Water Snakes

[bwolfe]

I am not afraid of snakes; however, I don’t like them.

I think the basic fear of snakes is inherited from our ancestors. They were hunters and gatherers and were frequently in an element where there were harmful serpents. An inborn fear of snakes evolved.

I see my share of snakes, especial water snakes when I am fishing. However, I have noticed throughout the years that the number of snakes (and retiles in general) is decreasing. This, I think is the result of mans senseless killing of them, disrupting the balance of nature by pollution and infringing upon their natural habitat.

I frequently see snakes – usually when I'm fishing.

Several years ago, standing knee deep in water while fly fishing, I snagged my fly line on a partially submerged branch in the water near me. I took a few steps to the right, grasp the branch and tossed it onto the shore. Several minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the branch again. Concentrating on my fishing, my mind did not “click” that I had disposed of the branch earlier. Taking a few steps to the right to remove the branch again, I realized as I reached out, that it was not a branch, but a water snake in a motionless position. After I had tossed the “original” branch onto the shore, he swam in and assumed the same location. I did not toss him ashore.

That same year I had another incidence with a water snake. Again, standing knee deep in the middle of the stream, I saw a water snake swimming towards me as I fished. He did not see me. Their eyesight is poor, and to him I probably looked like a tree in the middle of the stream. He swam to within about two feet of me (not knowing I was there) and continued on his way. When he was about fifteen feet from me, I decided I would cast my fly and try to hook him – assuming I would never accomplish the feat. Amazingly, I hooked him in the back! I thought,”Oh boy, will I have a fight on my hands.” Surprisingly, he made no effort to struggle. At that point he was downstream from me as I reeled him in. With no struggle at all, I brought him to the shore where I picked him up and removed the hook. When I lowered him into the water to freedom, he swam away as if nothing had happened.

Snakes are not a very comforting creature to most people, but they are a part of the balance of nature and deserve to be there. Do not kill them!

Bob

[Fly Swatter]

Bob,

You're right. I kinda like snakes and they are an important part of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Remember: No snake will bite a human out of anger or hunger. It's always self-defense.

Leave snakes alone and they'll leave you alone.

Frankly, I don't like mindless killing of anything (except mosquitos and ticks).

Mike

[Jeremy Hopkins]

Story about the branch is pretty funny. I was wading waist deep in a limestone stream last summer and noticed the tree branches above begin to shake. my first thought was it must have been a bird or squirrel but then a snake fell about 2 feet right in front of me and swam right into my leg and quickly dissapeared.

[Jeremy Hopkins]

Seen a water snake laying in my backyard november 30 last fall. seemed pretty odd to me. Has anybody else seen snakes that late in the year?

[rrt]

I, too, have experienced the snake from a branch plop. But, not lately. I think there is a noticeable decline in the number of water snakes on all of the streams that I fish frequently. When I was the age of some of you 20-yr-old young lions (40 years ago), it seemed that there was a water snake or two on nearly every logjam and root wad I got close to. Now, there are very few snakes. I fished many days last year, and I am certain that I saw fewer than a half-dozen water snakes all year. Like frogs, which have experienced a dramatic decline in many areas, the snakes appear to be vanishing creatures. Though a snake always seems to raise your blood pressure (and mine's too high anyhow), I think it's sad they seem to be going the way of the passenger pigeon.

[bwolfe]

We had a small black snake in our cabin one time in the middle of January. He was carried in (unnoticed) with an armload of firewood. We discovered him when he thawed-out and crawled out of the stacked woodpile. Things were a little exciting for a while.

Bob

[Comparadun33]

http://current.com/items/92261975_new-s ... s-fish.htm

[Nympho94]

This isnt a fishing incident but i was im my office one fine summers morning a few years ago.
I was checking email and programming my cnc when something caught my eye near the fax machine.
After further inspection a little 8-10in green snake came slithering OUT OF my fax machine. It kind of startled
me at first and then i thought who is the a-hole who faxed me a green snake.(lol Jk)
I caputured him and released him outside with his mates. An office is no lifestyle for a snake.

[55trout]

I cannot believe this is getting 6 replies and a drill set up in the Muncy Creek flood plain goes unlooked at by this group of "concerned sportsmen" - who gives a crap about some stupid assed Natrix sipidon...

[rrt]

55 -- Perhaps you could explain to us just what is going on there. Thank you.