That short stubby tail is a characteristic of cottonmouths.

It is likely a Texas Rat Snake. We do not live near swamps and cottenmouth territory. Rat snakes grow large and can look and mimic venomous snake behavior. I am an avid snake hunter, and I agree with the other posters: the head would provide a clearer identification.

Also, the Central Cottenmouth does provide another reason to wear good leather boots out there in the rushes.
https://www.uta.edu/biology/herpetology/western_cottonmouth.htm

I don't know that Rat snake is kind of shiny the cotton mouth I came across looks like the picture, not shiny.

But you are correct a head works best. I think this year we have all had the displeasure of seeing more Cotton mouths around water, then before. Or at least I have.

Karp, if your location is new mexico, you don't have cottonmouths.

yes
great work

I have a place in Broaddus TX, too.

Its not a rat snake. It is 100% cotton mouth. I have been around both most of my life keeping many of them and been bit by both. The scales and body and color are all cotton mouth.

Did you get a whiff of it?

Agree with the majority - cotton mouth.

I've heard that before about the smell. What is the smell to watch out for?

A cross between dirty musk and a rotting animal.

You'll probably never smell unless you have them cornered. As they don't release it unless they feel threatened. Granted I've never handled a Cotton Mouth. But I have handled my fair share of non venomous water snakes. And their musk defenses smell is horrible! It's indescribable, but it's just plain awful. And it doesn't wash off easily. I've only smelt it from handling and never have smelt it in the process of catching.

Somehow I missed Fouz response. But that is actually a good description of the smell.

Not sure what you mean by 'we do not live near...' I live in the Sugar Land area and there are certainly cottonmouths in the area. The property were the snake was spotted is not far from the power plant at Smithers Lake. The property also has 3 ponds, one of which has a gator in it. When I first scared the snake while driving the tractor-mower, it was heading straight towards the ponds. I did not notice any foul smells after examining the body. [I used a stick to move it around in fear of venom. I tried finding the head but couldn't. An explanation is that it got lopped off in the mower, because as the tractor was approaching it, the snake standing straight up (part of it)and striking. For a few seconds I thought the thing was going to come up after me. Based on pictures I have shown to friends and also here on the forum, I am convinced that it is a Cottonmouth.

This is not a CottonMouth!

And your rationale is....?

Yup water moccasin, hate those dang things...