Deschutes Redsides....and other scaly things...

I could have taken a picture of one of the few meat eating redsides I managed to fool, but I'm sure we all know what decent sized older Deschutes redsides look like, so I'll spare you. I DID managed to find not one, not two, but three rattlesnakes along my journey.

Bluebird skies...

Apparently, they used to (or maybe still do) dump bodies in this old tunnel...

The local artists have been doing some good work.

I bumped into a tiny little scaly critter with way more buttons than his size would have you believe (he was maaaybe 2' & a little too feisty for me to manipulate in any safe manner.

Then there was the prize of the day. Probably the most uniquely colored Northern Pacific Rattlesnake I've ever seen with the subtle hues of green. I happened to set my beer down and walked down to the river to fish a spot. I came back up, grabbed my beer and spotted this fella just hanging out within a foot or so of where I set my beer down (I think I stepped right in between my beer and the snake as well). Never made a peep. Nor did he make a sound as I manipulated him (or her) into a place where I could tail it and move it away from the trail. Quite possibly the most chill rattlesnake I've ever encountered in my life!

Cheers & happy fishing/snake avoiding...

 

[Yard Sale]

Looks like a fun day!

Does meat eaters mean you were fishing streamers? I'm afraid to go swing sculpins until steelhead is open but sure would like to!

And no thanks on the rattlers. Not sure what to make of the non-rattlers. I kinda like when they give me notice. Sounds like this guy just held and was smart enough to just let you pass.

 

[Northern]

Wow, that's a gorgeous serpent!

 

[clarkman]

Does meat eaters mean you were fishing streamers? I'm afraid to go swing sculpins until steelhead is open but sure would like to!

swinging, twitching, downstream rip, deep pool slow strip....all of the above.

Most of the steelhead I've hooked fishing in any non-swinging style break off because it's such an aggressive take....

 

[clarkman]

Wow, that's a gorgeous serpent!

I just can't get over the colors on this one! I've never seen anything like it. Hopefully, if it encounters any other humans, it survives....would be super cool to see those genes spread (although, it blended in a little too well--that's the point, I suppose).

 

[Sam Roffe]

I'm not much into snakes, and if it were me, I probably wouldn't have appreciated the colors of that snake at the time, but, I do think that fellow is quite pretty. Thanks for sharing that photo.

You actually played with those snakes? Moving them around and such? Much braver man than I...

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Awesome snake. Never seen one colored that way. Super cool find.

 

[clarkman]

You actually played with those snakes? Moving them around and such? Much braver man than I...

I'm not sure I'd use the term, "play with"....

I've been handling reptiles (including some venomous ones--mostly rattlesnakes, so nothing too gnarly) for nearly my entire life so pretty comfortable with it plus I also know my limits. There's a reason I didn't fuck with the other 2 very much.

The nice thing is that even the cranky ones out here are nothing like a cranky 7' Western Diamondback....that'll put the fear of god in ya!

Awesome snake. Never seen one colored that way. Super cool find.

I seriously still can't get over the colors on that one!

 

[mcswny]

7' Western Diamondback

7 FEET?!

 

[clarkman]

7 FEET?!

Texas...yeah.....most were 4-6', but one that was killed (not by us) was actually a little over 7'

One that I came across that was only ~5' got in that defensive pose and was nearly waist high....pretty insane. And they're all assholes.

 

[Jim F.]

Probably the most uniquely colored Northern Pacific Rattlesnake I've ever seen with the subtle hues of green. I

That is a gorgeous Rattler, Randy! I saw one that had some green one time, but it didn't even compare to that one. Thanks for sharing.

 

[clarkman]

That is a gorgeous Rattler, Randy! I saw one that had some green one time, but it didn't even compare to that one. Thanks for sharing.

I almost wish I would have had a snake bag with me to collect and take to the local bio (of course, then they would have probably written me up) Such insane colors on it.....just mind blowing.

 

[Brute]

I can manipulate a beer…but not rattlesnakes…

 

[troutpocket]

I’m always surprised when people who fish east of the Cascades say they’ve never encountered a rattlesnake. Some places are snakier than others but if it’s reasonably warm out, I seem to find them….by walking up on them and hearing the rattling. If they were silent I doubt I’d ever see ‘em. But a three snake day? I might have quit a little early

 

[Sam Roffe]

I'm not sure I'd use the term, "play with"....

I've been handling reptiles (including some venomous ones--mostly rattlesnakes, so nothing too gnarly) for nearly my entire life so pretty comfortable with it plus I also know my limits. There's a reason I didn't fuck with the other 2 very much.

The nice thing is that even the cranky ones out here are nothing like a cranky 7' Western Diamondback....that'll put the fear of god in ya!



I seriously still can't get over the colors on that one!

Sounds like you know what you are doing.. You also know their behavior. But yeah, impressive colors, glad I can appreciate them from a distances.

 

[clarkman]

I’m always surprised when people who fish east of the Cascades say they’ve never encountered a rattlesnake. Some places are snakier than others but if it’s reasonably warm out, I seem to find them….by walking up on them and hearing the rattling. If they were silent I doubt I’d ever see ‘em. But a three snake day? I might have quit a little early

Just seeing the uniquely colored one was far better than any fish caught...

Serious highlight of any of my fishing days this year (ranks right up there with a 4 for 6 tiger musky day).

I emailed the pic to ODFW to see of any of their bios have ever seen anything like it.

I can manipulate a beer…but not rattlesnakes…

I'm decent at both....

 

[clarkman]

one more shot. If you zoom in and follow up from the tail, you can see just how insanely camouflage that color is.

 

[Brute]

Ok…now I’m going to have to glue leather chaps on my waders…

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Mojave Green cross?

 

[doublespey]

Awesome pics Clarkman . . . will be down there near that tunnel in a few weeks and appreciate the reminder to be Snake Aware. I too have handled snakes, both venomous and not, over the years and have a healthy respect for them all. That rattlesnake coloring is incredible - never seen anything like it. The most aggressive snakes I've encountered have been Cottonmouths in Texas. I was on a little metal dock casting for bass a couple years ago when I noticed a fat 3'+ Moccasin swimming toward me. Snakes usually avoid humans, so I tapped him with the tip of the rod to let him know I was there and direct him away from the dock. That SOB swam right around the rod tip and climbed up on the dock with me. The next 'tap' send him back into the lake and I decided that was enough fishing for the day. Texas has some mean snakes!