I caught a monster gill out of Rock Creek. Fishing a grub around the brush in the back. Weighted a little over 2.5, fought like a good size smallmouth, on ultra light gear I was using.
Most of my rattler experience is from Arizona, but several close encounters and never had one rattle. One time was face to face looking under brush for a dove, another my foot was 6 inches over one coiled. I will saw I never thought a rattler was as loud as they are.