I like to fish and have been fishing for many years. There are many reasons I like to fish. I love the outdoors, especially spending time on the water. Occasionally I even catch fish, and that is enjoyable too.

Being a long time fisherman and boat owner, I have encountered many mishaps along the way, including snagged lines, fouled anchors, stalled motors, electrical problems, and ramp issues. I have even encountered an abandoned boat with the owner thrown into the lake. At this stage of my boating and fishing experience, I didn’t think anything could surprise me. I was way off base.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, my son and I were heading out for a morning fishing run. Being long time fishing partners, we are very efficient in getting underway from the boat dock. We quickly jumped on the boat and motored to a nearby fishing spot. I was in the back of the boat getting my pole ready when I couldn’t help but notice a 4-foot snake slither by my foot. I am not afraid of snakes, but this sudden appearance was shocking. I told my son there was a snake on the boat. We proceeded to try and guide the snake into the lake. After determining I was dealing with a rat snake, I become more aggressive in trying to remove the wayward creature. Before I could extricate the snake, it crawled up under the console by the steering wheel. I managed to grab its tail, but it was too strong and wiggled out of sight.

My first reaction was, we need to get this boat back to the dock and get rid of this snake. Upon further reflection, it seemed a shame to ruin our fishing run over a non-venomous snake. Besides, digging the snake out of the boat would be a lot of work. About this time, my son uttered the profound words, “I assume we will keep fishing, right.” We indeed continued to fish. I must admit, I was a bit distracted scanning for the reemergence of the snake. My bass boat has limited real estate in which to do battle with a snake; I wanted to be prepared. By this time, I had my trusty boat paddle by my side. About an hour later, the snake peeked out. It was clear he was ready to leave. When he saw me, he slid back behind the console. He peeked out again about 30 minutes later. We eventually returned to the dock and left the boat for a while to give our friend plenty of space and opportunity to depart. A few hours later, we inspected the boat and found no sign of our snake friend.

I have encountered snakes many times while fishing, but never shared the boat with one. Seeing a snake in the water or on the bank is one thing. Sharing a boat ride with a snake is another. One of my favorite fishing videos is the Bill Dance snake encounter. While I still find this video funny, there is now a bit of fear and terror mixed in based on my personal experience.

So, what did I learn from this snake encounter? Be more aware of my surroundings. I do a good job of being aware of my surroundings when I am in a new or risky place. I let my guard down in familiar territory. Without becoming cynical, our paranoid, we need to be aware of our surroundings at all times. Just a quick scan around the parking lot or a look inside the car could help you avoid a dangerous situation.

And now a few thoughts for boaters and fishermen. My bass boat has a warning sticker on it to read the entire owner’s manual before each use. That is too much preparation. However, it doesn’t hurt to do a quick scan of your boat to make sure you have all the proper safety gear in place and that there is a reasonable chance of the craft functioning correctly. If you haven’t been stopped by a game warden or ranger yet, you will. Also, boating safety is a big deal and can save lives. Wearing a life jacket and attaching the kill switch are my top safety items. Oh, and I highly recommend doing a quick scan around the boat looking for any stowaways, like snakes!

Make the most of this day!