I live in Knoxville, TN and I have not seen what you are talking about around here. I used to own a piece of property that had a five acre lake on it. I went out one night gigging and I was walking in the lake close to shore with a light. I was looking in the weeds and put my light real close. Unfortunately there was a copperhead staring at my light about one foot away. That ended my gigging career and I never attempted it again.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN