without a doubt in my mind the snakes are coming out and todays encounter scared me so bad i was feeling like i was going die from sh***ing myself so bad after seeing a big *ss snake.

but here's the story i was at a creek this morning trying to get some gills for bait...and my usual spot wasn't as effective as usual, so i spot a slight opening in the trees so i walked it a little to see if there was a clearing to the water, well there was and so i started walking but within one step i was putting my other foot down to get another step, and thanks to my sharp eyes and gods will to keep a look out i just decided i should look real quick and by damn it was a good thing because my foot was about 6" from landing dead square on top of about a 5' water mokkasin and i jumped back it didn't move so i figured it was dead so i might get a picture, well i get my phone out and was about to turn it on when all of a sudden BAM the son of a b**ch jumped i jumped back 3' and just about pissed and sh*t myself at the same time as well as thinking i might have a heart attack...now is that not freaking an almost DEADLY ENCOUNTER?

be careful out there guys . they are all over the banks at w/r too right now

I hear those are confused with water snakes all the time. I sure would like to see them both in person so I could know when to sh*t myself if needed. LOL

They are usually confused, I see many people kill harmless snakes thinking they are mochisons. When I get home I will take some pictures of water snakes at the local pond.

The Western Cottonmouth (water moccasin is a common name, but noth their 'official' name) can be distiguished by their 'raccoon - like' black mask over the eyes, along the sides of their heads. They sometimes have banded markings, othertimes are just dark-gray or charcoal in color.

Given the behavior that BDDD mentioned, I'm inclined to believe it was a cottonmouth, just like he says.

90 percent of snakes you find will be non-venemous..that being said, if you dont know what you are looking at, leave it alone!

+1

Last year when we were doing all-nighters at the cliffs (well, not really the cliffs but the shallower part around to the left on the point), we would encounter at least 5 or 6 of these guys a night. We were never sure if they were harmless or moccasins.

The biggest problem with snakes is 9 out 10 times you will hurt yourself trying to get away.

Me and my Brother had the same thing happen to us when we were alot younger. We were out running around the yard with our BB Guns and my brother was just as you were, one step away from stepping on a large Cottonmouth. He never saw it, but I did and put my arm up in front of him and yelled "Snake!" so we made a quick About Face and ran back to the house.

So I can relate to how you felt. Watch out guys, the snakes are coming out. I saw at least five today at work.

Google is a great way to learn about the different snakes, pics, etc.

Good point Brian. I looked up some info and here's a good page that illustrates a few of the differences.

Water moccasin or water snake?

After looking at the pictures near the bottom, I'm almost certain that many of the ones I've seen at G'vine are moccasins. I know I've seen thicker snakes gliding fully on the surface with its head held very high like the photos.

Good to know for the future!

Like Ben's post shows, cotton mouths usually are on the water while water snakes are in the water. Be careful with that, though. The operative word is "usually." Best to just steer clear of the snakes. If it's harmless, you don't want to kill it. If it's poisoness, well, lots of folks get bit trying to dispatch a poisoness snake.

Last summer I was fishing a local creek, carelessly climbing over fallen limbs and such. I climbed on a tree that was growing horizontally and was parallel to the creek, and started fishing off of it. My friend alerted me to a massive water mocassin that was about 3 inches wide, and 2.5 or 3 feet long coiled up about 3 feet away from me and ready to strike me, and grabbed my shirt and pulled me off the tree, flat on my back. Moral- Being careless is dangerous.

i about sh*t my pants reading all of these stories lol...i can only imagine

a 5' long cottonmouth water moccasin? thats gotta be some kinda a world record!