Thread: Are snakes @ reelfoot that bad?

odds are very slim, cotton mouthsdont hang in trees. they stay in water and low cover,

Originally Posted by Slipped Cork

I'm planning going down full moon in may.Everyone talks about the snakes being very bad.I guess im asking what are the odds of a cottonmouth falling in my boat?I have no idea what I would do if this actually happened but I guarantee it would be messy!

No they are not that bad. You will likely see some water snakes, mostly sunning themselves in the trees. If you get hung up just look the tree over pretty good before going in there after it.

Chris

Originally Posted by Slipped Cork

I'm planning going down full moon in may.Everyone talks about the snakes being very bad.I guess im asking what are the odds of a cottonmouth falling in my boat?I have no idea what I would do if this actually happened but I guarantee it would be messy!

A friend of mine is a game warden on Reelfoot. He told me he had seen less than 5 cottonmouths the entire 4 to 5 years that he worked the lake.

I Agree With The Other Guys, We Have Gone To Reelfoot For Six Years And Snakes Have Never Been A Problem,

John Brower

Originally Posted by Slipped Cork

I'm planning going down full moon in may.Everyone talks about the snakes being very bad.I guess im asking what are the odds of a cottonmouth falling in my boat?I have no idea what I would do if this actually happened but I guarantee it would be messy!

That can`t be good for the boat? What ever you do, do not shoot one while still in the boat!

Originally Posted by crappielimits

What ever you do, do not shoot one while still in the boat!

I can verify that! I learned that lesson on the Northwest River located on the Virginia/North Carolina line back in 1969.

Originally Posted by john h

odds are very slim, cotton mouthsdont hang in trees. they stay in water and low cover,

Tell that to the cottonmouths here then... apparently they don't know better.

Reelfoot cottomouths these days are rare indeed. The first time I was there was in the late 1960s. There were cottonmouths all over. They are easy to tell from the water snakes. When they open their mouth it is pure bright white.
I'm supprised to hear they don't climb trees. A lot of the ones we seen were 5 to 10' off the water on leaning dead trees.
If you go to Reelfoot, prepare yourself to relax and enjoy the beauty. forget those snakes , you'll worry yourself to death.
Down on the main lake, I'm not sure they could stand the common winds anyway.