Went out last night to try some night noodling below lake worth dam and I forgot to bring my water shoes so I had to go barefoot. Was underneath the waterfall looking forholes underneath the ledge . Stepped off the ledge into about 4 ft of water. Started feeling for holes. I look back. And a juvenile water moccasin is swimming right at me. He stops about a foot and a half from me and I had my headlamp pointed right at him. He stops about a foot and a half from me and Cocks his head back about to strike. At that moment I walked on water. And scaled that wall BAREFOOT and as I'm doing so I look back down and he is lunging at me through the air. I don't think I've ever moved that fast in my life. Lol i think i will wait for daytime to check rivers for holes from now on. I thought it was a copperhead at first because of its orangish color. But after I did some research I realized it was a cottonmouth cuz juvenile cottonmouth are a brighter color and their color fades as they get older. And Copperheads don't normally chase people. And this snake was definitely in the viper family. Big triangular head small bodyI felt like I was in lonesome dove for a min. Haha. First time I've ever been scared of a snake.

They like lights

do they really?

Oh yes they like lights. Which is why when night Crappie fishing only use the submerged lights. And aren't there Gators there in Lake Worth or is it Eagle Mountain?

they say that they are only below eagle mountain dam on the trinity between upper lake worth and eagle mountain dam but who knows really where all of them are

Dang, glad you dodged that sucker.

Last year I saw a small one (gator) cruising the surface on the lake, at first I thought it was a log but then it got close enough for me to get a good look at it, I've heard stories of people that have lake property say that there is a large one that hangs out close by there property but I haven't seen it yet

I can remember as a kid going frogging and catching frogs with my bare hands. After about the 3rd time almost grabbing a snake with my hands I bought a gig. Got bit one time but just barely in the back of the heel. That shot of adreniline you get is for real. That's why that sucker only caught me in the tendon on the back of the heel, LOL!!

I got holes on lake worth for handfishing. This guy ain't scares!! I'd wrestle one. Lol. But not poisonous snakes. And I would be screwed. Especially how far of a hike it is back to the car where I was at. My blood would've been pumping so hard and fast from that steep [censored] trail back to the truck I bet most of the poison would've been in my entire body by the time I made it to the car. My mom's chewing my butt. So i told her I would start carrying my military issue tourniquet With me from now on. Lol.

If I can remember the same people that told me about the large gator are the same ones that told me about THE GOATMAN (old legend on Lake Worth) but I haven't seen him either

All of the reports (of alligators) I've heard about are in the nature preserve area on Lake Worth.

I love it when a water snake gets the best of a grown man

Back in the late 80's we caught a nice 6' gator about 1/2 mile up from Vances,
we took it back to the reserve and they cut it loose there.
Never saw another one.

I just came from living near Okeefenokee Swamp for three years. Gators aren't that bad. However, I've had a couple of 7-8 footers snatch my chain pickerel off my line while I had it on the bank. I quickly moved out of the way because he wanted more than I did for sure. I've also used one as a trolling motor on my kayak when one ate the bowfin I had on my roostertail.

Hey, bud.......

Quit being a puss!!

There was a confirmed 12ft gator that was cruising out main lake past the 199 bridge and a gator trapper caught an 8 1/2 - 9ft gator main lake about 200 yards from the Marshall station. Ive personally seen some 3ftrs out in the lost pond by goat island. Don't know if they are behind the dam but I wouldn't be surprised if they were.