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!!