Pictures Big Timber Rattler while kayaking today

Jump n Fish · 04-19-2009, 07:46 PM

Hit up a local river for some fishing. Water was too high and muddy and fishing was crap, but this little fellow made my day. Saw him drop in the river from a nearby tree, and I could tell by the head it was venomous. I'd never seen anything like it and could tell right away it wasn't a copperhead or moccasin. When it got to the other side of the river I got about 5 feet from it, which was about as close as a novice snake handler like me wanted to get. This is the first rattlesnake I've ever seen, and from what i've been told a rather large specimen for the species. It had about 15 or 16 rattles. He never once rattled at me or seemed bothered by me.

This little fella wasn't too shy either.

GenericAngler · 04-19-2009, 09:36 PM

OK -- Now I won't be able to sleep tonight. Thanks!

* I used to live out west and grew up with rattlesnakes a plenty. Would always get one or two of them with my 12 gauge every time I went chucker hunting. When I was 16 I was working on a combine in a field and had one slither up to me and begin to crawl up my boot....ever since then I have hated rattlesnakes and would be very happy never to see one again.

AnglerX · 04-19-2009, 10:02 PM

You should have tried to get it to pose better...next time grab its tail. LOL!

**holdemplyer** · 04-20-2009, 06:55 AM

Sweet! snakes are so cool! I love watching them swim too!

jarredbehrendt · 04-20-2009, 09:43 AM

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, I have not seen one in the wild yet myself.

Jump n Fish · 04-20-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarredbehrendt

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, I have not seen one in the wild yet myself.

I was really surprised at how beautiful of snake these really are. When the sun hit it as it was crossing the river it really showed its colors.

fish4bass · 04-20-2009, 02:13 PM

I have only seen one rattlesnake and it was from luckily a little ways away. I hate snakes and won't go near them, no matter what kind.

goose abuser · 04-26-2009, 05:51 PM

I woulda been all over that.

Thats a very old animal, and it looks really dark compared to the gold/yellows around here.

Cool find!

livnlrn · 04-28-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Thats a very old animal, and it looks really dark compared to the gold/yellows around here.

Don't tell me you've seen those in this part of the state?

goose abuser · 04-28-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livnlrn

Don't tell me you've seen those in this part of the state?

Only two hours from my doorstep.

LundLover · 04-28-2009, 01:56 PM

Jump n Fish · 04-29-2009, 10:11 AM

This has been a great week for viewing snakes. Went out kayaking on Sunday and saw countless snakes including two copperheads, 4 cottonmouths, tons of banded watersnakes, a few brown watersnakes, and a bunch I never got a good enough look at to identify.

Went out again yesterday and saw a bunch of banded watersnakes including this guy.

We also witnessed a HUGE black racer chasing after a frog going mach 2 and literally jump at the frog and catch it in midair. I've never seen anything like it and it happened just a few feet away as I was fishing by a log near the shore. It was an amazing site. I had no idea a snake could move that fast and have that much of its body come off the ground.

goose abuser · 04-29-2009, 07:28 PM

Bah!

Im so jealous. I havent even been able to get out herping yet.

04-19-2009, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jump n Fish Jump n Fish is dreamin of clear rivers and big spots Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Laurel, MS Posts: 1,331 Thanks: 613 Thanked 463 Times in 216 Posts	Big Timber Rattler while kayaking today Hit up a local river for some fishing. Water was too high and muddy and fishing was crap, but this little fellow made my day. Saw him drop in the river from a nearby tree, and I could tell by the head it was venomous. I'd never seen anything like it and could tell right away it wasn't a copperhead or moccasin. When it got to the other side of the river I got about 5 feet from it, which was about as close as a novice snake handler like me wanted to get. This is the first rattlesnake I've ever seen, and from what i've been told a rather large specimen for the species. It had about 15 or 16 rattles. He never once rattled at me or seemed bothered by me. This little fella wasn't too shy either. __________________ We accidentally replaced your heart with a baked potato. You have about three seconds to live.

04-19-2009, 09:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
GenericAngler GenericAngler has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the Weeping Water Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 120 Thanked 142 Times in 81 Posts Blog Entries: 5	OK -- Now I won't be able to sleep tonight. Thanks! * I used to live out west and grew up with rattlesnakes a plenty. Would always get one or two of them with my 12 gauge every time I went chucker hunting. When I was 16 I was working on a combine in a field and had one slither up to me and begin to crawl up my boot....ever since then I have hated rattlesnakes and would be very happy never to see one again. __________________ "Don't freakin' spoooool meeeeeee"

04-19-2009, 10:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
AnglerX AnglerX is resting Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where the shad are.. Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 257 Thanked 814 Times in 318 Posts	You should have tried to get it to pose better...next time grab its tail. LOL! __________________ Keeper of the Blue Bucket

04-20-2009, 06:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
holdemplyer holdemplyer is waiting on open water Director Join Date: May 2007 Location: hunting for Kenzies MA gill!!! Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 6,084 Thanks: 847 Thanked 1,388 Times in 820 Posts	Sweet! snakes are so cool! I love watching them swim too! __________________ "So I says to Mabel, I says... I'll continue this later." Waiting on the shadow to materialize.... Gone, but never forgotten.

04-20-2009, 09:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
jarredbehrendt jarredbehrendt is Dreaming of Paradise Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE for now.... Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,473 Thanks: 596 Thanked 405 Times in 303 Posts Blog Entries: 68	Very cool! Thanks for sharing, I have not seen one in the wild yet myself. __________________ Fish when you can...... Work when you have to.

04-20-2009, 02:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
fish4bass fish4bass has no status. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holdrege/Kearney Posts: 251 Thanks: 16 Thanked 50 Times in 39 Posts	I have only seen one rattlesnake and it was from luckily a little ways away. I hate snakes and won't go near them, no matter what kind.

04-26-2009, 05:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
goose abuser goose abuser is lovin' the new bowtech Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 730 Thanks: 64 Thanked 88 Times in 56 Posts	I woulda been all over that. Thats a very old animal, and it looks really dark compared to the gold/yellows around here. Cool find! __________________ My frilled dragon eats more than your frilled dragon...

04-28-2009, 01:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
LundLover LundLover is wishin' he was fishin' Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 4,171 Thanks: 118 Thanked 96 Times in 74 Posts	__________________ There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it!

04-29-2009, 10:11 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jump n Fish Jump n Fish is dreamin of clear rivers and big spots Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Laurel, MS Posts: 1,331 Thanks: 613 Thanked 463 Times in 216 Posts	This has been a great week for viewing snakes. Went out kayaking on Sunday and saw countless snakes including two copperheads, 4 cottonmouths, tons of banded watersnakes, a few brown watersnakes, and a bunch I never got a good enough look at to identify. Went out again yesterday and saw a bunch of banded watersnakes including this guy. We also witnessed a HUGE black racer chasing after a frog going mach 2 and literally jump at the frog and catch it in midair. I've never seen anything like it and it happened just a few feet away as I was fishing by a log near the shore. It was an amazing site. I had no idea a snake could move that fast and have that much of its body come off the ground. __________________ We accidentally replaced your heart with a baked potato. You have about three seconds to live.

04-29-2009, 07:28 PM	#13 (permalink)
goose abuser goose abuser is lovin' the new bowtech Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 730 Thanks: 64 Thanked 88 Times in 56 Posts	Bah! Im so jealous. I havent even been able to get out herping yet. __________________ My frilled dragon eats more than your frilled dragon...

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