Just to clarify things.... I do not bring the poisonous snakes back home. A Rattler is a beautiful creature but If I catch one I simply admire him and take photos. I leave him in the mountains far away from civilization. I would never endanger anyone in my household by taking a chance on a having a potentially dangerous critter get loose. Plus my girlfriend, Jan, hikes and bikes with me....... and she's not gonna ride back to town with a rattlesnake in the car!!!!!!!!!

I do love snakes and many other critters that I catch frequently, (lizards, turtles, salamanders, etc.etc.) I just love nature and all of God's wild creations. I have had a fascination with wildlife since I was a snall child. The snakes I keep at home usually are garter snakes, green snakes, corn snakes, black sankes, etc.etc. As I said these are just for temporary observation, the kids really get a kick out of watching them.

The last two years I've taken a snake to my boy's school and gave the kids in his class a "snake lesson". It is so much fun..... all the kids come up and pet the snake and many want to hold it. I also have a book I bring along titled "A GUIDE TO THE SNAKES OF VIRGINIA" to help with the lesson. By the way, that's a GREAT book for all outdoorsman to have - it's available from VDGIF.

I hope all of ya'll out there are enjoying your INDEPENDANCE DAY weekend!
I am very thankful that we live in a country where we have these beautiful mountains and forests where we can go to enjoy nature's bounty!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

As a Snake lover, I will say is be careful. Have you seen the Florida Everglades and Georgia with the Pythons story. Several years ago in Orlando Fl the police shot a 15ft. King Cobra in a man's garage.

Or 4 years ago kids in Ohio were playing with a 3ft. Gaboon Viper.

And just this past Monday a Memphis man reported to police and Animal Control in Memphis a 10ft. python eating a pit bull dog.

Problem was proper authority's always assumes it's a joke until they eventually show up or in Memphis case see proof.....

Snake got away and still at large.

People love these exotic and dangerous animals but when they get free they say nothing or they turn them loose because they become to much to handle.

So getting treble hooked is the least of our summer worries.

That won't "rattle' Justin at all by the way.... my kids are very used to snakes. I've been catching them and bringing them home since they were babies. I love snakes.... I take scouting trips out to the mountains in late summer just to look for rattlers. I caught a big one while mountain biking a couple weeks ago in the National Forest near Black Horse Gap. We usually have a snake or two in an aquarium at my house during the summer just for a conversation piece. (We turn them loose in the fall so they can go hibernate).

OK, I know what ya'll are thinking now......
He's Dangerous and CRAZY!!!!!

Hope everybody has a great 4th of July Holiday!!!!!

http://bassfan.com/tv_play.asp?id=119

I guess it's inevitable if you fish long enough these things will happen but I sure did hate to stick my own boy! I've actually been very lucky... in 40 years of fishing I've had a lot of close calls but that's the first time I've stuck somebody else past the barbs. In that time I've gotten stuck myself twice.... once from a large, flopping bass and once from a fishing partner.

Justin is completely over the injury..... he said the tetanus shot hurt a lot worse than the hook wounds!!! He's also ready to get back out there fishing! me and him and my daughter are heading back out on Thursday night. Hopefully on this trip our hooks will only get stuck in fish Lips!!!!

Lord only knows when his mother seen those pictures she was fit to be tied. Take care and again *OUCH*!!!