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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 221
Lunker
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Yellow-bellied Water Snake
My pond has a healthy population of these snakes (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster.) They seem to be most active in the day. Last Sunday when we were out fishing, one came right up to my wife who was GSF hunting. Every time I throw out feed they seem to really start moving. This particular specimen showed a strong allergic reaction to lead.
Even when we're out swimming, they tend to come right up to us. My wife says the herd needs to be thinned -- they're getting too close for comfort.
Last edited by Clayton; 05/23/10 09:42 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame  Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3 |
Looks more like a copperheaded rattlemocassin to me. 
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 221
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 221 |
Often people mistake them for water moccasins but they are no where near as ferocious as the copperheaded rattlemocassins. I hear that one hiss from one of them can instill fear in ponds three counties away.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3 |
I'm pretty much crappin' myself half a country away! 
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,555 Likes: 411
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,555 Likes: 411 |
You guys will like this. I headed to my place this morning. When I started to town for lunch, I crossed a small overflow over the county road. There was a 16 inch water snake in it and we didn't bother each other. About 45 minutes later, I came back wondering if the snake was still there. Yep, but he/she was out of the water, in the middle of the road, and pretty well intertwined with another snake. They were mating. I stopped and finally backed up about 150 yards to another road. I went back another way.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3 |
And here I was thinking you were going to say you backed up and crushed 'em with your truck! That was a darn fine move on your part, though, Dave, as it's just not cricket to kill a man while he's entwined in the throes of procreation!
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 26
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 26 |
Clayton maybe it's the LoneStar Floating Catfish Food, I also have alot of them 
Mike Anderson County, Texas 
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 221
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 221 |
Clayton maybe it's the LoneStar Floating Catfish Food, I also have alot of them Actually, I think you're onto something. They seem to move after we've tossed out some feed. I cut open this one and sure enough -- there was some feed in it's belly!
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,883 Likes: 117
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,883 Likes: 117 |
You guys will like this. I headed to my place this morning. When I started to town for lunch, I crossed a small overflow over the county road. There was a 16 inch water snake in it and we didn't bother each other. About 45 minutes later, I came back wondering if the snake was still there. Yep, but he/she was out of the water, in the middle of the road, and pretty well intertwined with another snake. They were mating. I stopped and finally backed up about 150 yards to another road. I went back another way. Jeesh, ever hear of allowing a couple some privacy? Hope you enjoyed the show!
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau ![[Linked Image from i1261.photobucket.com]](http://i1261.photobucket.com/albums/ii582/teehjaeh57/I_subscribe_zps69249d43.gif)
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 349
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 349 |
There would be no more swimming until all snakes were expelled! Nothing like the smell of cordite in the morning...keeps me going.
I subscribe!
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 644
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 644 |
We have a bunch of Northern Water Snakes (closely related to the yellow-bellied water snake) that like to hang out on the dam. Some of them are close to 4 feet in length. I've been known to jump a bit when I walk up on one unaware. 
12 ac pond in NW Missouri. 28' max depth at full pool. Fish Present: LMB, BG, RES, YP, CC, WB, HSB, WE, BCP, WCP, GSH.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,555 Likes: 411
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,555 Likes: 411 |
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
I see snakes as just another pond creature. Pond creatures are either harmful to the health of the pond, or not. They're either not plentiful enough, just right, or too plentiful. When they get too plentiful, I will exercise my right as pondmeister to take them out. Haven't really had to yet, their numbers increase and decrease naturally. I have hardly any right now. I think they hate ponds with large LMB, and move along because their babies will all get eaten.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 265
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 265 |
Last year I had one that liked to be hand fead..he or she was very friendly
"Is the Poop-Deck really what I think it is?" - Homer Simpson
"A man can't just sit around" - Larry Walters, 1982
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 823 |
I cut open this one and sure enough -- there was some feed in it's belly! Man...you got WAY bigger stones than me...I'm shuddering as I type...my bra is probably showing. 
In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times. My wife figures I'm due to die any day now... 
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 7
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 7 |
Well, I can see the small water snakes didn't slow down the GSF hunting.
Perhaps it's time for something a little larger.
Hello Reptile World? How does one obtain an adult Anaconda?
JHAP
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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."
...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
I cut open this one and sure enough -- there was some feed in it's belly! Man...you got WAY bigger stones than me...I'm shuddering as I type...my bra is probably showing. Matt, Should you be wearing a bra?  I know, I know, this is probably Matt's significant other. I hope... 
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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