4-26-09 Results: One Bass And A Weird Snake

[FishinCricket]

Had to go to the Airport to drop off my sister, and decided to go to the A Busch area and see if I could catch a fish or two.. Just for fun. (PS Thanks Patfish for the phone call and for offering suggestions as to what to do to have a good time, the suggestions helped)....

We fished lake 24. The fishing wasn't great, but I attribute that mainly to the wind (15-25 MPH gusts).. I hooked one little largemouth bass and only got one or two other hits.

But I did jump up this snake, I looked it up and it looks like it's a Mississippi Green Water Snake. MDC says they are endangered here and are only found in south west missouri.

I tell you one thing, when I was accidentally stepping over it, I was certain it was a CottonMouth! It bowed up at me and its head spread out to about three times it's normal size. My brother in law identified it as a "spreadhead". Can't find that as a technical name anywhere, but it looks similar to the above mentioned snake.

I decided to catch it anyway. I did release it unharmed about 40 yards up into the woods.

Is this a Miss. Green Water Snake, or was I handling a poisonous snake?

[Chris Barclay]

Had to go to the Airport to drop off my sister, and decided to go to the A Busch area and see if I could catch a fish or two.. Just for fun. (PS Thanks Patfish for the phone call and for offering suggestions as to what to do to have a good time, the suggestions helped)....

We fished lake 24. The fishing wasn't great, but I attribute that mainly to the wind (15-25 MPH gusts).. I hooked one little largemouth bass and only got one or two other hits.

But I did jump up this snake, I looked it up and it looks like it's a Mississippi Green Water Snake. MDC says they are endangered here and are only found in south west missouri.

I tell you one thing, when I was accidentally stepping over it, I was certain it was a CottonMouth! It bowed up at me and its head spread out to about three times it's normal size. My brother in law identified it as a "spreadhead". Can't find that as a technical name anywhere, but it looks similar to the above mentioned snake.

I decided to catch it anyway. I did release it unharmed about 40 yards up into the woods.

Is this a Miss. Green Water Snake, or was I handling a poisonous snake?

I was out there Saturday morning and fished 24 for a little while and caught nothing. I didn't see that snake either but I saw several others including a moc. I was fishing over. Glad you found a place to fish.

[duckydoty]

Had to go to the Airport to drop off my sister, and decided to go to the A Busch area and see if I could catch a fish or two.. Just for fun. (PS Thanks Patfish for the phone call and for offering suggestions as to what to do to have a good time, the suggestions helped)....

We fished lake 24. The fishing wasn't great, but I attribute that mainly to the wind (15-25 MPH gusts).. I hooked one little largemouth bass and only got one or two other hits.

But I did jump up this snake, I looked it up and it looks like it's a Mississippi Green Water Snake. MDC says they are endangered here and are only found in south west missouri.

I tell you one thing, when I was accidentally stepping over it, I was certain it was a CottonMouth! It bowed up at me and its head spread out to about three times it's normal size. My brother in law identified it as a "spreadhead". Can't find that as a technical name anywhere, but it looks similar to the above mentioned snake.

I decided to catch it anyway. I did release it unharmed about 40 yards up into the woods.

Is this a Miss. Green Water Snake, or was I handling a poisonous snake?

I have found hog nosed snakes there or some people call them spreading adders. They are frog and toad eaters. That one doesnt look like the hog nosed snakes I have seen at Busch Wildlife Area though.

[swilson]

I believe that's an Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, AKA "spreadhead, puff adder, or hissing viper"

Snakes of MO

[duckydoty]

A closer look at the 2nd picture and it does resemble the hog nosed snake. If you play with them long enough and the spreading of the hood doesnt foil you, then they will turn belly up and play dead.

[FishinCricket]

A closer look at the 2nd picture and it does resemble the hog nosed snake. If you play with them long enough and the spreading of the hood doesnt foil you, then they will turn belly up and play dead.

Well he was quick to spread his head and scare the crap right outta me, but he doesn't match the pictures from the MDC website of a hog-nosed snake.. He was exceptionally dark.. But I have been wrong before. the name Adder came to mind when I was handling him, but Chad seemed convinced that Adders were poisonous snakes. I didn't mess with him too much, but he didn't really stink like the description of the Green Water Snake.

Dunno, but I thought it was interesting...

Pretty good pictures for a phone, eh?

[podum]

Hog nosed snakes darken as they get older. The really young ones have bright markings (the tan and brown shades are very contrasting). They blend together in the older adults. From the pics and the described behavior, I agree with the others on the ID.

When they roll over and play dead, they'll puke too. That's real cute . . .