if your really scared of getting bit then I'd stick to ringnecks,brown snakes,green snakes and worm snakes.these snakes are too small generally to bite and even if they try they can't break the skin.some snakes that will sometimes bite at first but quickly calm down are garters,black rats,kings.your nasties are your water snakes,black racers.pines are very individualistic.most put up a nice bluff but won't bite but I have caught a few hell raisers that mean what they hiss.
as far as how to catch well the ones i first mentioned just grab em.if it's a snake likely to bite you can use a hook and pin the head combo but if you don't know what your doing you can hurt a snake by pinning it's head.I just grab any snake that isn't venemous.I'd rather get bit then hurt the snake.Rattlers or other pit vipers are definitely best left to experts with a hook.
most snake bites by native species are no worse then a shaving knick and as whip will tell you I'm a pain sissy so if I can take a bite without crying I'm sure you can.
Al