Oh, Slabby my goodness ---- My parents and I were on Table Rock back in the late 60's and our dirty shorts can attest to the fact they can swim very well.

We were along a nearly vertical cliff bank in (80' feet of water) that had a shelf about 8' above the water with a copperhead that was keeper of the castle. Dad says " that snake is gonna fall out in somebody's boat, we need to get him off that ledge. Cast up there and see if you can make him chase your lure (Rapala) off the ledge." "We're out here at a safe distance." --- yeah right about as safe as saying our federal deficit will be reversed next year.

At 11-12 years old I was pretty adapt at pitchin a closed face Zebco 33 with 20# mono and a cue stick pole. 2nd, maybe 3rd cast she landed right in the face of that beast. That dude pounced on that faster than a fly on a fresh cow-pile and was just a bit agitated when I instinctively set the hook. Off the ledge into the drink ----- like a groupie chasing a rock star after a concert, the monster followed the line right towards us.

I was not about to give up the first rod and reel I purchased or the 90 cent Rapala. Of course Dad always taught me to keep tension on the line, tip up---don't give em slack ----- as I continued to guide the serpent to our floating oasis. Or in Mom's eyes....hellhole

Ya see, my Mom, God rest her soul, did not have snakes on her Top 10 Million Favorite Creatures-List. Being a God fearing soul any Biblical references to serpents where "fresh on her mind".

My ear drums have still not recovered.

As I held my cue stick as far away from my mortal body, wondering what Heaven is really like, trying to keep the creatures' tail from touching any part of our boat...or us......I wasn't sure what was coming next----- if the beast was coming into our not-so cozy- confines or Mom was going into the drink. I then began to wonder if Dad was really as good a baseball player as he said. Lets just say he was down in the count 0-2 as his first 2 mighty swings with the paddle almost decapitated his favorite sons head. I'm thinkin Mom you and me ..... lets take a swim but finally Dad hit a home run and blasted the serpent (come on now---the snake, not me) upside the noggin breaking my line.

Absolutely true story. Those critters have unbelievable strength and agility.