I moved from out of state fairly recently and am new here.

There was no threat of alligators back home, so I used my float tube all the time. How serious of a threat are alligators in the major DFW lakes (Grapevine, Lewisville, Ray Hubbard)? Am I safe to float? Or should I really consider switching to a kayak?

Is there anything else I need to be aware of floating these larger lakes? I would mainly stay in the coves or hug the bank if I exit the coves.

Thanks in advance for any and all input!

Well you are in Texas now. We don't use the float tubes because the big bass like the top water action. We lose more fishermen that way...

Stay outta the backwaters, you'll be fine. I was kidding about the big bass.

It's really the alligator gar you gotta worry about...

Around dfw you'll have no issue with gators with the exception of maybe lake worth north end at the nature center, i see a lot up there. But for the rest of the lakes There are a few in some of the creeks but I noodle all the lakes around and can tell you after 30 years I've maybe seen 4-5 of them. People swim in all of our lakes with no issues.

The alligator risk is very very low in and around DFW. I would be more concerned in some remote sections of Lake Fork and other East Texas lakes. I would wear a bright lime green or safety orange hat so power boaters are more likely see you especially in the evening.

I'd be more concerned with snakes than alligators. Since the rise in popularity of kayaks, you rarely see anyone in a tube.

Agreed. Little to no risk unless you jump on one. I think that was what the man did last year showing off for a girl. I believe he is the only death attributed to a gator in modern Texas History though I am sure some Indians likely had some deaths well before that.

Anyway, here is a video where a man in his canoe snapped a shot of a small alligator on Lake Worth.

Brad

Lake Worth tiny gator 2013

Virtually no risk buddy. Snakes are the only think you really need to worry about. They ARE around here but I've been fishing up here for 9 years now and still haven't run across one. If you do find one it'll be more concerned with avoiding you than it is with eating you.

In the lakes that you mentioned it would be much more likey for you to be run over by a Jet Ski, step on a broken beer bottle, a dirty needle or get tangled in some old fishing line than be bothered by a gator.

As you probably know South Florida is having a real big time problem with Pythons. I doubt that the Dallas area could support that snake due to the low temp. that you get. That is what has kept them from coming further North in Florida. Just a little eye opener for you.

Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it! As far as the snakes go, do they swim underwater or just float on top?

Yes but unless you have fish on a stronger or they are looking to get out of the water and sun. You are ok

What? He asked about alligators in dfw and you comment about pythons in florida.

I wouldn't float/tube anywhere. With as much water as we've had the last year, I would think it has displaced gators and could show up anywhere. Be safe out there.

"Ain't no gatez in that wata boy"