My buddy just sent me a picture of an alligator in a lake of Houston, which makes me wonder if there is also any alligator here in DFW? I only saw some in the Dallas zoo though^_-)

I just got a toon and ready to explore more water. I'd like to avoid getting into their territory.

Thanks

Lake Worth

Thanks for the info, Txwhitacre, Bass fro chop. Got to find a buddy when I got out next time.

we do have gators. but they dont like being around people much. they will dive to avoid you most every time. The Trinity has some biggens & have also heard there are some on the brazos and creeks around the Arlington area. They would prefer to eat fish, dogs, cats, coons, snakes & possums than a tooner. theyd have to be real big or sick to want to eat a full grown man. I think youll be ok.

Thank ZomBie.

I did more search in the forum and found this post very useful as well:
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/topic/471236/gonew/1
"Quick summary - I wouldn't worry about gators or change my fishing unless I was wading through way back shallow swamps or had small kids or dogs with me. Even then I would just be more carefull.
... ...
Just watch for them - which takes a little practice. When you see them, remember they have a brain the size of your thumb and a simple program. they think about a few things:
I want to sleep (most of the time)
I want to eat (usually snails and small fish)
I want to mate (Apr-May)
I want to protect my nest (July-Aug)"

I have been fishing in Texas rivers and lakes across the state and never seen an alligator. Chances are I won't see one ever.

When I lived in Florida they were everywhere. When we would swim in the lakes we would just not go in the water where we saw them. Plus they are afraid of boats and humans so they tend to stay away

From the sounds of your last post dbsj, you really want to say away from them in April adn May. LOL

This thread title is awesome.

I've never seen one, but I hear they're out there.

Everyone talks about there being gators in the Hubbard 'river', and there are some pictures out there, but I've fished the area pretty extensively over the past couple years logging dozens of trips and haven't seen any signs of one myself... If theyre in there theyre hiding from people. Would be great habitat for them for sure so wouldn't be surprised if I did see one. Some big snakes in there though! There's some well documented gators in the ft worth nature center area of lake worth... I tend to think that when I head east of say terrell all the waters have a good chance of having gators. Seen lots of pics of gators in Fork but numerous trips have revealed no personal sightings. Talked to a guy at the ramp last year who has been fishing the lake 2-3 times a month since the early 90s and he had never seen one. They are there though.

Point is... The trinity in our area is the western/northern edge of their range. Sightings are very rare, and it's also worth mentioning that there has never been a fatality attributed to a gator attack in all of Texas. If you are lucky enough to see one, keep a respectful distance and you will have no troubles.

What I worry about most in our waters is coming up on a bunch of cottonmouths during spawning season. They can be aggressive in that situation. Years of paddling and fishing in 'moccasin' waters and it still hasn't happened yet. You're much more in danger walking the banks IMO.

The biggest danger is other people

Years ago 1986 ish. I had a sea eagle inflatable and was way up in a north arm of lake fork and had a 9 footer come straight at me to about 10 ft away and submerge and go under te raft and surfaced about 20 ft on the other side of me. He jus kept going. Funny I did not feel scared more intrigried when I saw him.

I have seen more than my fair share at Lake Fork. They avoided me and the boat. I have not encountered one in a yak.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience.

What Zombie said. Grew up in South Louisiana and generally didn't worry about gators until they were in the 12ft range. Even then, as long as you see them you're ok. It's the one you don't see that'll get you.

U think if u painted your yak to look like a gator another gator might try and hump it?

might try to fight it but if your bigger... maybe not!

Thats the only way I could figure a "attack" on a yak.

If it tries to hump you, it better leave some candy or flowers.

Both of these pictures are from a private lake near Athens, 100 miles from Dallas. I have been fishing with gators for about 20 years. Even in a kayak, you have nothing to fear. If they don't act afraid and don't back off, it means that they are distracting you from a nest or baby. I saw an alligator once a couple years ago in Coppell at a local park lake next to the river. There are some gators in the DFW metroplex. I do plan on kayaking with them in Athens. Just don't throw a topwater close to them because often they will chomp down on it.

the only ones ive seen were at huntville state park. my cousin and i threw small rocks at them when we were about 10 years old. ooops

I wouldn't doubt if there wasn't a gator or two in most lakes. I don't feel to comfy hanging my legs over the side of the kayak sometimes. However I think for the most part they are more scared of you. That is unless your messing with moma's babies.

On my maiden voyage in my new yak, just 4 weeks ago, we put in at the Fort Worth Nature Center and shortly after we were on the water I came eye to eye with an alligator. It was close enough for me to reach out and touch. After I spotted it we began to see many areas that were hidden in the brush and you could see where they lay down. Along the banks of the island sections out in the middle of the water you could see where they get in and out of the water. Living near Eagle Mountain and Lake Worth I have heard many stories about alligator on the lakes and now I can tell you that yep they are there.

Forget gators, these are what I'd be worried about.

I lived on Bob Sandlin from 89~97 and only saw 2 the entire time (that includes many many hours spend on Cypress and Monticello). Occasionally we would see something we thought was a slide on the bank, and we found some egg shells that my father collected and took to the local vet who collects exotic animals and she said they were alligator eggs.

Of the two we did see, one was sunning on the bank in late April. Red clay with some tall grass on the back side of the bank in a narrow cove. We lived on the hill across from it and watched him for 10 min before we called parks and wildlife. They said thanks, and that they'd send some one out. Never heard anything back, might have been 4 foot at best.

The second time was crappie fishing along the damn between Cypress and Sandlin and one came swimming out of the lily pads on the south side. Came north for a bit, and then headed back south east.

A few weeks ago there was a 10' gator spotted on Sandlin as well.

http://www.texashuntingrepublic.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/160809/Re_Alligator_seen_at_Lake_Bob_

If you want to talk about alligators in lakes, you need to look at Millwood Lake northeast of Texarkana. According to the guys at the 'Maud TX Baitshop' (so take that for it's worth) Arkansas game officials have been relocating alligator to that lake for years, specifically the north west section where the Little River flows into the lake.

In fact at the Wilton Landing Public Use area on Highway 59/71 there's a sign that reads "Caution: Alligators - Please do not feed the alligators"

http://g.co/maps/jxbc7

On a side note, that public use area was remodeled over last winter and looks BEAUTIFUL. Bathrooms, ramp, dock, picnic area and a VERY slow moving river with lots of cypress tress and well.. alligators.


Not sure how long of a paddle it is to the White Cliffs campground on the lake but looks like fun.