Greetings to everyone from River Run Guide Service.

In 20 years of fishing the Middle/Upper Brazos 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, Texas, 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!!!



I 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.



I admit, my curiosity might have gotten the best of me on this one. However, I just couldn't help it.

In the end...

It was just another Kayak Fishing Adventure on the Brazos River, Tx..

That is F'ing awesome dude!

Great story!

How rarely those ideas actually pay off. Congrats on a once in a lifetime trip.

I remember going through a similar thought process with a big slimy (still kicking) gizzard shad, thinking.... this should make it easy to catch a big bass. Well... not so much.

I always enjoy looking at your pics and hope to go with you sometime, but this is crazy!! Great pics!

Was the snake still alive when you hooked him? Either way, that is some crazy stuff. Thanks for sharing. Crocodile Dundee aint got nothin on you.

He killed it with his paddle


Very cool story and awesome photos!

Actually...

As you can see from the series of photos, I stunned the rattler with my paddle, then put it in my kayak.

I then pinned the business end of the rattler against the deck with my paddle and picked it up behind the head. Next, I proceeded to impale it on my jig with the hook going through the bottom of the jaw and out throught the top of the head. At that point he was probably alive, but with proper handling, relatively harmless.

I don't consider any freshly killed snake dead, unless the head has been removed. However, I felt the need to keep the head intact to keep the snake on the jig and not have it come flying off during the cast.

WOAH!!!that impressive!!

very nice!

Thats awesome man, caught a nice bass with that rattler! lol

Thats a classic....very nice read!

You have heard that young rattlers are potentially more lethal than mature ones, right? Young ones dont have the experience to limit their venom quantity plus its slightly more toxic. That's cool... but just a lil bit crazy.

This brings the meaning of crazy to a new level. You are one crazy dude. I would suggest getting your head examined.

Nice fish.

YOU CRAZY!!

That is what I was thinking. CRAZY!!

Thanks, Markk.

That fact was understood by me and in the forefront of my mind the whole time.

However, in reality, I was probably in more danger as I drove to and from the river.

That is the coolest, but craziest thing I have seen in a long time.

yep- way cool and crazy
and you were in a lot more danger driving to and from the river

I never kill snakes.


However, if a venomous snake refuses to leave me alone, I would probably do the same thing.


Using it as bait was just plain clever. Nice Bass.

that is too cool man! A little river science experiment!

Doug Hannon and his snakes are ENVIOUS!
Great job AS ALWAYS!
Excellent report,keeep them coming.

That is T-totally rad, Shane! The ORIGINAL rattlesnake bait catches a big bass - send this in to the company that makes rattlesnake baits and maybe something will become of it.

The wife and I, when we use to fish Whitney Lake a lot, would keep the net handy for scooping up other people's "trash" from the surface as we trolled by. One day I spied a "hump of trash" ahead and told her to get the net ready. As the 'hump of trash" got closer I could see is was a coiled rattler floating along with the wind current but I bit my lip. She had the net in the water getting ready when she saw what it was and I received the gawd awfullest cussing I've ever had, mom and dad included.

Cool photos, dude! Absolutely radical!!!!

Wow.. unbelievable.

That is just plain awesome....you have to have some grande you know whats to handle a rattlesnake much less put it on a hook.

That just made my day!!

Wow, what a story!

lol nice fish, A couple years back me and my cousin were fishin n' shootin stuff at his ranch in Shiner and we shot a 3' cotton mouth. after that we spotted some catfish in the creek so naturally we cut the still move tail off the now headless snake and threw it on the hook. that tail was just dancing next to the tree stump for about 10 sec before 7lb catfish munched it

You're gonna have a hard time topping this one Yak.
But I bet you will.

You're probably right!

Gas to/from river - $20
Life saving paddle - $30
New Fishing License - $68 (Super Combo of course)
Catching a bucket mouth on a REAL rattler - Priceless

that's insane, man. you better be lucky it didn't bite you!

great story

Looks like a good photo for the cover page. That rattler hanging our of that bucketmouth is awesome!

That pic may become an internet classic.

Thanks for the kudos, guys.

I might just have to do that, redfin.

Thanks, roadtrip.

Right on, man!

Shane now you know why I called you "Davy" ...And you did kill a beard when you were three?? LOL

And I called "MacGyver" for the redneck "Texas rigged" tripod! LOL!

I did ran encountered two snakes when I fished with ya on the Brazos, when you went to catch baits. But there was no way I'd come near one. Thats a classic that you caught it on film. AWESOME sir

...and a little too. LOL!

that reminds me of a story people tell me about some guy using "trout" as bait to catch a monster striper.

hey shane, did you get my pm about Rod and Reel advice?

No I didn't, amigo.

Send it again.

That is def. the fishing story of all fishing story's! haha Glad you got pics. of it! Def. pretty darn cool!

You might have come up with a new type of a "rattle trap". Great story.

That is the coolest post i've seen on this site!!!

Nice one dude!!

I just jizzed in my pants...

awesomeness... I'm betting this thread gets at least a couple thousand views.

i would have milked that badboy before i put him in the kyak w/me. thats a really great story and pics. you know no one would believe you if you didnt have the cool pics right? did ya turn snake loose still alive or did the paddle & dive kill it? just curious. got to show the rest of my family. they will enjoy this too.

Thanks, Todd.

Plenty of those banded water snakes (non venomous) hanging around when it really starts warming up, like in June, when you guys were there.

Seems like I do remember something about " a beard " when I was three...

But then again, heck I was only three.

nice improvisation with the rattler, very cool that it paid off as well

Funny stuff there, Shane, and great photos. You are defintely a braver man than me.

I don't recall the "redneck" tripod. I guess you only use it on the solo trips, which makes sense.

Yota you strike again with the coolest photos! Kudos to you sir.... go get ya some of those doug hannon bass professor snakes from TV...whats your biggest bass from the brazos?

I have got to get up to your neck of the woods and fish with you!

Hey Shane,

I'll bet you could catch a HUGE Bass with this Rattler.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...in_manor#UNREAD

That is crazy!!!!

You are my new fishing hero.That's awesome

Nice Job!

Great story and pics! That is just awesome!

cool

good storie

that is awsome

Thanks, RodFather.

Both of these LMBs were double digit bass and would have easily overtaken the current Brazos River Water Body Record of 9.67 lbs. that has stood since 1987. The top fish missed the Texas Catch and Release State Record by 1/2 inch, at the time it was caught.

Both bass were captured in extremely remote locations of the Brazos. Taking the fish to certified scales would not have been an option, since it would have prohibited a healthy release.

Truth is, in over 20 years of fishing the Brazos, I never started catching big bass like these until I began stalking them out of a kayak.

dude i am amazed by your antics. keep it up!

+1

Heck, with a rattler that big...

I guess I could starve it for a couple of months, then tail hook and toss it in the river to see what kind of bass she'd swallow.

That's crazy and cool at the same time. That snake would be really dead before it got near my boat.

all i can say is awesome....once in a lifetime

Wow, that was awesome! Congrats!

THAT IS SOOOOOO COOL!!!!!

Man Shane that is priceless. Never a dull moment with you brotha.

looks like a photoshop fake to me.

Now that is awesome. way to go man!

+1

I know for a fact that I WILL NEVER EVER catch a bass using that technique.

That's too cool Shane. You really ought to consider sending those photos and your write up in to TF&G or even Bassmasters.

Very NICE!!! I woulda loved to have the skin off that rattler tho

Are you doing any fishing between Whitney and Waco?


TFP

Shane, I honestly thought you were fulla chit when you told me this story!
You got some sack, that's for sure!

I'd keep that rattler and put it in a plastic replica of that fish.
I still think you're crazy.....

Dude! You're Batman!!!!

Absolutely. I have been running various stretches from Laguna Park to Gholson with private/public access since 1989.

My very first Texas Parks & Wildlife Brazos Water Body Record was a 6.2# Smallmouth certified from that stretch in 1991.

5000+ views

...

You right. I should look into that.

So far, I've kept it a TFF exclusive. Although, other Forum Moderators have asked me permission to post it for their members to view.

It might be time to take this freakshow on the road!!!

Thanks, man.

I'm all about building kayak fishing awareness.

Coolest, stoopidest ( to me anyway ), most amazing thing I've seen on the forum all year.

Awesome use of what would've been a wasted snake. My hats off to ya brother.

Absolutely insane ... and absolutely awesome!

Your insane for even trying that! But a legend for actually pulling it off! Un-bloody believable!

Big bait; Big fish..

awesome story!

6000+ views... is this the most viewed topic ever on this forum?

IM CONVINCED!! IM GOING SHANE!! HOW MANY PPL CAN YOU TAKE? AND IM FROM AUSTIN! WHATS THE BEST PLACE TO MEET AND WHEN?

Thanks, JTwaterdog.

You have a PM.

you're my hero

I was somewhat suprised at the response on this one.

Between the TFF Photo, Kayak and Bass sections, the report has had just under 11,000 views.

I'm glad folks are enjoying the story, it's been bringing hits to TFF and helping me book guide trips.

Frankly, I couldn't be more pleased.

Thanks, everyone!

Cool photo. Hope it didn't bite the bass.

The rattler was hooked through the bottom of the jaw and out the top of it's head. It's mouth was basically pinned shut once past the barb
of the hook.

If it had not been pinned shut, I assure you I would not be lipping the bass while the snake was still in it's mouth.

Happy birthday, btw.

Lol cool story and pic!!!

What an awesome experience in the wild! Thanks for sharing. As one who grew up on the Brazos, I have seen many deadly snakes in water including even a couple copperheads. They normally are only in the water as result of a dam water release. Great job and super pics. Tom

I wouldn't consider a copperhead deadly.

AWESOME story!! I've done the same with a mouse before as a top water

Seriously dude, I suddenly feel like I need to do something manly. I'm not about to pick up a rattler. Your goods must drag the floor!!! But still one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

There is your next cover picture! Nice job Shane!

It's hard to believe how much this story has been going around on the web.

One of the editiors from Field & Stream Magazine got ahold of it and contacted me on Friday. We eventually worked out a deal to get my story published on the Field & Stream website.


http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gal...emouth-bass-liv


I think it turned out pretty good even after F&S put their own spin on it and used some additional photos that I sent.

The article says that you released the snake. Having a hook through the top of the head didn't kill it?

The head was still intact at the time I put it back in the water.

so i showed this picture to a friend and the first thing he said was "He is wearing a Tag Heuer formula one watch".

The Tag F1 was a gift from my wife on my 40th b-day a few years ago.

I never take it off and it gets put through hell on a routine basis.

Love that watch!

Great article Shane! If y'all haven't feeshed with Shane Davies, then you haven't feeshed! Great guide and a great dude!

Some great pictures..... Well done on that bass...

Great story!

But a 10 lber?? Really?

Thanks, Fish Killer

I told the F&S interviewer that the bass was a little over 23" long and there was no weight taken.

Like I said above, they put their own spin on it, unfortunately.

Thanks, Tracy!

The pleasure was mine, man. You guys were crackin' me up the whole time.

Btw, I got your text and email.

Thanks for that cool video!

I'll try and get the pictures out today.

yeah he said he had the same one..he likes it...he thinks he is a watch expert...the watch looks good. i just thought it was funny. i was showing him this awesome story about a fish caught on a rattlesnake and there he goes all he noticed was your watch. haha

by the way, im not an expert on the brazos, i just know PK. what part of the river do you fish. what is a close town?

Sound's good Shane. As soon as I sell my motorcycle (2004 Honda 599) I'm buying a yak or yaks for the whole family!

not me im buying rattlesnakes for everyone!!!

shane, you should create a website for river run guide service with trip updates, pics, rates, fishing tips, etc... I think it would get a lot of hits.

Hey Shane, got to see this story again on FOXSport Southwest Outdoors report this morning! Nice catch and congrats!

Barry said "Shane is either very crazy or the most creative angler I've heard of." errrrrr.....yup LOL

What's next? Great post!!

What an awesome story.

thats freakin awesome

What an Idea! The only problem is if I had done that, my fishing buddies woulda looked like God walking on water! Especially when the snake was in the boat! Saw some artificials at BPS and thought about the concept. I may go back and buy a plastic and try! Atleast I wont be alone in the boat! LOL

You are right craigo.

I've got one that is in the works.

Thanks, Markk.


Barry was being kind. He's known me long enough to know it's a 50/50 split.

That is a very good question.

I won't really know until an opportunity presents itself again.

Shane is nuts..but one of the most professional guides I have ever hired

I cannot wait to fish with shane this winter...way to go buddy!

I simply cant wait to get back to the brazos

Thanks, Adam!

Thanks, man.

That is all kinds of awesome !

... and nice fish.

ttt

Thats awesome. my wife said "why did he kill it?" i asked her what she would do if a rattlesnake tried to get in her kayak.

"oh thats snake is history" she didnt read the captions first...LOL