Strange fish encounter

[LauraD]

My hubby & I had the strangest encounter with fish this past weekend. We had been working on our property and decided to go to the local lake to cool off. It was getting on toward evening, but the sun had not started to set yet. The lake was slightly cool, so we slowly waded out into the water.

When each of us got to around 4' in depth, fish started gathering around us. They were anywhere from 3" to 6" in length, and they would slowly swim up and look at us. Several of them actually came right up and tested (tasted!) us to see if we were worth eating. I saw up to six fish at once. I could very slowly move my hands and arms without scaring them away, and got my hands within 2-3" of a couple of them. One even swam between my arm and my side, which were less than 5" apart at the time. I'm no fisherman, but I would bet my socks that they were bass (white, striped, or hybrid).

I grew up swimming in freshwater lakes at all hours, but I've never had more than minnows nibbling at my toes before. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them?

[Ozarks Tom]

Hmmm, you don't suppose someone dumped their pet piranas in the lake, do you?

The weirdest thing ever to happen to me in a lake was when I was pushing a small aluminum boat away from shore. I was in about 3 feet of water when a water moccasin swam between me and the boat. My next conscious thought was when I was in the middle of the boat, and it wasn't even rocking. I jumped smooth out of 3 feet of water into the middle of the boat. Adrenaline is a funny thing.

[Mari-in-IN]

In my younger years we spent inordinate amounts of time swimming in the lakes.  I've never had that happen - Just reading your post was giving me just a mild case of the "heebee jeebies" for sure! 
It also kind of sounds like a cool experience as well.  Thanks for sharing.
~Mari 

[LauraD]

Ozarks Tom, I don't know what I would have done if a water moccasin showed up!!!

Mari-in-IN, it was a really neat experience. No "heebee jeebies"; more like surprise and a small level of awe.

[bluemingidiot]

Once I was running a trot line with my uncle. We were in a 14' aluminum boat. We came across a water moccasin on one of the hooks. My uncle brought the line inside the boat and the snake fell off the hook. Quicker than you could blink I was sitting on the prow, hugging my knees. My uncle laughed and made fun of my terror. But I wasn't budging. Finally he picked up the snake and dropped in in the lake.

While I have swum in lakes, creeks, bayous, rivers and the Gulf, I will not put any part of my body in any water that is not clear.

[Tim Horton]

Oct 2, 2019 12:40:57 GMT LauraD said:

My hubby & I had the strangest encounter with fish this past weekend. We had been working on our property and decided to go to the local lake to cool off. It was getting on toward evening, but the sun had not started to set yet. The lake was slightly cool, so we slowly waded out into the water.

When each of us got to around 4' in depth, fish started gathering around us. They were anywhere from 3" to 6" in length, and they would slowly swim up and look at us. Several of them actually came right up and tested (tasted!) us to see if we were worth eating. I saw up to six fish at once. I could very slowly move my hands and arms without scaring them away, and got my hands within 2-3" of a couple of them. One even swam between my arm and my side, which were less than 5" apart at the time. I'm no fisherman, but I would bet my socks that they were bass (white, striped, or hybrid).

I grew up swimming in freshwater lakes at all hours, but I've never had more than minnows nibbling at my toes before. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them?

Now I have the "Jaws" theme running through my head....  

[LauraD]

Thanks, Tim Horton . Now I'll be thinking about sharks every time I get in the lake.    (Just kidding!)