I recall fishing one day down on the Tennessee River back when I was a kid. I was sitting at the waters edge on a rock outcropping. My feet were dangling just a few inches above the water. I glanced down and a cottonmouth was directly under my feet in the water. I froze and my heart just about pounded out of my chest. It swam off like it didn't even notice me but I noticed it and then some. I think more people come closer to dying from fright than they do an actual bite lol (I mean that as a joke). Any of the poisonous snakes or snakes in general can be as sweet as a baby kitten I am not gonna touch them or get around them. We have local legends of hoop snakes has anyone ever heard of those or is that just a local myth.