Well I have been fishing the bank off Miller road in Rowlett all week and have been catching plenty of bass. Today I stoped in and saw a group of gar splashing in reeds. I then saw a fat ol cotton mouth right off the bank. I just moved to texas and have never seen one being from california. I am gonna need a few cold ones to walk down there this afternoon.

He took off when he saw me. Are these suckers aggresive? If you walk the banks, keep your eye peeled.

Sure it wasn't a common water snake?

cottens are very very agressive, and usually atttack for no reason other than they can, im from ca also, and have seen some really nasty ones in the last few years, be careful

There are major differences between a Cottonmouth Mocassin and a plain old water snake. You might want to look 'em up?

BTW, Rattlesnakes and Copperheads do go into the water, also.

Went fishing yesterday and saw two snakes, my brother said they were moccasins. We were fishing off a little ledge and he started to swim towards us, tried to scare him off by throwing a super fluke at him, nope didn't work. The sucker bit onto the thing and wouldn't let go until I pulled him completely out of the water.

Are they vicious? Yes, I think so.
And to think two days ago I was wading in that same water trying to flyfish for some bluegill..

If you spend anytime on or around the water you need to be able to identify what your looking at. It only takes 5 minutes to learn the difference and you will have it for ever.

99% of the so called moccasins people see are common harmless watersnakes.
One common rule about all wild animals you encounter, is if you give them a way to leave they will. Just dont screw with them and they will leave you alone.


BTW, if its over 3' long then I can guarantee you its not a water moccasin.

We have a lot of Common Water snakes in Texas.. the Banded and Diamond patterned are the ones you will see the most in our DFW area waters.

http://biology.uta.edu/herpetology/watersnakes.htm

I have seen Water Snakes up to 7ft long.. most Cotton mouths rarely exceed 3ft and will be very fat in proportion to their length with a large triangle head. Cotton Mouths are usually much darker brown to drab olive in color with darker blotches and are nocturnal feeders.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/tdm1.html

http://biology.uta.edu/herpetology/western_cottonmouth.htm

Water Snakes are harmless, have Round eyes and do not have pits on their head/ snout like a Cotton Mouth/ Pit Viper. The are not aggressive and are just as afraid of you as you are of them. They may defend their nesting areas at times. They will coil and strike if provoked/ poked at with a stick. They have been known to board boats when tired of swimming.

I have been fishing for almost sixty years and have seen two cottonmouths.
If you see it swimming and its body is out of the water it is poisonous. If it has a very distinct arrowhead shape to its head it is poisonous. If it bites yo and you die it is poisonous.

This is a myth that somebody who was afraid of snakes made up.

Kinda sums it up!

If you don't know the difference in the scemes of the snakes a very easy and almost 100% way to tell the difference in poisonos and non is the head. If the have a distinct triangular shaped head the are more than likely poisonos. If they have a flat squarish shaped head than they are not going to be poisonos.

-James

after being chased by a couple in missouri on the mississippy river, having three people i knew bitten by them minding there own business, I dont think its a falacy, nor is it a myth, and having been bittten by rattlers in calif, I can tell you for sure yes, i hate snakes, and I am totally afraid of them Not ashamed to admit it.

could a cotton mouth or water moccasin bite through a boot. or would you be safe steping on its neck if you see one. not saying i would try it i'm just wondering.

depends on the boot

This best way to deal with a snake is with #7 1/2 pellets or just leave them tha heck alone. Be sure when you are walking to watch where you step, put your hands or feet, or carry a long walking stick to beat the bushes and ground ahead of you. Cottonmouths don't have a warning buzzer before they go off.