Thats cool.
No telling what it was tho, snakes normally avoid us but it could have been or it could have not known it was a persons leg.

I know from experience that Water Moccasins will be extremly agressive a littler later when it gets warmer and they are nesting. Being very protective! And if we get a really good rain that washes their nest away like up a creek, then you'd better look out!! Cause they are really pissed! I saw a boy get a really bad Moccasin bite in "face" a few years ago, as it had been raining all day the day before and the creek where several of us was fishing was flowing well above normal and a boy about 7 or 8 dropped something between some rocks, right by the creek, and leaned down on his stomach to get it when he got bit in the face! I don't even know why his dad even brought him down there as it was dangerous enough with the current and all. His dad drove him straight to the hospital, which , thank God was only about 8 minutes away and he lived. I've also gotten extremely close to being bit several times while walking through tall brush by creeks and either getting to close to them or actually one time, I stepped on ones tail and dont know why he didn't move as you know they can hear and feel us coming, but I stepped on his tail and his head hit my pant leg at just the wrong angle so not to get any fangs in, and I jumped back and saw him wanting to chase me, so I got outta there real quick! Yes just be carful, especially after some big rains in the spring!!!

Years ago at work I was checking on some pumps and I found what I thought was a Water Moccasin.
The snake was about 5'long and about 3" around.
Told the guy on 1st shift when he came in about the snake in the lower pump room.
Sure enough the old man went to check and found the snake near the pump.
What happen next was wild.
He got a 3" water hose and cut loose on the snake with water.
Man he ran that poor snake all over the pump room with that 3" jet stream of water.
That snake was so pissed off and mad that he was striking at the jet stream of water.
Each time showing that big white mouth.Just like the name
Cotton Mouth .
All this is taking place as we are 20' on the walkway looking down at the snake.
Then the snake finds a place to hide in the pump.
Pumps not running and need to be worked on,so the snake has got to go.
HaHA The old man tell's ME TO GO DOWN AND KILL THE SNAKE.
Now That's when I tell him BULL SH--.'''''.
After the snake is good and pissed OFF he the thinks I'm going down their.
So I tell him, you pissed the snake off you take care of him.
Once the old man is down in the pump room.
I'm on top looking for the snake.
We can't find the snake.
So the old man tells me to go get some bug spray.
I drop the bug spray to him,and he sprays it into the pump.
On the other side from this old man, out comes the snake.
So I tell him to get ready because the snake is comming around to his "right"''' get the shovel ready.
Wack he kills the snake.
But the story is not over.
Up he comes with the snake on the shovel.
Telling me he's going to throw the snake on me.
All I tell the old man is.
If you throw that snake at me,I'll kick
your A_ _.And go home old man.
He thought about it,then pitch the snake on the ground.
That was 25 years ago and I'm still working at the same job.

Where around the water do these snakes usually nest?

get some snake boots...$200 bucks for some protection and piece of mind will seem like pocket change when you get bit and have to shell out 50 grand...

I know many will disagree... I have two solutions when i see a snake I leave or kill it..... I do not agree that they wont chase you.... I have been chased.... I had an old stinky bait bucket in water edge of a small pond he was protecting it and saw me walk up in it... I was in back of truck he was trying to get in truck... I was there I know they will....

I dont like any snake that is alive.

Mongoose

Isn't there some type of chaps you can wear that are snake proof? Will they go over your waders? That will be way too hot when the temps rise though. I hear of plenty of snakes around camp areas I have camped at too. Made a few folks I know stop fishing at dusk...One thing I don't like is poisonous snakes. The other ones I could care less about.

The people on here that say they wont chase you are full of it.I have also been chased.If your wondering,no i wasnt bothering the snake.I cant stand snakes so i was trying to get out of its way.Every step i took back it kept coming forward,I threw my pole down and ran up a hill and there it was right behind me.I would say it chased me for a good 100 yards.So you people that say they wont chase you your wrong!You guys will keep telling people that untill you get chased,then you will be on here telling your story.

I posted here last June that I had been bitten by a large rattler.I'm sure it was a rattler because of the fangs he stuck in my foot.I didn't look at his pupils;but I'm still pretty sure this was a rattler.$45,000 later I'm feeling pretty good.Now I wear snake boots in my own yard.Cabelas has snake chaps but they only protect to the knee.If you are going to walk in areas where you can't see the ground in a circle larger than a monster snake could reach you --buy protection.A snake bite is a life changing event and I can assure you $200 boots may be the best investment you ever made.The only good rattler is a dead rattler. Charles

ive had one chase me and i swatted my pole at it and it was over. they are aggresive but they will back down easily.most of the time they just stand there ground and will leave before they strike at you. just remember the most important rule: dont step on it, if you do you most likely will get bit.look at this video i shot in febuary and look how well hidden this snake is,i was one step away before i saw him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o4ZlUP1tw0

I had one try to join me in the boat at Gibbons Creek about 5 years ago and it was no easy task to keep him out so I steer clear they are way to aggressive for me !!!

Here is just one link to find protection from snake bites.
https://www.turtleskin.com/store/categor...CFRMHxgodqAZvRQ

"a littler later when it gets warmer and they are nesting"
They will when nesting if you get to close. Otherwise. No

And.. about the 5 ft cottonmouth story.
They RARELY exceed 2.5 feet. Very unlikely to me one.

Thats very long and slender to be a cottonmouth.