A fish story

[gottafish]

Now I dont think this was Oregon but I got this in an email that says it was. I have never caught a LMB in the john day so I find it hard to believe and the terran isnt right. That said Its still a cool story.

In 20 years of fishing the Middle/Upper John Day River, I can honestly say that I have never
encountered a venomous snake (pit viper) within the riverbed. However, as I tell my clients,
go outside the riverbed and that can be a very different story.

Obviously, just because I have never come accross a venomous snake in the river, does not
in any way mean they are not there. In fact, I always remain vigilant and on the lookout
knowing that I'm simply overdue for my first encounter.

The way I look at it, Oregon ,venomous snakes and the outdoors will always go hand in hand.

So, I wasn't too suprised when I observed a juvenile rattlesnake headed accross the river while
I was in my kayak flipping a jig for bass.

I continue fishing. However, I can't help to notice the rattler has changed it's course and is
headed straight for my kayak.

At this point, I've pretty much quit fishing and have my attention focused on the intentions of
this potentially pesky pit viper.

While tracking the rattler's movement, I couldn't help but think, from a fish's point of view,
how enticing the serpentine motion of this snake looked while in the water.

Suddenly, I am jolted back to reality by the fact the rattler is now along side my kayak and is
lifting it's head out of the water in an apparent attempt to come aboard.


No way I'm having this ill intentioned reptilian hitchhiker nosing around the kayak. So, with a
couple whacks of the paddle, it's now docile as can be.

Now my mind begins to wonder...Hmmmm.

This rattler looks like mighty good big bass bait!!!

put him in one of the footwells on the kayak and paddle over to a series of submerged river
laydowns so I can begin to put my plan into action.

Here is my "Superstar" getting warmed up in the bullpen.

Put me in, Coach!!!

I now cautiously rig the snake by hooking it through the bottom of the jaw and through
the top of the head onto a weedless black 3/4 oz. jig.

On my sixth cast into the snag infested laydown my jig n snake combo gets destroyed on
the fall as indicated by a telltale "thump" that reverberates all the way down my rod blank.
I set the hook hard and immediately feel stiff resistance on the other end from what I know
is a solid fish.

What happens next is something I'll likely never forget as I watch my bass come
cartwheeling out of the water with the rattler hanging out of it's mouth!

The LMB gave a really good account of itself and I eventually get her alongside the kayak.
I cautiously lip the opposite side of the cavernous mouth where the fish is hooked.

I now take a moment to pose with my oversize snake eating river bass before returning her
back into the river depths.

[Don Fischer]

I'm not real good at fish identification but doesn't a LMB have a dark lateral line? Doesn't look as thoughthe mouth will come back behind the eye either.

[Cliff D.]

Originally Posted by Don Fischer

I'm not real good at fish identification but doesn't a LMB have a dark lateral line? Doesn't look as thoughthe mouth will come back behind the eye either.

It's a largemouth, Don.

[outonalimb]

That's a largemouth, but I don't know about the John Day. Pretty wild though. I used to run into rattle snakes swimming in Arizona all the time

[plumberfishes]

ok that is just freaking awesome..... in mo where I grew up they sell rubber worms in the "14inch snake pattern" but I never fished them , now I wish I had.

[yaknitup]

That is sweeeeeeet!!! Nice work on being resourceful!

[icbig1s]

Doug "The Bass Professor" Hannon has had many different designs of topwater snakes on the market since the 80's. Google his name and you can see what his current design is.

[Poindexter]

I wouldn't recommend this tactic to the clumsy -- one slip and you're headed to the clinic for antivenon. Cool post, though.

[team doyle]

this was definitely not in oregon.

this story surfaced weeks ago, and the author at that time
alleged that it was in a river in the state of texas. apparently,
this angler (who is a guide in that part of the world) has been
ousted from one or more angling/kayaking groups for a handfull
of fishy outdoors activities... that's about all i know.

joe

[HammerinHonkers]

Its not the John Day. I read this article a while back, it was from some fishing mag that was on the web. I think it was in like Texas or someplace south. Just another person trying to make it their own, I'm sure this wont be the last time we see this story, next time it will be in washington or idaho.

[codeman]

i met a small rattlesnake on owhyee res a few years ago in my float tube. He was swimming a ways away, and of course I kicked over to investigate. As i got closer, he changed course and swam towards me. I used my flipper to deter him and push him the way i wanted him to go. It was early may, and the water was still fairly cool. He eventually tired of me and swam the rest of the way across the bay, but was swimming slower and slower. He finally made it to the sand, and only went about 2 ft out of the water and then curled up in the sand and laid there in the sun for about 3 hours before he continued up into the brush. It was pretty cool.

[dragon67]

Yes there is large mouth on the Johnday river. I had a friend of mine catch one while I was there,the fish was about 5lb sand it wasn't happy about it.

[soonerwolf]

dead or not no way in heck that thing is getting in a kayak I am in, I prolly would have passed out when it headed for me.

[mkwerx]

THat snake really doesn't look DEAD when he is messing with it - when it's on the paddle, the snake is lifting it's head. When it's in the foot-well, it's curled up as if it's ready to strike - not just laying loose like a dead snake would. Then, even when it's in the bass' mouth - it's all kinked up. That guy has some serious cajones do be messing with that snake!