Close Encounters of the Snake Kind...

[Steve Tuna]

Had a blast on a recent vacation to SW Florida.  Fished a golf course pond in my buddy's back yard as well as some of the Cape Coral canals, all from the shore.  The golf course pond had a couple of openings where the reeds were parted.  I set my friend up there (he's a beginner) and I took the spots where more casting precision was required.  As I moved to one spot I looked down and saw a pretty good sized water moccasin slithering away from me, about three feet from where I was standing.  Needless to say, it had my attention.  I'd like to avoid such in the future.  Thinking of taking a metal rake with me to hoe out some of the spots next time.  Anyone have any advice or similar encounters?  BTW, I deal with snakes pretty well.  Spiders, not so much...

[TnRiver46]

You had one of the rare encounters if a cottonmouth was moving away. That is the one species of snake that will gladly slither or swim directly towards a man holding a shovel. Where I bank fish there’s always a tree branch for self defense, sounds like you were in a more manicured setting. No way in heck I’m dragging garden tools along while bank fishing though haha

[cyclops2]

I had a LONG black racer snake in the front lawn that refused to go to the tree line. I went and returned with a strong rake.  Snake came at me with head raised. I put the rake in front of the face. He starts moving on to the rake .  Must have had Rabies.  Killed the snake.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, cyclops2 said:

I had a LONG black racer snake in the front lawn that refused to go to the tree line. I went and returned with a strong rake.  Snake came at me with head raised. I put the rake in front of the face. He starts moving on to the rake .  Must have had Rabies.  Killed the snake.

Haha! Lordy. Snakes can’t have rabies, just pick those ole black snakes up and play with em. My buddy’s 4 year old daughter does 

[cyclops2]

Well some reading on the web about my biggie reveals the Eastern Northern Black Racer reveals they are fearless in defending THEIR  turf. Are known to bite repeatedly. Good news is they are not poisonous. Just fast & fearless biters.   

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

Well some reading on the web about my biggie reveals the Eastern Northern Black Racer reveals they are fearless in defending THEIR  turf. Are known to bite repeatedly. Good news is they are not poisonous. Just fast & fearless biters.   

Racer is your friend 

[cyclops2]

I have seen several others. But they will go to some cover very quickly They like my black plastic covered areas with Pine bark on top.  All kinds of insects & animals live under there.

[813basstard]

Wear boots

[Bluebasser86]

Only ever seen 2 cottonmouths in my life, neither was aggressive at all. Very unique looking snakes and cool experiences to see them in the wild. Could maybe carry a walking stick or telescoping lure retriever that could do double duty if needed?

[padlin]

Don't think I'd carry a garden tool out onto a golf course, the owner might not look too kindly to it.

[Bankbeater]

Years ago while out hunting I stepped on a copperhead that was sunning itself.  I don't know if it was the cool weather or how I stepped on it, but it didn't move too much.  I sure did though.

About 10 years ago I was swimming a jig in the shallows and saw something following it, but I couldn't tell what it was until it got closer.  Turned out to be a northern water moccasin. Every time I slowed down the retrieve that snake would lunge at my jig.  When I got the jig out of the water the snake just gave me a look and swam off.

[cyclops2]

Water & snakes go together all the summertime. Dark nights are Lantern nights to see them. They do smell out of water fish.  The fish slime on your hands & clothing attracts them to you.  Been there.

[Aaron_H]

Just reiterating that rabies can only be carried by mammals. Black racers can be a little bitey compared to, say, a red rat snake, but are harmless and their bites are not painful. Shoo them away or leave them alone, don't kill them just for the crime of existing.

 

I don't see water moccasins too often, usually see maybe a dozen a year around the banks. Mostly they're just sitting there sunning, give them some space and they're cool to chill and leave me alone. I wouldn't carry any tools specifically for that, just keep your eyes peeled. Snake boots if you're super worried about it.

[geo g]

Here in south Florida I see them all the time.  Even in the residential areas I see snakes all the time.  I bank fish at least 5 days a week and from the boat one day.  Today I bank fished the Everglades and saw two snakes in close proximity.  I always wear boots and never walk through grass without looking for them.  Its amazing how quick they can disappear even in shallow bank weeds.  I have had several cases that almost caused me to drop a log.

 

1). I was once fishing a bank in a local commercial lake.  I stood in the same spot without moving my feet for ten minutes.  I was concentrating on my line and all of a sudden looked straight down and a black water snake as thick as my wrist went right between my legs from behind me and into the water.  I set a personnel record for my vertical leap.  Didn't see anything until half the body had already passed between my feet.

 

2}.  Once while fishing in the middle of the everglades, my partner in the back of the boat started making some high screechy noises.  A determined moccasin was quickly heading for the boat trying to join him.  I hit the trolling motor and he kept pace determined to join us.  A gator was not far behind the snake.

 

3). 40 years ago a friend and I were hunting for deer in the open dry prairies of the everglades during dry season.  As we moved away from our starting area it turned wetter.  We got funneled into a narrow trail with water on both sides.  It started to get dark and my partner said we have to back track or we could get stuck out here without any lights.  We turned around and started jogging back.  I followed him and all of a sudden he stopped dead in his tracks and I almost ran into his back.  There was a huge moccasin curled up right in the middle of the trail we had just passed through 10 minutes before.  Pat stopped within 5 feet of the big snake.  The end of the trip got hairy as the sun went down.

 

I usually don't spot any water snakes right away, but there is a tell tale sign.  Watch the bank weeds moving in a manner not caused by the wind.  If the movement is in a line it's usually not a fish, but a snake.  It's a lot easier to spot them this way.  Soon you'll see a head pop up, and the flick of a tongue.

[Basser2021]

16 hours ago, Steve Tuna said:

Had a blast on a recent vacation to SW Florida.  Fished a golf course pond in my buddy's back yard as well as some of the Cape Coral canals, all from the shore.  The golf course pond had a couple of openings where the reeds were parted.  I set my friend up there (he's a beginner) and I took the spots where more casting precision was required.  As I moved to one spot I looked down and saw a pretty good sized water moccasin slithering away from me, about three feet from where I was standing.  Needless to say, it had my attention.  I'd like to avoid such in the future.  Thinking of taking a metal rake with me to hoe out some of the spots next time.  Anyone have any advice or similar encounters?  BTW, I deal with snakes pretty well.  Spiders, not so much...

The area where I live is known as "Rattlesnake Ridge"

That being said I would purchase a pair of muck boots

I don't go anywhere fishing without these things

 

Moccasins aren't as bad in my area around ponds but are terrible around rivers and streams 

I've had little ones come straight for me and they got a rock to the face haha (once again I'm wearing the muck boots)

[MidwestBassAttack]

The idea of bank fishing the everglades creeps me out. I hate snakes. Would never kill one if I saw one as I assure you I’d be no where near it.

 

I live outside of Chicago in a suburb with a great riverwalk in the downtown area. About 10 years ago we had tons of rain which really raised water levels. As a result, those big black water snakes relocated. We had an infestation for lack of better words, of these fellas. Big and about as thick as my wrist. They’d sun themselves out on the sidewalks. Dozens of them at once. I know they are harmless but jeez…..did it give me the willies. Now every time we go down there my wife playfully likes to draw an “S” down my back. My reaction always gets a laugh out of anyone close by. It’s not one of my most masculine reactions let’s just say.

[GRiver]

I’ve had a few cottonmouths come out to chase my boat away, but for most part they just lay there sunning themselves. If they do get close to the boat, I just redirect them with the rod tip, just change their direction of travel a couple times and they move on. 

[cyclops2]

Reminds me of my summer snakes. That act like pirates in a boarding party. Some DEFINATELY want to climb up the O B engine & into the boat. Might smell a scrap of perch. I use the larger net to gently push them back into the water.

They are super skinny for a couple of months. I think they use fish as a major part of their diet. We do not have many small rodents or ground birds for them to eat in N Y.

[Captain Phil]

I have lived, fished and hunted in Florida all my life.  Most of my fishing and hunting has been in the Everglades.  I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered an actual poisonous snake. The vast majority of snakes you see near the water in Florida are "brown water snakes" which are not poisonous.  They do grow quite large. It is not a good idea to approach any snake no matter what you think they are.   If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.  Do not clean fish on the shoreline of any lake, rock pit or canal.  Most snake bites occur when you step or sit on one, so watch where you are walking or sitting.  You do not need to kill every snake you see in your yard. Black racers are beneficial as they eat things you don't want in your house.  Most coral snake sightings are king snakes.  King snakes eat other snakes.  Florida is full of exotic reptiles, fish, birds and animals.   Many are escaped pets.  

[geo g]

A funny story I forgot to tell.  I was having a new roof put on my house.  Snakes are not usual in the acreage where I live.  I was sitting in my den watching tv and heard a commotion out side, and watched a roofer jump off my roof in front of my window.  I ran out side and the workers were scrambling all over the roof.  One guy in the group caught a black racer in the yard and climbed the latter and turned it lose.  Being hot the racer was moving all over at record speed.  Causing panic among the workers.  A black racer will raise up like a cobra when threatened.  It almost ended in a fist fight!  I still laugh about it today!!!!!!

[GreenPig]

I caught this baby Anaconda while fishing and was gonna wacky rig him but didn't have the appropriate hooks so I turned him loose. Probably shouldn't have let him go with him being non native to Ga.?

This is Fred he's lived in my backyard for years and helps control the Chipmunk population. 

I cross paths with the venomous brands often. I've even had a Copperhead come out and visit me while offshore fishing.

[Captain Phil]

I once witnessed a fight between a snake and a blue heron.  I was fishing in the Kissimmee Chain when I noticed a blue heron standing on the shore with a good sized snake wrapped around it's bill.  The snake was wrapped along the entire length of it's long bill.  At first I thought the snake had the upper hand.  The bird didn't seem fazed.  The heron proceeded to bang its bill into the ground over and over again until the snake fell off dead. It seems herons are tougher than snakes. 

[thediscochef]

Snakes are a fact of life where I shore fish. In general, during the day they're only really a danger if I'm hiking somewhere with cover, like grass or brush. I've stepped on a handful last year. I wear sturdy leather workboots, if I'm really going on an adventure I wear snake gaiters too. I also carry a hardy telescoping net and a filet knife in case I want cut bait or something gets out of hand. If you fish enough bank at summertime here it's just a matter of time until you meet up with one. I don't take friends who don't have boots and/or gaiters and I never go alone without a charged phone; if it gets to 15% its time to go in.

[Jmilburn76]

Im not a fan of snakes but I respect them and the role they play in the ecosystem. You have to remember you are in their house when you are outdoors. I have had a few water snakes get close while Im on my kayak but they were just looking for a spot to get out of the water.

 

The best thing I done was join a snake page on FB that has admins who can identify any snake species in TN, Ive learned a lot so far. I think snakes get a bad rep for no reason and untrue things are spread like snakes chasing people, snakes being cottonmouths(water moccasins) when their not. I think probably the biggest misconception, even for me, is venomous snakes float or ride on top of water which isn't true. Any snake can be on the top of the water and all snakes can be in water.   I also learned that no snakes are poisonous and a few are venomous.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Snakes are a fact of life where I shore fish. In general, during the day they're only really a danger if I'm hiking somewhere with cover, like grass or brush. I've stepped on a handful last year. I wear sturdy leather workboots, if I'm really going on an adventure I wear snake gaiters too. I also carry a hardy telescoping net and a filet knife in case I want cut bait or something gets out of hand. If you fish enough bank at summertime here it's just a matter of time until you meet up with one. I don't take friends who don't have boots and/or gaiters and I never go alone without a charged phone; if it gets to 15% its time to go in.

My old phones used to die at 40% all the time but last for a week with 1%, darndest thing