Snake in the Cape Fair Minnow Trough

[Sam]

My partner and I went crappie/walleye fishing out of Cape Fair on Tuesday.  We caught a few of what we were looking for, but found many more Kentucky bass.  Those kept us entertained and are extra fun on a crappie rig and 4 lb. test line.

Our regular bait store was out of minnows so we had to get them at Cape Fair Marina - they have a serve your self honor system, but minnows are $5 a dozen, wow!  Partner stayed with the boat and I got out to dip minnows, and the first thing I saw was a dang snake in the minnow tank!  The snake was real active - he'd stick his head out of the water, then duck down, swim around, and stick his head up again.  It looked about 2 1/2 feet long and non-poisonous with a small head - one of the common brown water snakes we have here that some people call "moccasins", but of course they aren't.

So, working around the snake I started dipping minnows and there seemed to be very few in the tank.  I think that snake was real well-fed.  Partner finally asked what the hold up was, and I told him there weren't many minnows and I was having to work around a snake to get what there were.  He tied up the boat and came over to supervise.  "There - ya got three.  There's one!"  etc, etc.  I noticed he was "helping" from quite a distance, though.

We got our bait and left, and I asked him why he didn't come dip minnows.  He said he really wanted to get in there, but it seemed like I was doing real good on my own!

So - who put the snake in the bait trough?  That's kind of ornery.  😵

[vernon]

OH, MY, GOD.....

Yet another reason I don't use live bait!

And don't kid yourself - believe you me that was a moccasin.

They ALL are 'cept for the ones that are rattlers!

[Bill Babler]

When I was a kid at our Marina on Lake of the Ozarks we sold crappie minnows 5 dozen for a $1.25 or 30 cents a dozen.  Folks use to fuss up a storm at the high price 

Good and I don't mean Walmart crawlers are a quarter each.  Cost of Havin fun has gone way up.

  

[Sam]

At five bucks a dozen, and if that snake ate up most all the minnows in that tank like I suspect, then feeding the snake was a real pricey deal for someone.

You or I couldn't spend that much on a meal at a fancy restaurant if we tried.  Snake was eatin' good and obviously has expensive taste  - 'cause those surely weren't ordinary minnows at that price!  LOL

[Bill Babler]

Spot on Sam