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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
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OP
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22 |
I have a very bad water moccasin problem in my pond. I go out every night and shoot them but the problem does not seem to be getting any better. Does anyone know of a trap that works or anything that may help the problem
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
Cottonmouth / water moccasins (assuming you've correctly IDed them) are attracted to the smell of dead fish, and seek habitat that is conducive to concealment. Like every other creature, they will occupy sites that provide ample food and shelter (esp weedy shorelines). Reduce or eliminate either factor and they won't hang around - or at least not as much. A partially submerged collapsible wire-mesh fish basket, stocked with a few dead 4" bluegill, makes a decent "trap" (sometimes unintentionally). Watersnakes will often enter the basket through the mesh, but can't easily exit in the same manner after devouring one or two of the bluegills. Just a thought....
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 352
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 352 |
Watersnakes will often enter the basket through the mesh, but can't easily exit in the same manner after devouring one or two of the bluegills. Sounds logical. Certainly a lot safer than spaying and neutering.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
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OP
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22 |
yes I have id them they are water moccasins. I have spent alot of money stocking it and clearing up the water the last thing I want to do is spray anything in my pond. I think you have given me a idea and I am going to build a trap for them.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 18 |
I killed 20 or so water snakes out of my pond this summer using the aformentioned trap. No need to build anything just buy a few minnow traps, theyre like 5$.
I'm a bullhead sympathizer, deal with it. My pond is in Hamilton, Texas.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,979 Likes: 14
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,979 Likes: 14 |
I've pulled out a few "Medusa headed" fish baskets in my day. Always a good time.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295 |
I've pulled out a few "Medusa headed" fish baskets in my day. Always a good time. Not for Todd3138....
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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've pulled out a few "Medusa headed" fish baskets in my day. Always a good time. Not for Todd3138.... Puke.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71 |
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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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 |
Couple of real rocket scientists there. That is why you ALWAYS approach ANY snake with a 12 gauge! They become very compliant after lead supplementation!
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
The FDA did just come out and say that supplements have no proven health benefit but can cause health problems. Lead supplements would fall into that category.
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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 |
All I know is that lead supplements turn any snake into a good snake!
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 104
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 104 |
Culummills123, you will need a larger opening than a minnow trap for the large female water moccasins. They will sometimes be 4-6inches in diameter and can't get in as standard minnow trap.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 18 |
Good point, seems like that could be curred pretty easily with some wire cutters though.
I'm a bullhead sympathizer, deal with it. My pond is in Hamilton, Texas.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
I have found northern water snakes in my minnow trap many times. I leave the top of the trap above water so I can release them unharmed.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 339
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 339 |
Those minnow/crayfish traps are very good at catching snakes. For cottonmouths you need a hole big enough for them. You can get a nice crayfish trap with an extension that makes it about 31 inches long or so for about $15. You might have to make the holes a little bigger than the 2 1/4" size that it comes with. I have caught black racers accidently by leaving minnow traps in my yard.
Free expert fishing tips. Just call BR-549.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
My neighbor caught a garden snake in a Have-a-heart trap one time, and a toad at the same time. The bulge in the toad kept the snake from escaping.
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