So after roughly 15-20 of not Bass fishing, I have started hitting hard again in the last 10 months. Fishing atleast 3 times a week. Even during the dreaded winter months. Even though I wasn't catching anything I was learning a lot. Getting use to a bait caster again, how baits react and so on. So this leads me up now, my first summer in many years fishing again. Being a bank fisherman, i pond hop often. Ive been hitting a lot of places of the beaten path, places where theres over growth 10-20 ft from the shoreline. After seeing 2 snakes in different places, i am beyond freaked out about coming up on others. Any suggestions or tips to avoid Johnny no shoulders???

a pair of good boots

Its part of the game. Wear boots. If you dont disturb them they wont disturb you. They usually just leave when they see humans

Saw 2 tonite as I was casting by my dock.One I must have nearly stepped on barefoot but it was probably a banded water snake.Heard it plop into the water at my feet and saw it swim off.Got to be more careful !!

I have boots, but just freaked out about accidentally finding one.. 

Don't kill 'em. Carry a stick with you, if you
can, and move the snake out of the way.

They're as afraid of you as you are of them.

They usually freeze in place to avoid notice,
but if it is a water moccasin/cotton mouth, it
wil be belligerent.

Down here in VA, we will encounter a LOT of
water snakes, most are going to be the Northern
variety, but there are going to be the venomous
ones, too.

You can also use said stick to make a racket as
you walk - smacking the ground and brush in
front of you as you go along. Snakes sense the
vibrations and will get out of harms way ... most
of the time.

 

So what . Its just a snake . 

In south Florida I deal with snakes almost every night.  While bank fishing neighborhood lakes our waters a full of weeds from the bank to the deep drop-offs.  This area can be 10 to 25 yards wide and full of all types of vegetation.  Snakes are found throughout the weeds.  Most are non poisonous but their are some cottonmouths also.  I wear boots while fishing the banks and always watch where I am walking.  Never go the flip-flop route.  Over the years I have had several close calls while walking the bank.  One time I had a six foot water snake go between my feet while standing casting.  I never knew it was there.   I've seen one big water snake capture a fish I just released in the shallows, and slowly swallow the 14 " bass. 

I'm used to them now, but I always look for plants moving along the bank, that's usually the first sign of a snake.  A cottonmouth is a reluctant mover, and will hold it's ground if harassed.  If I see one I will move to a new location.  Water snakes will usually just move off on their own.

We get these guys all the time hanging out and sunning on docks and riprap. Surprised he let me get this close to him to take a pic before slithering off. You just get used to them. Most times they are just as scared of you as you are of them. Had one eat a Pop-R once - that made for some fun times  If you actually have a lot of poisonous snakes around, you could buy a pair of gaiters, otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about them.

-T9

You saw 2? Haha, wait till you stagger onto 200! No joke..thought i stepped into the pit to hell. 

Creepy stuff..

Boots and chaps!

I'm not moving to NC anymore....

Poke it until it leaves. Good luck!

A cottonmouth isn't the only one that beligerent.  Copperheads don't have much of a sense of humor either....

I got into a fight with a goose . We were going at it hard and strong and I landed a couple of solid kicks before it finally quit . Do I crap my pants everytime i see a goose ? Of course not .

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I got into a fight with a goose . We were going at it hard and strong and I landed a couple of solid kicks before it finally quit . Do I crap my pants everytime i see a goose ? Of course not .

I know the feeling, ive battled seagulls before, those d**n things will dive bomb, swim under water & steal your expensive golden shiners in Florida..d**n seagulls, lol

alot of people will disagree with me but about seeing my "pet" 6lb lmb inside the mouth of a cottonmouth them snakes gonna have to go. sounds rough i think they snake bit her while she was spawning i dont know why it tried to eat it but there no good and get rid of 6inch lmb asap

9 hours ago, Smokinal said:

I'm not moving to NC anymore....

☹️

This little rascal bit my Spook today. I broke off one prong of the treble trying to take it out with pliers.

Take some time and learn to identify what poisionus snakes you have in Virginia; Timber rattlesnake, northern copper head and eastern cottonmouth, all vipers with distinctive heads and coloration. Avoid the vipers and ignor the harmless snake.

Tom

 

PS, identify the snake in Team9nine post, harmless or harmful?

Answer, harmless northern water snake.

I prefer a Mossberg 500.  The short barrel with bird shot really gives the "flashlight beam" effect at shorter ranges.  

Down here in florida you can get used to stuff.  there are so many critters and cooties that can ruin your day, that it seems we just sort of get immune to worrying about it.    Gators, snakes both in the water and on the dirt, big snapping turtles, assorted rats, infected mosquitos and all sorts of other biting/stinging insects.  In the brackish bays and tidal rivers there are lots of sharks, stingrays, and barracuda.  And let's not forget the intense sunshine that makes skin cancer a real threat for anglers, and summer heat and humidity that can, and does (believe me I've been there) make you delirious and dehydrated from sun stroke. 

So like I said, we sorta go where we hear the fish are biting, bring plenty of water, goop up with sunscreen, be mindful of the gators and other hazardous critters we can see, and trust our fate to the big guy for the ones we can't.  Fishing is too good down here to let the fear of death get in the way.

Very few venomous snakes in KS, but lots of water snakes. I like messing with them when I see them around the shoreline. They'll charge a frog pretty hard. Had one eat my wacky rig I cast a little too far and landed on the rocks. He was one it before I had a chance to move it and refused to let go. Just held the line and grabbed the hook with pliers and popped it out, hissed at me as he fell back in the water. 

The feel vibrations of you walking and take off, so walk with heavy feet. You'll scare some fish too, but if you're worried about snakes, that's a good precaution. 

Snakes really have never bothered me.  I just leave them alone, and they leave me alone.

22 hours ago, avidone1 said:

  Fishing is too good down here to let the fear of death get in the way.

Man,that is hard core.

Something stole my  garter snake that accidently killed while mowing.I laid it on the back patio to scare the birds from pooping there..Two days later its gone.?