Cottonmouth Freeforall

[Jon54]

We were fishing off a creek that led into the MS River and cottonmouths were literally everywhere. My BIL thought it neat and began playing them with his rod tip while we I soiled myself in the back of the boat.

 

[timberjack86]

As a kid in Central Miss. While frog gigging I gigged a Cottonmouth and struggled to pick the gig outta the water and there were 2 hooked up. Had to make a quick adjustment with 7 to 8 ft of snake and 2 heads that were upset to say the least. We had as much fun killing snakes as ever did gigging frogs.

Same here, we used to gig em for fun. Wouldn't do it now

 

[tanasirivertea]

They can be very aggressive at times.
I've several times experienced them aggressively coming to me, and have had to kill a couple truly in self defense. Most of my experiences with them have been while fishing around the back-waters of the Mississippi River (West KY & West TN) and around Reelfoot Lake.

A few years ago, while October bowhunting near the Mississippi, one of the largest cottonmouths I've ever seen struck me right above the ankle. Fortunately I was wearing snake boots on top of my stocking foot waders. I was walking thru some sycamore leaves, no where near any water. I stepped on a big one, jumped back trying to decide the next step, when I stepped backwards & sideways, a different & bigger one struck me. Both quickly disappeared under the sycamore leaves, and I went on my way.

Reelfoot is cottonmouth kindom aint it?! haha I have been fishing up there in fairly cool weather and still counted 4 or 5 in the day

 

[DayDay]

A buddy in West Tennessee captured these pictures in the Forked Deer river bottom just outside of Bells .WOW!!!!!

Pictures are a little grainy. Ask your buddy to get a little closer next time.

 

[TheLBLman]

Reelfoot is cottonmouth kindom aint it?!

Actually, I really don't see that many when I'm out on the lake fishing.
And I've never had one fall out of a tree and into my boat.
Have had them in my boat though, and several try to get in.
They are mainly around the areas where water meets higher & dryer ground.

Just thinking about it, I've had more encounters with big cottonmouths while bowhunting for deer than while fishing on Reelfoot. Many my encounters with cottonmouths have been hundreds of yards from the nearest water, but mostly within the general areas of the Mississippi River, Reelfoot Lake, and the Obion River.

I suspect if a cottonmouth spends too much time in water over a foot deep, a big gar or big bowfin or even a big catfish might make a meal of him. Eagles may also see them as prey.

 

[Cheshire]

Actually, I really don't see that many when I'm out on the lake fishing.
And I've never had one fall out of a tree and into my boat.
Have had them in my boat though, and several try to get in.
They are mainly around the areas where water meets higher & dryer ground.

Just thinking about it, I've had more encounters with big cottonmouths while bowhunting for deer than while fishing on Reelfoot. Many my encounters with cottonmouths have been hundreds of yards from the nearest water, but mostly within the general areas of the Mississippi River, Reelfoot Lake, and the Obion River.

I suspect if a cottonmouth spends too much time in water over a foot deep, a big gar or big bowfin or even a big catfish might make a meal of him. Eagles may also see them as prey.

Really cool, just wouldn't want them in my back yard

 

[UpperTully]

I've seen this happen about 3 times at Chickasaw Refuge over the years. It's pretty cool to watch. They also get kind of stupid and less aware of their surroundings while they do this.

 

[Bullit]

It's always a fun time when you gig a snake by mistake. Trying to get them off without getting bit.

 

[BSK]

The only snakes aggressive enough to actually come after me were moccasins in the Green Swamp of Florida. I stomped on one once and it popped like a half pint sized milk carton.

Having worked all over the Deep South, the only snake that worries me is the cottonmouth. I've had them behave very aggressively when I'm in the water with them. Hate it when that happens, especially chest deep water. Not easy to back away fast enough.

 

[TheLBLman]

I've had them behave very aggressively when I'm in the water with them. Hate it when that happens, especially chest deep water. Not easy to back away fast enough.

Some of the places I deer hunt, I wear stocking-foot chest waders with rubber (slip on, slip off) snake boots. Yes, the snake boots get full of water, but the neoprene feet of the waders don't allow much water, and still keep my feet dry. Most of the areas I actually hunt are actually only ankle-deep water or just muddy, marshy areas, but often have to wade deeper sloughs to get to those spots.

What is really scary is being in waste-deep water, walking by a big cypress tree or log, and having a coiled cottonmouth suddenly visible right in your face.

By the way, I once left a pair of snake boots in the bottom of a slough, when I got stuck. That particular slough had been dredged, then silted over where dredged. Was walking along in knee-deep water when suddenly went waist deep in silt. Couldn't get out. I was pulled out via a rope, snake boots left in the silt. Prior to being rescued, was imagining the long night ahead, with cottonmouths swimming up to me. Was very lucky to have been pulled out before dark that day.

 

[swd]

There was a 3rd snake somewhere close by. That is 2 males sparring for breeding rights to a nearby female. Pretty common breeding behavior in North American pit vipers.