Snakes

[loo10]

As the song goes....

"I don't like spiders & snakes...."

There are 1000's of places to live if you're a snake

but if you insist on being near me...

my Dad taught me to get the hoe!!!!

I'll let you pass if possible

but if you lollygag; I'll turn you into 50 little pieces.

"He will bite your heel, You will smash his head."

Peta, no letters please.

[timsfly]

I won't kill a snake, I don' t have any kids around so I don't have to worry about that. I have rat terrier that hates snakes and has killed her share, she keeps the yard clear of snakes, lizards, and chipmunks, her most hated of enemies.

I pass snakes all the time on crane and flat creek and even at the parks, never had any trouble with them yet, I get spooked sometimes when one splashes into the creek between my boots, but I get over it, they were here first.

I have the Simms Snake bite gaurds on my waders, I think Michale sells this option out of his store in springfield.

In my old shop there was a nice big king snake that lived under the ice machine, in the two years he was around the snakes dissapeared and the lizards became mighty rare, he must be gone, the lizards are back in great #'s

[RiverRunner]

If you ever want to see a lot of snakes, just go to the Spring River in AR. I've never seen a water moccassin or anything poisonious, but it is full of those banded water snakes. Of course, some people think that any snake that is in the water is a moccassin. I've seen thousands of snakes in my years on the water, but I bet fewer than 5 % were poisonious.

If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. I know people that will drive 10 miles across the lake for the opportunity to kill one. I won't mess with them unless they try to get in the boat. That is my territory and I will defend it.

Now gators, that's a different story. . . . . .

[Trav]

If they fall in the boat, DONT start shooting at them. Will make your fishing trip a bit shorter.

<----First hand kmowledge.

[On The Fly 6]

I'm impressed on how you got that Copperhead to lay on your welcome mat long enough to get measured and have its picture taken.

Kudos!

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

If they fall in the boat, DONT start shooting at them. Will make your fishing trip a bit shorter.

<----First hand kmowledge.

Gotta hear "the rest of the story"! LOL

As for me; if they leave me alone, I leave them alone. BUT - if they surprise me, they're probably dead after I get the bladder back in check.

John

[creek wader]

Snakes get a bad rap. I don't know whether it's the Bible reference or because of the way they slither. I don't kill them. There are plenty of other people doing it for me. Snakes serve a purpose, keeping the rodent and bug population in check. It's amazing how a 6' 200 lb. man can be afraid of a 1" tall, 1/2 lb. snake. I've been startled by a few and bitten by a snake once, a garter snake, when I was a kid. That's because I was carrying it around and holding it too far behind the head. I don't blame it for biting me. I would of done the same, if someone was carrying me like that. When I think about it. I've been bitten by dogs about 25 or 30 times and by a snake once. I guess I should shoot every dog that strays into my yard, (about 3 a day). Just kidding, I wouldn't hurt and dog. I love all critters big and small. Now there's a few humans that I'd like to .... Anyway, You guys take care of them snakes for me, so I don't have to. ...tight lines.

[Fly_Guy]

I'm impressed on how you got that Copperhead to lay on your welcome mat long enough to get measured and have its picture taken.

Kudos!

Copperheads are very vain snakes - if you set up a camera and a appropriate background, they will hold a pose for hours. Of course, it helps to smash their heads in first As for me, I never kill snakes - I figure they all have an ecological nitche. From the stories I remember hearing on Crane Creek however, I will carry a 12 gauge if I ever fish it - nasty stories I've heard...

[Whack'emGood]

A copperhead eating a calf??? Really????

[fox_76]

Agreed that God put everything here for a reason and all creatures Great, Small, And CREEP must have a purpose and reason to be here. I actually caught a show on I think it was discovery channel or maybe history channel, any way about why we (humankind) have a fear of snakes, and they said that yes it was alot to do with the way they have been portrayed thru the years, all the way back to Adam and Eve.

Also another good snake story is that my wifes Grandfather who lives down in Arkansas has a 1500 acre spread or so and had hired a guy to do some work for him. I'm not sure of the details I think the guy lway he lived on the property as a hired hand. Anyway he had several boas, pythons and such raised themas a hobby, Gramps and him had a falling out the guy ended up doing a midnight move and a couple weeks ago Poor Gramps found some of those exotics swimmin' around in the cattle's watering hole! Thankfully Arkansas should have cold enough winters to kill of those non native species but you fella's down there should keep an eye out for em. And yes the two that he found got to meet their maker pretty quick form my understanding.