for all you tubers out there.......... http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14180329.cfm

That's one big gator!

I'm glad I don't taste like venison!

I don't think a gator that size would even care what you tast like fishbrain, just as long as you filled his tummy. If were to see something like that, believe me, I would be treading water like nobodys business.

That's just one reason that I won't get into the water in any of our North Texas lakes. The other reason is the 5-7 foot cottonmouths. No kidding; seen both in several of our lakes.

42,643 killed on US Highways last year

73 (US yearly average) killed by lightening strikes

12 (US yearly average) killed by snake bite

In 15 years there have only been 15 reported alligator attacks in Texas.

There has never been a reported fatality attributed to an aligator attack in this state.

According to the story I read with that picture when it was originally taken in South carolina last year, it is believed that the deer was already dead when the gator got her.

There are very few lakes in north Texas with an alligator population. Caddo lake probably has the most.

Todd

Sorry, Guy, but I have to differ. The world record cottonmouth is a tad over 6 feet (74,5"), and the average adult is from 20-48". You are either off on your identification or your measurements. Most likely, if the snakes you are seeing are that long, they are common water snakes. Out of the hundreds I've seen over the years, I could only confirm a small handful were actually mocassins, although a lot sure looked enough like them.

As for being afraid of going into the water, far more people are killed/injured in boating accidents each year than by attacks from snakes or alligators. Also, my nice, warm, black boat sure attracts more snakes than my little tube with some strange-looking creature sticking out of it. And I have never even seen an alligator on any lake in this part of the state--not saying they don't exist anywhere, just that they are far to rare to worry me. We get these threads every once and awhile, but any fears that might result are really a bit irrational.

Fishbrain
www.lsfta.com

Oh and I forgot, 150 people killed every year by falling coconuts, worldwide.

I have seen gators at fork and lake hawkiins and holly lake. I have tubed fork and hawkins at night and I dont sweat them one bit. I am one big bobber in that tube and I aint goin under!

I'm glad I'm not the only one to see that gator at Lake Fork. I've also seen one at Lewisville, but that was some 15 years ago.

Seen a gator at Squaw Creek but they are never going to open that lake again.Sure do miss it.

That is a big gator no matter where the picture was taken. There were tons of gators at one point in a little lake close to me called normange lake its a small town, but the lake had lots of gators, still a few but not nearly as many.

I've seen a gator at Richland Chambers that would go 7-8 feet in length. I'm willing to bet that most of the lakes in the area have a small gator population.

I called TP&W a few years ago after I encountered a small gator while tube fishing in Joe Pool Lake. The warden that I spoke to said that I must have been drinking. He didn't believe it. Since then I've heard about more than one instance of a gator in that lake. How big was the Lake Fork gator?
The one at Joe Pool popped up right next to me - which made me a little nervous. Although sometimes I feel safer with a small gator than a snake.

Bill

*Any of you folks ever tube fish Purtis Creek?