Howdy.

Fishing at Rocky Ford Creek is always good for seeing a rattler or two. Back in my college days I was tromping along the bank where the lower hatchery runway was, and pretty much the only moving water around there. As I watched the river and not my feet as I walked through the rocks, I stepped right on a four footer. I was actually standing on it, about eight inches from its head.

The snake wrapped its body around my boot up my calf and bit my boot about a dozen times until I could whack it with a softball sized rock that I leaned over and retreived from the ground. Somehow I managed it without breaking my ankle, only took one throw.

Not being one to waste wildlife, I deep fried it that night on my camp stove.

Tastes like chicken.

I also have a snakeskin band on my cowboy hat.

I have some relatives in Missouri and we used my uncle's .45 to shoot water moccasins in the creek on their ranch. I personally didn't have a problem with the snakes, but they would bite the occasional cow that would go down to water at the creek. That seemed to be pretty much standard practice around there.

I was fishing in a canoe there, as well, and I saw a couple of snakes actually drop out of trees and swim up to the boat. The guy at the sport shop where I bought my license said that if I planned on fishing the river that I shouldn't land the canoe except where there was a clear beach with no trees. He said they'd drop right in the boat if you floated under them.

I fished right down the middle of the river!

Fish on...

Todd.