Snake bite at GHD.

[mhall]

Dave I'm not a bit surprised. The snakes around that lake are getting thick especially the copperheads and they will get in your boat too. There was a lady bit by a copperhead last year at Jamestown inside their boat. Be careful them rascals like laying just under them docks right out of sight and if that hand gets too close and they feel threatened they will tag ya.

[Tim_T]

I thought water moccasins in KY only lived in the far western section of the state. Seems like I was told that the habitat in the rest of the state wouldn't support them. Mybe I misunderstood, anybody else heard this before.

[sparrow75]

I thought water moccasins in KY only lived in the far western section of the state. Seems like I was told that the habitat in the rest of the state wouldn't support them. Mybe I misunderstood, anybody else heard this before.

Yep, their known range does not include anywhere around Lake Cumberland.

[mhall]

Yep, their known range does not include anywhere around Lake Cumberland.

That don't mean there aren't a few around though. We killed one in a pond in the late 80's and it was for sure one, never saw one in that pond again since and I still frequent that pond. Go tell the fella that got bit and see what he says, lol.

[Rangerman]

Yep, their known range does not include anywhere around Lake Cumberland.

Yep! In all the years I have spent on Cumberland I have never seen a cottonmouth on that lake. Now copperheads....that is a whole nother story.

[mhall]

Yep! In all the years I have spent on Cumberland I have never seen a cottonmouth on that lake. Now copperheads....that is a whole nother story.

I've never seen one either, but you never know. Now I've seen copperheads and have yet to see a timber rattler but they are there, seen bunches of pictures of people holding or standing by ones they have killed 4 and 5 foot long. I'll tell you something else to, when the water snakes are breeding don't get to close to their nests they will try and get in the boat with ya, lol. I've done Hand to Hand with those things before and it wasn't fun. They don't give up easy either, lol. I had to fight one with my rod one day and he almost whipped my arse.

[PRO V LE]

The report from the man himself can be found under the Grider Hill forum on lakecumberland.com I just posted what he said, and I know him also. Please read his post and then you can make up you're own mind. And yes there is discussion about the range of Cotton Mouths in Ky. on there also. Maybe the snakes need to learn how to read to know they are'nt suppose to be here. jko

[mhall]

The report from the man himself can be found under the Grider Hill forum on lakecumberland.com I just posted what he said, and I know him also. Please read his post and then you can make up you're own mind. And yes there is discussion about the range of Cotton Mouths in Ky. on there also. Maybe the snakes need to learn how to read to know they are'nt suppose to be here. jko

Now that's funny right there I don't care who you are. Dave I read the thread on LC.Com and the ER at the hospital treated him for what he said. I also looked at the SO CALLED range of the moccassons and it's only a few counties to the west of Cumberland. But like you said snakes know they aren't suppose to cross that imaginary line in the sand, LOL.

[roadrunner]

When I was in the boat last year with Dave Stewart we had a water moccasin swim buy and it sure got Dave’s attention. He said you can tell a moccasin because they swim with there entire body out of the water and he said they will come in a boat with you. He was bit by one and said they will make you real sick. Dave please correct me if I am wrong on anything. I know this is western Ky. But you have to respect and be careful with snakes.

Bob Coan told me Tennessee was reintroducing rattle snakes to Dale Hollow so maybe Kentucky is turning water moccasins lose around Cumberland.

Beep Beep

[Harley]

I hate to hear that cause I know poisonous snake bites can be nasty. I'm lucky, in all my years of catching poisonous and non-poisonous snakes I have never been bitten by a poisonous snake. I used to own a number of different breeds of snakes and have been catching them since I was four years old. Kind of a twisted hobby of mine. I still get 5+ calls a summer from friends asking me to come get a snake out of their yard.

They also used to say that there are no poisonous snakes in Fayette Co too, but one of my parent's Golden Retrievers was bit by a Copperhead a number of years back and they live on Todd's Rd. The emergency vet that night tried to say it was a black widow but if I ever see a black widow with fangs that are more than a half inch apart I'm moving out of the state. There regular vet confirmed what I had said the next day.

Northern water snakes are commonly mistaken for Cottonmouths. They look just like 'em and are actually more aggressive but they are non-poisonous. Now obviously this guy didn't make that mistake since he was bitten and I'm sure that was total hell to go through. I used to own a number of different breeds of snakes and have been catching them since I was four years old. Kind of a twisted hobby of mine.

Best advice I can give is to stomp on the dock as you walk on it and they'll take off. If you are pulling up to it from the water find a way to do something similar. When they feel that vibration, more often than not they will bug out since they are more afraid of you then you are of them. Other than that keep your eyes open as best you can.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Cottonmouths are very common at Ky Lake just ask Dave Stewart and ME. We was fishing in the back on a cut on Monday and Dave had caught a couple and I had caught a couple as well when he made a cast then said we are done with this little spot. He tried to show me where the Cottonmouth was sitting up inside the buckbrush sunning and I still could not see it. Blended in perfect with the grey body and grey buck brush. It took me a few minutes to still see it and I thought Dave was the blind one of the two of us. Dave said "He can have this little cove" and off we moved down the bank. I have heard of stories of them coming in the boat with you this time of year and want no part of that at all. You will see a first hand account of a fat man walking on water if this ever happens for that snake will be the new owner of my boat and all that is inside. I got hung up in the brush on Tuesday and took extra care in looking it over before moving in to get it out.

[Tim_T]

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to make light of the guy who was bitten. I was inquiring because I have always been told that the cottonmouth was only common in western kentucky.

As far as how aggressive they are I can only yell you this. My only sightings/dealings with them were on the Arkansas River near Pine Bluff during the Red Man All-American around 1997. Saw several and they did seem to be very aggressive and I was told it was there nesting season.

I have always been told that in Kentucky they resided in the western part of the state down around Barkley/Kentucky and further west. I have been told that Ballard County WMA is ate up with them.