Fishing and Rattlesnakes

[mpruet]

So, I had a great time on Saturday at the Rod Fair at Camp Sherman, thanks again to Arnie for inviting me.

On Sunday as I was getting ready to leave it was suggested that I head home via Mecca and since I had never fished there before, I took the opportunity and made my way to Warm Springs.

After stopping at the Riffle Fly Shop to find out what was happening, I headed out to, what I was hoping to be a productive couple of hours fishing before I had to get back in the car and get home.

Parked the car, waders on and ready to go. I hiked downstream and found a great little run that tailed off under a large overhanging bush where, I knew that trout would be holding up.

I never did get the chance to fish that little run because, as I took my first step down the bank to get into the water, I heard the unmistakeable sound of a tail rattle, not 3 feet away. :eek:

Now, I love flyfishing, however, my fear of Rattlesnakes especially when I can see and/or hear them, is greater than my desire to fish.

Any suggestions for making sure that these critters don't get between me and the river? My thought is that I just wait and fish the D after they all go into the ground for the Winter. :rolleyes:

[Riverkeeper]

just wait and fish the D after they all go into the ground for the Winter



Yes, between the snakes, the heat, and the seedy locals, this area is VERY UNSAFE. Mid january to late febuary is really the only time you can fish it without having to be VERY VERY careful. See you out there after the new year :cheers:

[Molly B]

The snakes will do their best to get away from you, don't let the fear of rattlesnakes keep you from fishing.

[nookslayer]

The snakes will do their best to get away from you, don't let the fear of rattlesnakes keep you from fishing.



I have to disagree with that. I hate snakes :smash:

[Blue Tip Spinner]

i think you can only fish for steelhead in that area over the winter, and i think that i only for a limited time. i may be wrong, but i am pretty sure you only have a small window of opportunity in Mecca after Oct 31st.

[Riverkeeper]

BTS,

You are correct. The Warm Springs area is closed from October thru late april. So there really is NO SAFE TIME to fish this area.

[scoutfish]

Sorry to here of your snake adventures Mike. I hope you got to fish some place Sunday. :wave:

Arnie.

[MacFish]

That's why you should always fish with a buddy....and make him go first to keep the snake busy

[blazerman]

just wait and fish the D after they all go into the ground for the Winter



Yes, between the snakes, the heat, and the seedy locals, this area is VERY UNSAFE. Mid january to late febuary is really the only time you can fish it without having to be VERY VERY careful. See you out there after the new year :cheers:



Don't forget the Poison Oak and Black Widows :grin:

The best thing you can do about the snakes is be careful, keep your eyes open, step heavy (vibration will let them know you are coming). They don't want to bite you.

[mpruet]

So basically, most of you have just reinforced my plan to just wait to fish the D when the crowds of both people and unsavory critters are gone for the Winter. :eek:

[Riverkeeper]

And scorpions! Not the band...

Seriously, make sure you check the REGS (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Regulations/2005zones/2005_central.pdf) first. The river adjacent to the reservation is closed in the winter.

[mandinga]

I can't believe you made that drive, got all geared up,heard one rattler and then retreated back to your vehicle????

Snakes scare me like nothing else in this world, but being from nevada I have learned how to deal with them and avoid them.

There are other routes????? Plus, the one place I can almost guarantee you won't see a snake is swimming in the river.(I did see one crossing the river one time...long ago)

[Okie]

It would seem that it would be difficult for a rattlesnake to bite thru the waders. But guess that would depend on their thickness they should protect you from the snake.

[mpruet]

Chrome...

I did fish, it was just upriver from where I wanted to fish.

Plus I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure nothing was sneaking up on me.

[Meskel]

Plus I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure nothing was sneaking up on me.



Have been there done that. Sometimes when it is just starting to get dark, and you are alone, with the wind wiping in the brush behind you. The hair on the back of your neck starts to stand up and…

You just got to keep telling yourself if it is my time to go well then there is really nothing I can do – but maybe get a few more cast in and catch that big one.

:dance:
Meskel

[mandinga]

ok, that makes more sense.



I've also wondered if a snake could bite through waders...That could be a GREAT selling point "SNAKE PROOF WADERS!".

I would have 2 sets of those!

[greenbuttskunk]

don't forget about the lions, tigers, and bears!! They'll get ya too. Ah, don't sweat the snakes. with high boots and gravel guards on, I bet it would be very tough to get bit anyway. Plus, like another said, they are really non-agressive. Just watch where you step exiting the water. They move out of the way for you. Try to keep enjoying the fishing.

[LurkerDave]

In four stops at Mecca last year I got "jumped" (I didn't see them first, they rattled, I jumped) three of those trips between the parking lot and the river! Western rattlesnakes are pretty mild mannered for a rattlesnake. They usually bolt the opposite direction as you do.

[Two Fister]

Mpruet,
Just in case you didn't know it, Riverkeeper and GBS actually like to go find and hold the snakes that they hear rattling at them. Bravery or character flaw, I'll let you decide...

The stretch of river that borders the Warm Springs Reservation (essentially from the dams to North Junction) is closed to trout fishing after Oct 31. It remains open for steelhead fishing until December 31. After December 31 the whole stretch is closed to fishing until the general trout opener in April. The river below the reservation boundary is open year round for trout and steelhead fishing.

There is also access along the Warm Springs reservation side of the river from Dry Creek (1-2 miles downstream of Mecca) to just below Trout Creek with a tribal permit from the general trout opener in April until October 31. It closes after that for both trout and steelhead.

I walk heavily and slowly when I'm in snakey looking terrain. I'll also stop and stomp my feet a couple of times when it gets really thick. I rarely, if ever, see snakes. My wife was deathly afraid of the snakes on the Deschutes until we came up with something to put it into perspective. Think of it this way; in a relative scale you're the size of Godzilla to a snake. The snake has only it's typical weaponry to fend you off. What would you do if Godzilla was stomping his way down your street? Are you going to shoot at him with a pistol or head for the hills? If the snake is surprised or cornered he's going to do his best to defend himself.

The motto to the story is don't surprise rattlesnakes. Stomp your feet a couple of times and give them a chance to move off. They will move unless they are cornered. I'll go around them if they are cornered. Once they start rattling they feel cornered so it's hard to get them moving at that point.

Disclaimer: this analogy is not intended for use with cottonmouths as they are just plain crazy snakes that will gang up on you given the chance. Those suckers give me the hebejeebies!
TF

[Riverkeeper]

In reality, I am MUCH more afraid of getting serious poison oak, or walking into a hornet nest than I am of getting bit by a snake on the Deschutes.

While they obviously deserve respect, I think you'd have to try REALLY hard or get seriously unlucky to get bitten by one if you watch where you step and don't go crawling on all fours up any rocky slopes.

In case you haven't noticed, they are one of my favorite things about the Deschutes canyon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/darian/rattle.jpg

[mpruet]

I guess I am just going to have to get used to it. These creatures have my respect and then some. :smirk:

[Meskel]

Yes I would have to agree with Riverkeeper on this one. For the most part a Rattle snake is going to let you know when you are to close. It is the other things that don’t give you much of a warning that concern me. Last trip to the big D I must have pulled 10 tics from my clothing / body/ hat. Now one of those guys getting in the wrong :blush: spot and given the chance to dig in is what SCARES me.

Also keep in mind if you bring along a fishing pall (good fishing dog) You might want to keep a sharp eye out in the case that they just want to check out exactly what is that making a rattling noise. I could imagine that confrontation could end up putting a damper on a fishing trip.

[Two Fister]

I'm with you Riverkeeper! The snakes just want to get out of your way. If you walk heavily you won't even know they are there. It's been years since I've seen one. I've heard things slither away into the brush, but I haven't heard a snake rattle in many years.

I know some folks that work at the emergency room in Madras. Almost all of the folks that they treat for snake bite injuries were trying to handle snakes without proper training. Many of them were also "totally trashed" to quote LT.

So the best way to get bit by a snake on the Deschutes is to get drunk, crawl around in the brush and try to grab a snake by the tail. I think that's probably avoidable...

Poison oak, on the other hand, is everywhere! I've been to the hospital for that stuff...twice!

[TillamookChinook]

I was fishing at Mecca years ago on a hot day. I seldom have success fishing eddies, but decided to try again. I had my waders on and waded deep into the slow water of the back eddy. It was nearly up to the top of my waders if I stuck really close to the overhanging grass on the bank. I looked over my shoulder and there was a big snake at eye level, draped in the grass overhanging the bank, about a foot from my face. Scared the **** out of me. As I eased my way back out of the eddy I confirmed that it was a big bull snake and not a rattler. It still gives me the creeps.

TC

[Stew]

So TC are the rattlesnakes you are not seeing BIG? :laugh:

[frankenfish]

Rattle snakes, Mountain lions, Black bears, Grizzly bears, Black widows, crazy people, drunk drivers, meth heads, etc. You were in much more danger, statistically speaking, while driving to and from the Deschutes than from the wildlife once you got there. You can't let fear control your life. Take reasonable precautions, be reasonably careful and get out and fish.

[mpruet]

OK, you guys have convinced me.

I will not give up the idea of fishing the D, during the Summer months, even though the snakes freak me out.:eek:

I will do my best to nut up and just focus on fishing.

Thanks,

Mike

[scoutfish]

:applause:


Arnie.

[Slow and Low]

Wow that one's got some button on it. I always do what Two Fister said. Stomp your feet. I walk very heavy. A week ago I lit one up, funny thing is I lit him up about 15 feet away and to my right. The snake was looking around for me as it had no I dea where the vibration was coming from, when he figured it out he bolted faster than I thought possible.

Seriousely, try not sneeking up on the fishing hole. Walk heavy and do some stomping. :dance:

Tight lines

[garyk]

Nobody's mentioned the big, nasty, sharp quilled porcupines yet...but anglers usually don't tangle with them, just their dogs.

BTW...yes, waders will stop or lessen the fang penetration. However, sometimes the teeth will get stuck in the fabric, even the teeth of non-venomous snakes.

There is NOTHING like seeing someone screaming and jumping up and down, running and flailing about while a snake is attached to their wader leg. Now THAT'S entertainment.

If you don't fish the "D" you'll never have the chance to experience that.

[Meskel]

However, sometimes the teeth will get stuck in the fabric, even the teeth of non-venomous snakes.



Is there any law governing the treatment of Rattlesnakes in this, or any other instance?

[Striper Club]

Nice shot of the snake! I should get down to that area just for the opportunity for some pictures. And as many have said, be aware of your surroundings and try to step heavy to give them a warning to clear out.

[Riverkeeper]

Let's just say it's a little hobby I have...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/darian/Rattler2.jpg

[EugeneFisher]

Riverkeeper... that snake looks like it's in attack position. How do you get such good pictures of them? 100-300 zoom lens? :smile:

I've made a couple overnight trips in the last two weeks from WS to TC, and have had run ins with many snakes. Most have been the garden variety (racing stripe snakes and possibly a couple small red-tailed boas?). Hiking down to a hole, I noticed a snaked that had a pattern I had never seen. It was sunning itself with the protection of a bush around it, and as I stomped closer, it moved a little but held his position. Looking back on that experience, I now realize it was a rattlesnake, but he didn't mind sharing the bank with me for about 15 minutes while I attempted to fish. The entire time we were only a foot or two apart. Just goes to show that they aren't mean creatures if you dont mess with them.

[Riverkeeper]

100-300 zoom lens?



ummm, what? :shrug: :help: :blush:

[mpruet]

EugeneFisher...

Based on what I have learned about Riverkeeper, he probably was bending over the snake while it was in that position??? :eek:

[EugeneFisher]

RK - sorry, camera lingo. Explained: The picture looks like you are just feet from the snake, and I was wondering if you were using a high powered zoom lens on your camera to make it look like you were that close. From the previous posts about snakes, it sounds like you were probably just a few feet away; correct?

[Riverkeeper]

As I'm dropping to my knees and gettin the camera out, I do a little quick computation in my head:

IF snake length < distance of Riverkeepers face from snake, THEN take picture.

3 foot snake + 5 feet nose to nose = NO PROBLEM!

[lilnorthfork]

I once read that a rattler can only strike at a distance equal to 2/3 its body length.
A king cobra, on the other hand, can effectively strike from a distance of 29 feet. :bigshock:

[mpruet]

See Eugenefisher, I told you. Riverkeeper was bending over while taking the picture. :eek:

[EugeneFisher]

You are one brave, crazy fisherman RK. Keep up the good work!