I usally fish alone or w/ my dog around dusk-dawn. Last summer, on a full moon fishing for cats below the dam @ Joe Pool Lake in Tx. I felt a fear I'd never felt before. I was barefoot w/ baited lines and feet in the water around midnight. Been doin it like this since all my life. It's common sometimes to spot a nutria or beaver carrying on. But this night I noticed 2 eyes glaring across the bank. Now, a scared beaver normally "pops" his tail when scared then retreats. When I stood up to get a better look the 2 glowing eyes disappeared. Didn't think much and sat down to cut up some more bait. Maybe 15 mins. later those eyes appeared but were yrds. in front of me. I didn't have any light except for the moon. I started to lean up and those eyes disappeared again w/out a ripple. Something clicked in my head that this could be an alligator. I pulled my feet out the water and my heart was thumpin'. I've grown up in Dallas Fort Worth and never thought I should be careful of an alligator while fishing. Is this possible this far north up the Trinity River. Or was my mind playing tricks on me?

No mind tricks, there are gators in the Trinity. Gators in Lewisville Lake, gators in Grapevine, gators in the small lakes around Las Colinas. Got to stay alert at all times when you're bank fishing anywhere around the MetroMess area anymore.

There was a big one if Fork a few years ago. Haven't been back since I saw him so I sDon't know if he is still there.

Joe Pool is actually not fed directly by the Trinity, but is fed by some feeder creeks off the Trinity. Yes it is very possible, that is what you saw. I have seen numerous small gators in the gravel pits in North Grand Prairie over the years, and one about 6' feet in the Trinity, just east of the Roy Orr bridge, north of the park. I have not seen one in the Pool.

I saw a deer cross the road in Irving last spring. It was off Mac Arthur by Interstate 30. In the Trinity River Area.

I fish Lake Worth a lot and there are signs at the launch ramps warning of alligators. In the 3 years I've fished Worth I haven't seen any, but several folks who post on the Bass Fishing section have seen them. I think they must be primarily on the north end near the wildlife refuge area, but this is only speculation on my part.

Moral of the story, if you like your feet, keep them out of the water!

here's some info on local gators:
Gators in DFW Area

Gator in Lake Lewisville

Gator in Plano

TX Gators More Common than you Think

There are gators all over the DFW area. But leave them alone, and they'll leave you alone! Unlike some species of crocodile, Alligators very rarely attack humans unless the humans are messing with them first. Pets, and children are a different story, but just be careful.

The gators were here first after all lol. They were native to all our local rivers, including every branch of the Trinity, way before were here.

And they're protected by law.

heard about one on lake granbury in thorp springs but dont beleve it

Lakes in East Texas are full of them. I saw a couple on Lavon and Ray Hubbard many years ago. See them pretty often on Fork.

ive seen them in a few specific areas on fork, i think in long branch or in that area

There are two in Mustange Creek way in the back but have seen them at night during the summer on the point at little mustange and Williams Creek.
Was doing a tournament on lake Seminol in Florida and had one come by the boat that was bigger than my 17.5 Hydro Sport.. That will make you feel small....?

There was that big one on Lewisville that somebody killed last year.

you probably really saw a gator. They caught a small one about 2 months ago in plano in the creek that i fish in all the time, its at the out door learning center with 5 others now.