Snake encounters

[fredneckyaker]

Two weeks ago my father killed a copperhead on centennial lake in Columbia. Snakes, I'm told, are likely to try and get in your vessel. Well a boat is one thing but a kayak is another. Has anyone had such a situation and what did you do about it.

[Memory Maker]

Are you sure it was a copperhead ......... some of the water snakes are frequently mistaken for copperheads ............. I usually find the copperheads away from water ........ water snakes and water mocassins are agressive and will chase you ...... copperheads aren't usually agressive ....... just sayin

[fredneckyaker]

He says it was. He's no dummy about snakes. it was a small one. I am not an expert but he had good size fangs and what not.

[jarradw]

When I lived in Mt Airy we had many copperheads int he old river bed near the house. They never chased me but I have had a cottonmouth try to get in the Jon Boat in FL, now that was ummm fun

[Redfish12]

I used to run into a lot of snakes every spring fly fishing. Usually they'd be on the bank and I would be in the water, but some of them would swim at you. If I saw them coming I'd just slap my rod tip at their head and that would usually send them under and on down the creek. If I didn't see them coming until they were just about to go between my legs, a nice manly scream/grunt that sounds much like an 8 year old girl was pretty effective. I haven't had to kill any while fishing, it's actually illegal.

At Smith Mountain Lake we used to have loads of water mocassins, used to. I snagged quite a few and shot the rest to try and keep our overzealous dog from chasing them and keep swimmers happy. I try to let the ones in the 'wild' live.

[Memory Maker]

Mike ........ I did that once too ........ voice went to 3 octaves ...... but it was the water walking that amazed everyone ........ they even started calling me Jesus .......... They said Jesus .... will you look at that .......

[fredneckyaker]

HAHA all good stuff. I hate snakes esp in the water. Making a face like is not what i call fun but it certainly adds the adventure factor to it.

[jarradw]

I actually keep snakes but none are venomous. The venomous and I really dont get along well :-p

[Redfish12]

I used to play with them a lot more, but I'm not as quick as I used to be. The forked stick to the back of the head to pin them down and grab them is pretty effective though and cool to show kids the fangs and the markings. The black, rat, corn, etc I definitely don't kill but if I find a big one I have been known to put it in a place where it will be found... My nephews are scared as crap of snakes, I have no idea why.

[jarradw]

I live near a few corn fields now so and corn or rat snakes I find get moved close to my house to keep the mice population down. It has really helped since I started doing that.

[surfdog]

no snakes in salt water used to get chased by water snakes up by harpers ferry a good slap on the head with the paddle does a good job i hate when they drop out of a tree next to you. scare the little girl in you

[fredneckyaker]

They drop from the sky. Great. I hate snakes!!!

[lucky chaiyaker]

Evewry once in a while on lake roland in baltimore you see a cooperhead sunning on a rock near the water. Never in though. An occasional water mocasin in water

[PudgyPrawn]

Last year I was fishing from the bank at Centennial. No copper heads but a water moccasin. Diamond shaped head, thinner neck. He was about 24-30" long minding his own business swimming. He crossed my path 3 times in the time I was there. Im not brave around snakes. If I see them 1st I can cope. I just felt secure that day and was a few feet up the bank.
I too have heard stories about Mr. No legs wanting to catch a ride. Biggest fear i have about kayak fishing. I plan to kayak the Tridelphia and Rocky Gorge.

PP

[DOGFISH]

There are lots of water snakes around Harper Ferry. Last year I had one shoot off some rocks. I was live line shinner fishing. When the snake came up, I put the shinner near him. He snatched the shinner right off the hook. It was so funny. I see a lot of them swimming along, while I am kayak fishing.