I've seen a rattlesnake coiled and floating on Lake Whitney...

Yep, a snake that long is not a moc...they just do not get that long without sporting the thick, thick body to go with it...

Banded water snakes like mocossins run quite a range of colors and tones from vivid to nearly black. That's still a banded water snake you shot. It isn't even wide enough to be a yellow bellied water snake. The YB's are a lot rarer then than the banded but are a little fatter and darker and just as grumpy as a moc. they often get the wrong end of a stick intended for a moc too. Still more YB's than moc's. Banded can also be grumpy, one got my thumb this weekend when I was saving it from destrucion in my neighbors hot tub! One day you will run across a real moc. and when you do you are going to say "WOW" that's what he was talking about.. I was raised around them in south florida so have a different outlook about snakes than a lot of people. I just move them out of my way or go someplace else if they want in my boat!

Nice job on killing that snake. The only good snake is a dead one.

This is the little fellow that decided he wanted my thumb after going nose to nose with my cat (my bad for trying to amuse the cat). This on is probably a yellow belly, little fatter than a banded but you would really have to know your snakes to tell them apart. This one is happily swimming a remote ditch rather than the neighbors hot tub..

I agree it does not matter what kind of snake it was, if it swam towards my boat I would have shot it as well.

Just by glancing I can tell that's a water snake. I've had both water snakes and cottonmouths in my collection and I can tell you that a water snake is the more agressive creature. A cottonmouth that length would be much thicker. Watersnakes are very bold and will swim towards you and strike at you.

I don't understand why so many people are afraid of snakes. You were in no danger so why did you shoot it? Snakes are an integral part of whatever ecosystem they may be in and the old saying "The only good snake is a dead snake" is ignorance. If we keep perpetuating these myths and misunderstandings then these amazing creatures will never recieve the respect they deserve.

Yes rattle snakes swim!!!!! I was fishing a team tournament on Choke Canyon a couple of years ago and a rattler crawled across the back corner of my boat and about six inches from my partners foot. The rattler never even slowed down to rattle he just crawled across. Guess that he thought it was a log. Sure scared the krap out of my partner though!!!!!

I wouldn't want one crawling into my sleeping bag with me, but I don't kill every snake I see anymore. Even the venomouse ones. They all have a part to play. Now spiders on the other hand, no problem steppin' on them suckers! Don't sweat the small stuff Bornforit. You're not going to wreck the entire ecosystem by killing one snake. Just try thumping one with your rod tip next time and I bet he'll take of for less crowded water.

A snake is a snake is a snake. Is that a dead snake you got there Bornforit? I never missed it, & I never will unless I forget to count for that Kentucky Windage.

Re: Swimming Rattlesnakes

I was at a private pond with a buddy this spring. While on the bank doing my part to raise the water level , it crossed my mind that I should keep an eye out for snakes (I just missed stepping on one out there before.) Sure enough, there was a snake in the water about 10 ft away swimming toward the bank. When we finally saw where it ended up, between me and the boat , we realized it was rattlesnake.

I had never heard of them swimming. I'm city folk so I don't know that much about them anyway. But, I came home and did some searching. From what I found, they will readily take to water.

fishnbeers

You know you're a 'redneck' when....................

Well for all of you non snake people out there just remember one thing.When you see someone filet a bass dont complain one bit.Because they may think the only good bass is a dead bass.I have never understood why everyone thinks a dead snake is a good thing.If yall would just educate your selfs on snakes a little better you might understand.Even a rattlesnake trys to warn you when you get to close.Very few snakes in North America are agressive.I know it wont help but it kind of looks to me that you are actully snake hunting instead of fishing.

I agree bornforit, a good snake is a dead one, I see one coming towards me , BOOOOM!All the snake lovers can not kill all they want, I am gonna kil every one I see close to me, be it on land or water! I hate snakes & cats!

I love cats and snakes. If I had to choose what to shoot first, it would be a snake. I would not use a 410 snake charmer though...it would be a 12 gauge with a 28" barrell ....I like to get the job done in one shot from a distance.

I agree Rangerkev. People don't realize that snakes are apart of the balance of nature. We need snakes to control rodent populations. Besides, most snakes we encounter are non poisonous and couldn't hurt you if they wanted to. Even the poisonous ones for the most part can't hurt you too bad. Problem is, noone will educate themselves on the matter because they don't care enough to.