So I've been contemplating buying a kayak for several months and one of my big questions is how are the snakes? I know they will swim up to a boat and even find a way in. What's the average run in with a snake? Do they go the other direction? Are you beating the water with your rod or paddle? How common is it to have then want to take a closer look at you? I am no fan of snakes but have found several bodies of water a kayak would be perfect for and am almost certain all have snakes present.

Not super common to have a snake try to get in the boat, but if they get curious, a paddle smack usually puts their curiosity to rest.

Don't let snakes dissuade you from doing some kayak fishing. It's pretty much a non-issue from a practical standpoint.

In 35 years of paddling ive only had 1 incident with a snake.

I've been on the water often and never had an issue.

Only issue I could see is if you paddled up under an overhanging limb and the snake was lying there asleep until you woke it up.
That said, I look closely before I approach a tree limb and no I've never had an issue with snakes and my home lake is infested with them, the common water snake that is!
I've even kayaked along with the gators, and if you respect their space they will respect yours as well.

Good deal I just watch them come at the trolling motor on the boat so it made me a little nervous.

I was minding my own business when this little fellow came swimming by and decided my yak would make a nice sunning area. It took a bit of persuasion to get him to move on.

I keep a few of these below deck for such occasions.

I've only seen a few snakes and I've only had one swim toward my kayak. I smacked the water with my paddle and he changed course.

I've had one drop in a 12 foot aluminun boat with me. I was standing on a seat and smacking him with an oar. I finally got the oar under him and flipped him back in the lake. Just watch out if you pull up under a tree.
I've never had a snake though chase my kayak or get in it. Your oar on the yak could probably give a snake a head ache. My wife fishes out of her kayak and has no problems either.

I'm pretty sure the odds are more in favor of you getting bitten fishing on the bank than a snake trying to get into your kayak. Just get out there and have fun!

+1

I've had more problems with the snakes driving around the big city than in the water. I'm around snakes all the time on Lake Fork and gators too. No problems - don't let that keep you from your dream - snakes are all around us disguised as people

Very true. .

I've seen a ton of snakes while paddling but I've never had one try to get in my kayak. Out of all of those snakes, I've also never seen any other than harmless water snakes. The one that got the closest got a paddle slap and he changed course. Of all the things to worry about on the water, snakes are at the bottom of my list.

In the summertime I sometimes fish in pretty snake infested water. Most just want to get away from you. I have however had three different snakes try to come onboard. Two of them I used the paddle to push away. One came in and wanted to see what was going on. It was just a water snake and wasn't mad or threatening. It just kept trying to crawl up to see what I was.

I don't see that many snakes while out in the yak, and none have tried to get close. There are lots of other things higher on the list: idiot boaters, jet-skis, spiders, fire ants, sun burn, flipping the yak in cold water, and the occasional tick.

I would have to say the idiot boaters are at the top of my list.
If you kayak most any lake in Texas on a weekend that you share with power boats, you had best keep your head on a swivel.
I'm serious as you will get run over, flags, bright colors and all it won't matter, you will be ignored.