Can snakes catch fish?

[coyote101]

Apparently they can.

The wife and I were trout fishing Saturday morning at a small creek that is stocked by the Fish and Wildlife folks. Crystal clear cool water with dozens of trout lounging in the shade in a deep pool under a bridge. We're wading in the water trying to figure out what the fish want so we can have fresh trout for dinner. My wife gets kind of excited and says, "There's a snake in the water right there, and we're standing in it!"  Fifteen feet or so in front of us is about a four foot snake, moving slowly across the bottom toward the fish. He gets right in amongst them and ...... WHAM ...... fish on.

There was a little struggle, but not much. The snake rolled a few times as the fish tried to get away. It kept trying to get the trout to shore. My wife was still freaked, but I assured her the snake was not concerned with us as he had about a two week supply of groceries in his mouth. I watched it for a while until the snake worked the fish across the creek and I lost sight of them under some brush and overhanging rocks. I expect the snake eventually prevailed and is laid up somewhere with a big bulge in his middle. I wish I had the video camera.




 

[Hawks Feather]

That sure looks like a big mouthful for that snake.

Jerry

[KySongDog]

Cool!  I saw a snake with a fish in its mouth on the Swamp People show on TV but have never seen it in person.   Good pics, Pat. 

[Todd Rahm]

That's probably one of the most awesome set of pics I have ever seen!!! Very nice job at getting them.   Seems like it was one of those life experiences ya never have the cameras for, but you did. 

[HaMeR]

These pics are way cool Pat!! I seen the same show Semp did. Thanks for sharing!! 

[nastygunz]

Thats awesome..that snake looks like what we call a Northern Water Snake up here, they are very aggressive and I have seen them catch fish many times...I have watched them root around in rock and muddy bottoms and catch small catfish.

[FinsnFur]

Never seen nuttin like either other then the one Troys granddaughter pointed out on Swamp People

Can you imagine standing there fishing Pat, minding your own business on a calm summer morning when all of a sudden WHAM! ya get slammed in the back of the calf by a snake mouth...and he's driving his teeth in deeper and deeper as you bend at the knees in pain screaming.

[vayotehowler]

great pics . either field and stream or outdoor life  has a bull snake catching sparrows under bridge, it pretty wild will look mfor the link

[pitw]

Can you imagine standing there fishing Pat, minding your own business on a calm summer morning when all of a sudden WHAM! ya get slammed in the back of the calf by a snake mouth...and he's driving his teeth in deeper and deeper as you bend at the knees in pain screaming.

Go ahead Pat and beat Jim to a pulp. 

  I ain't never seen it and I ain't never wanting to  .  However your timing and ability with a camera [I am so happy you had with] was absolutely outstanding.  That is like described above and more and you deserve to be congratulated and thanked for sharing the best pictures taken lately if not ever.     

[vayotehowler]

i used to go the river when the water was low to lock for snagged lures. One day was wading and looking for lures and there was a pool to my left , kinda circular , like a holding pool, saw something wiggling out corner of eye kinda swimmy like and thought was a trout and tired a quick grasp, half way in i realize its a 3' copper head, water only about ankle deep and i took off running and tring to swim , Imagine i looked pretty silly running and doing a swimming motion with about 5'9" of me sticking out of the water    Like i say if you cant laff at yourself u cant laff at other people and that is no fun

[vayotehowler]

oh yeah any ideas what kinda snake????

[coyote101]

oh yeah any ideas what kinda snake????

Thats awesome..that snake looks like what we call a Northern Water Snake up here,

I think nastygunz had it correct. It looks a lot like a copperhead, but is harmless and common throughout Kentucky.

I tried to zoom in a little for a better look:






Pat

[nastygunz]

Heres his Yankee cousin :

[Jimmie in Ky]

Growing up around the swamps and backwaters of western Ky I have seen thousands of snakes over the years. Not once have I ever seen that in hte wild. Seen turtles make a catch but not a snake. That should give you an idea of how lucky you are to have gotten that set of pics.  Jimmie

[vayotehowler]

it really is impressive . i like the zoom shots too  that  trout showed up well

[Okanagan]

Great pics and story!  I've never seen anything like that nor heard of such a thing.  I wonder if that has ever been photo documented before?  Those pics might have some value to the right publication.

Thank you for posting them.

[vayotehowler]

i was thinking the local media or antional media gcould do an interest piece on it , it definitely is cool

[KurtisG]

       WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!