Can snakes, ie. water moccassins bite through waders? Also, do yall wear waders while your tubing?

yes, they can...but i would still wear the waders.

my dad was tagged by a copperhead that bit right through his leather boots. i figure a water mocasin could bit through leather, too

Junior, relax, man. You won't find a tuber in here who has had a problem with snakes (well, one, but his involved a stringer of fish and youthful indiscretion! ). Seriously, you'll be a lot more at risk of them biting you while on the bank. Also, despite the fact that you can read a couple of thousand accounts in the TFF of close encounters with water "mocassins", I guarantee you most of them are cases of mistaken identity (not that anyone will admit that--they're all herpetologists, of course). Several watersnakes look like mocassins, right down to the triangular head (not a good means of identification). Harmless watersnakes far outnumber mocassins, and neither will bother you in a tube. Now, tow a stringer of small fish behind you...

BTW, a very reliable way to id a mocassin is to examine the pupil. Elongated pupils=mocassin; round pupils=water snake. Of course, you have to get MIGHTY close to see them!

Here is an excerpt from a sales pitch for the Water Skeeter, copied from BPS web page.

"Some of you may have fished out of a float tube, but the Water Skeeter has a few distinct advantages over float tubes. For starters; your feet aren't dangling in the water, which could be home to some nasty water moccasins. Secondly, you can navigate over moving water. Thirdly, you can fish in shallow water in the Water Skeeter."

More......lol


Jay Bennett Mar 28 1997, 12:00 am show options
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass
From: Jay Bennett <r...@bright.net> - Find messages by this author
Date: 1997/03/28
Subject: Re: Any Float Tubers Out There?
Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse

"M Lap wrote:
> Geez, got a float tube and had a wierd experience..... Got into a nest
> of snakes. Had them buggers wrapped 'round my legs and crawlin' up my
> crotch.

> Thankfully they weren't poisonous, but it was too late before I was able
> to figure that out.... Just happened to have my 7mm big game rifle with
> me and began shooting rapid fire down into the water. Missed the snakes,
> but my toes are now ventilated.... Don't like it.....

> Other than that, I really like float tubes.

> Myron Q. Bumscratcher III

Oh, you are an evil person. I WAS thinking of buying a float tube this
year. Only...ONLY we have LOTS of snakes in the ponds, lakes, rivers,
and creeks around here, and I FREAK about snakes easily. I will have to
do a lot of thinking about this now. I repeat, You are an EVIL person.
<G>.

Jay"

LOL...too funny nvatexan...too funny!

Don't sweat the snakes. I know it sounds like a cliche, but it's true.

Don't mess with them, and they won't mess with you! And learn to ignore all the stories you hear. Nearly everytime someone sees me tube fishing, they first ask 1) How do you move around in that thing? 2) How much do those cost? 3) Did you see the snake I saw a few minutes ago?

they then proceed to tell you every snake story they've ever heard, along with recounting every snake encounter they've every had.

Kelly

I've never had any problems and I fish a lot of snake infested ponds and what not. In fact, i've had more close calls on some of the rivers around here while in a Canoe than anything.

I have had snakes try to crawl up my shorts leg, before. So yes snakes can and will eventually bother you. I've tube fished about 17 years. I had one crawl behind one knee, slither across to the other leg and comence to hitting his head up against the strap that supports you and the inside of my shorts leg. That thing tried for about 5 minutes to get up into my shorts. I thought i was going to have a heart attack. I was gasping for air every time that dam thing bumped the strap. After that about 30 minutes later i calmed down and started fishing again. Then all of the sudden i had something hit me dead in the but. I walked on water to the bank, then seeing what i thought was a snake was only and old dislodged beer can floating up. I just about pooped myself. But yes they will come right up to you. I had one slither around my cane pole, and just lay there and sun. I was leaning forward holding my cane pole with my forearms in a A shape and had one pop up right there, between my hand and the front edge of my tube. I f you fish a tube long enough you will confront a snake one time or another.

What he said and the fact that I've been tubing over twenty years (dang has it been that long) and NEVER had a snake attempt to bite me, they come close, might try to crawl up on that warm "orange" log but will quickly move off when they see that you are a threat, perch are more of a danger than snakes..ask anyone who wears shorts in the summer like most of us do.

i still hate that feeling of lil fish biting me it is almost as bad!!!
lil a lil tiny school of teenie tiny sharks Buggars!@!!!!!

Just be carefull and watchout for the ones in overhanging branches They will drop on you.. Quite a fright.....

heck, one time in 17 years ain't bad .

i think after reading all of this i cant see buying a tube. if i were to buy one it would be the one my feet are out of the water. i dont like the idea of my legs in the water for crocs and snakes to bite at. it doesnt hurt when the little sunfish bite your legs does it ?

Crappie Dawg,

Many of these guys have tubed for over 15 years. If snakes were a real threat, most of them would have given it up years ago!

You have to realize it's about 10% real threat, and 90% pure fear for most people.

KD