[katmandu]

I like to fish at night, it's cooler, not as many people around acting stupid (is it an act?) and the cats bite better, but Phat (my wife) likes to day fish cause she can see better and the insects are not as bad. Last week we were out on Barkley near the main lake channel, anchored on a drop off from 30 to 55 feet deep. Around 1am she wanted to go home, as we were bringing in the poles she almost jumps off the front of our 171/2 ft boat yelling SNAKE SNAKE. I run up front to her, looking all around trying to see the snake and calm her down at the same time, but I can't find the snake. She finally calms down enough to say "its on YOUR fishing pole". I shine the light to the back of the boat where I fish and sure enough a 2ft garter snake was wrapped around one of my poles. It must have got in the boat at the house and just went for a ride to the lake with us. I did not see it climb up my pole but I cat nap sometimes (getting old I guess) the pole was in a holder at my feet. Sure was glad I did not get a bite and grab that pole/snake, I may never have seen that rod again!!!! Now Phat really don't like to night fish!!!!!!!!!

 

[shadow]

Hummm---KInda sounds like you will get out at night alone to play with the "garters" more often.

 

[katmandu]

Only garter "snakes" Ha Ha

 

[GS-Rock]

if that was me and i was cat nap'in i would of craped myself to wake up to that huh

 

[craddock1]

i wouldn't worry about garter snakes i have several living in my foundation. they say there are no cotton mouths in our area but over the years i have killed at least 3 but they are scarce. we have a lot of black racers and rat snakes which i like to have around but it scares me that most of our rattlesnakes are black but the snake that bothers me most when fishing are the copperheads. on several occasions i have had copperheads try to climb in the boat with me. i think because they are not a water snake when they swim across a river they look for anything to climb up on and rest. i had the same snake try to get in my boat 3 times this spring. the third time i had a safe angle on him and put a 38 slug through his head. i was near the middle of a large bay and i think he had to rest or drown. well he didn't drown.

 

[katmandu]

I have caught several snakes on jugs when fishing shallow with live bait. One night I was picking up jugs by hand that had floated into shallow water near a rocky shore. I would just reach over the side of the boat, grab the jug and sling it into the boat as I went by. I only had about 2½ ft. of line on the jugs. One had a water snake about 3 ft. long on it. I slung it all the way over the other side of the boat, kind of made my heart skip if you know what I mean. I use a bit more care picking them up now days you can bet!!!!