is not on the people of Kansas' dime-  I hear they have a real snake problem over there you could help out with. 

 

Amazing man, you are simply an amazing mature person.  All you had to say was it was allegory, or an expression but I guess you stood your ground.  Good laugh for all.