Swimming animal at Tim's Ford in Winchester. What was it?

[jgradyc]

I was visiting a friend at Tim's Ford just after sunset when we saw an animal swim by in the lake. It was moving at a steady pace about as fast as man could swim giving off a steady ripple in the water. It was a steady pace about walking pace. It dove underwater 2-3 times in the minute it was in sight and would come up maybe 15 feet farther down the lakeside. I couldn't tell what it was because it was almost all underwater. It was maybe 30 yards offshore. The silhouette made it appear to be bigger than a mouse or a water snake... maybe about the size of a football or bigger?  All I could see was what appeared to be a nose. About 20 minutes later, another creature went by in the same direction that had the same pattern. What do you think this was? My friend spends every evening by the same lakeshore and this is the first time she has seen it. 

[peejman]

Turtle?

[jgradyc]

[jgradyc]

4 minutes ago, peejman said:

Turtle?

Turtle or snake was my first thought. But it didn't swim like a snake and it moved pretty fast and was steadily swimming nonstop for over 100 yards until it was out of sight. I don't think turtles do that.

[jgradyc]

I had 20x50 binoculars, but all I could see was a vague shape underwater.

[Rob112o]

It was probably a groundhog.

[kvmx00]

Muskrat

[Grayfox54]

Most likely a Muskrat. Possibly a beaver. 

[gregintenn]

Muskrat? Mink? Beaver?

[peejman]

1 hour ago, jgradyc said:

Turtle or snake was my first thought. But it didn't swim like a snake and it moved pretty fast and was steadily swimming nonstop for over 100 yards until it was out of sight. I don't think turtles do that.

Yeah, I think muskrat too. 

[Johnny Rotten]

defiantly a periscope 

[ArmyBrat61]

Otter be a good answer........

[MP5_Rizzo]

Muskrat, otter, beaver or Nessie. 

[RED333]

1 hour ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

Nessie

Baby one was my guess.

[runco]

Chinese submarine or something Chinese.......

 

[tercel89]

Otter

[Luckyforward]

[monkeylizard]

Seriously? You guys are slipping. That's clearly a black panther.

[Omega]

[Luckyforward]