I know this picture isnt the greatest, but tonight while walking around the lake in our neighborhood we saw this 3 to 4 foot thing moving in the water. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. I fish all over the country, and Ive seen pretty much anything on the lake, he said, the only shocker was it was on this lake., Carnes said the gators spot also was good for fishing. I always thought it was a fib people told. Lake Wylie is home to a large number of white perch. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Its not dangerous, said Medford, who isnt planning to continue the search for it. "Lake Wylie monster?" Jessica Plate posted with her photo. However, some customers have reported seeing an alligator while fishing. This time we visited on a Friday and there were lots of people there. But we stayed away from it.. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse!. Lake Wylie is one of 11 lakes on the Catawba River and is the oldest lake in the Catawba River basin, with water being moved around each lake on the chain system through Duke Power. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely illegally dumped because they arent native to the area. The average weight of a spotted bass caught in Lake Wylie is around 4 pounds, but the maximum size of spotted bass caught in Lake Wylie is approximately 22 inches long. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Its not big at all, but its definitely living there, said Carnes, 17, who lives on Lake Wylie. Biologists are investigating how the alligator died. The two returned to the spot April 9 in preparation for a tournament this weekend. Photo at South Carolina lake resurrects talk of tribal legend, (Jessica Plate (custom credit) | Jessica Plate), Medical Marijuana bill passes NC Senate; some cannabis supporters against bill, Making breakfast burritos and cheater beans with Chef Elizabeth Barrick, Authorities searching for missing 12-year-old Gaston County girl, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video, Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State, though alligators have been found occasionally. At first, I thought it was a dog or deer, shoot, maybe a scuba diver!. Also it probably won't make it through winter. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple . Video shows driver nearly hitting 2 students crossing NC road to board their bus, NC Supreme Court blocks transfer of school funds in Leandro court case, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Man charged with DUI after 3-year-old child dies in Fort Mill car crash, police say, The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesnt look like pie at all. He also urges anglers to move to another spot. On Tuesday officers from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission pulled the alligator from the waters. "All of a sudden he flew out his line and the next thing you know, it's a gator," Figueroa said. We have visited Legg Lake Park and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area numerous times. 49.81 square miles vs 21 square miles. I dont think itll mess you.. Andrew Dys: 803-329-4065 . Heres why some opposed that Panthers deal, and why York County approved it anyway. It definitely freaked us out.. The largemouth bass is a widespread species of fish to catch in Lake Wylie. Kayakers on Lake Wylie near Copperhead Island boat docks were surprised by a visitor spotted on a log earlier this month. She thinks the sensible explanation is that it was an alligator, despite the fact alligators dont live in Lake Wylie. The Catawba had legends of giant leechlike creatures that lived in the river. He says that the catfish are biting at Lake Wylie and that the best spots for catching them are near the dam, in the creeks, and around structures. If the gator was caught, Medford said, the commission would work with zoos to place it, or euthanize it because moving it to a different location could harm local populations. Although they are not as popular as other fish, they can provide a tasty meal. His friend may be next. In 2000, officers found a gator in the Crowders Creek area of Wylie and in 1999, Catawba Nuclear Station employees spotted a 5- to 7-foot alligator lurking in a nearby lagoon. An excellent location for fishing for crappie is behind the dam. Jacob Cannon. Lake Jocassee; Oconee & Pickens counties . 3 alligators spotted in Lake Wylie - YouTube 3 alligators spotted in Lake Wylie 36,965 views May 13, 2009 22 Dislike Share Wcnc Newsroom 8.92K subscribers Three alligators have been. Copyright 2022 lakeaccess.org - Sitemap, Lake Jennings Fishing: San Diegos Best Kept Secret, How Do Fish Get to Inland Lakes? Which is better Lake Norman or Lake Wylie? Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Giant snakes were not the only mysterious creatures inhabiting the river in the days before European settlement of the region. One involves monstrously large snakes that prey on people in the rapids and giant leech-like creatures, reported John Hairr in the 2013 book Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State.. How should a boat sit on a Trailer? In 2000, officers found a gator in the Crowders Creek area of Wylie and in 1999, Catawba Nuclear Station employees spotted a 5- to 7-foot alligator lurking in a nearby lagoon. But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. [1], In 1924, the Southern Power Company raised the level of the dam and built the new Catawba Hydroelectric Station to replace the original. James and Christine Thomas of Lake Wylie and 13-year-old twins Brandon and Chandler were paddling in the early afternoon Aug.3 when they saw an alligator lounging on a log on the water. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely . The children are scared to death," said Orr. You can buy your fishing license online now. To keep up with the latest news and events happening with the Singular Fortean Society, sign up for our monthly newsletter! The image uploaded by Jessica Plate to social media site Nextdoor. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. "I can't really answer how it got here. Please, does anyone know what it was!. Lake Wylie is about 30 miles east of Charlotte and 20 miles north of Rock Hill. Commenters on the photo had a long list of other possibilities. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. Heres when severe weather is forecast, South Carolina running back forced to say goodbye to the game, Prosecution subpoenas Snapchat, Google to testify in upcoming Murdaugh trial, A Florida taxidermist takes clients nobody else will: grieving pet owners, Alex Murdaughs attorneys ask SC judge to bar testimony about blood spatter at trial, Netflix offers sneak peek of upcoming docuseries on Murdaugh murders in SC. The truth is, Alligators do not live in Lake Wylie. (805) 252-5894. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A family out on Lake Wylie this week spotted an alligator, according to WSOC-TV. Lake norman has 49.81 square miles while lake wylie has 21 square miles. LAKE WYLIE Experts estimate South Carolina has 100,000 alligators in its waters, but three of the smallest are the ones causing a stir in Lake Wylie. Hes responded to fishing lures as if interested, Medford said. At first, I thought it was a dog or deer, shoot, maybe a scuba diver!, The photo was taken around 7:15 p.m. Saturday, and the thing appeared at first to be swimming toward her, then turned away, she wrote. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse! she told McClatchy. Anglers can catch channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish at Lake Wylie. More than likely it was released but we don't know that," Cody Walker, with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, said. Lake norman has an expansive open water like the other two lakes, but lake wylie feels like a really wide river and doesn't have it. Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. Yes, you need a fishing license to fish in Lake Wylie. Doctor Roberts says the best rule of thumb is, if you leave the alligators alone, they'll leave you alone, but that's not enough for Orr. In August, kayakers spotted a 2-foot gator near Copperhead Island. The South Fork River and Catawba River confluence is now submerged under Lake Wylie near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. The state biologist said he went with and without the angler looking for the gator, but I never laid eyes on it.. "Clearly it's an alligator, three actually it looks like," said Dr. Roberts. Ive been fishing Lake Wylie for about 10 years, he said. You can catch them with various baits and lures, but the water levels at Lake Wylie are constantly fluctuating, making the fishing difficult. Another reason why experts believe the alligator was taken care of by somebody is because it's a lot wider than a typical American alligator, which suggests it has been fed by somebody. They said gators are natural in the Catawba River near Lake Wateree, but getting that far past all of the dams is very unusual. One of my twins had just jumped in the water to swim and gotten back on, said Christine Thomas. Lake Wylie is located in South Carolina and is a reservoir that the Duke Energy Corporation created. Winthrop University Biology Professor Doctor William Roberts saysfrom the pictures and video hehas seen the ripples seem to be alligators. People are advised that if the alligator is presenting a threat, in North Carolina, call N.C. Wildlife at 919-707-0010, in South Carolina, call 800-922-5431. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. BELMONT, NC (WTVD) -- An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. He says alligators don't naturally inhabit the Lake, and doesn't know how the three got there, but has a theory. Channel catfish are healthy fish and can be found all around the Lake. 751 Santa Anita. Ive heard a few people say theyve seen them on the lake. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. Alligators are not native to the area and would not be able to survive in the cold water of the Lake. A 5-foot-long alligator has just been discovered on the Catawba River in Belmont, NC, just north of Lake Wylie. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely illegally dumped since they arent native to the area. I read somewhere, maybe Wikipedia, that a few alligators have been found in Lake Wylie. Fishing at Lake Wylie is easy, and youll be able to land some in no time. As it turns out, the white inhabitants of the Catawba River Valley had their own beliefs that some mysterious creature was swimming in the Catawba. As for Plate, whatever she saw, she doesnt believe it was a semi aquatic mammal as some have suggested, and shell continue to return to Lake Wylie, hoping to spot the creature again. We welcome stories and community members from anywhere people experience the impossible. "I don't want. SCDOT says these York, Lancaster and Chester county roads are up next for repaving. "I can't really answer how it got here. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. The wake it made was enormous! I got outta there," Cannon said. Wind advisory continues overnight, nearly 3,000 without power. The license was issued on March 1, 2006 and expires on October 31, 2015. Same exact log, same exact position.. Are there any alligators in Lake Murray SC? Yes, catfish are biting at Lake Wylie. Anglers Carson Orellana and Chris Carnes trolled up on a 2-foot alligator sitting on a log near Copperhead Island Access Area. I dont want anything to happen to the alligator, but I certainly dont want him on the lake, said Christine Thomas, a Lake Wylie resident for 11 years. Its likely that little alligator is probably going to die here, he said. Jacob Cannon said that he was hanging out with friends Saturday night at Belmont's Loftin Riverfront park when he saw the reptile. Anglers Carson Orellana and Chris Carnes trolled up on a 2-foot alligator sitting on a log near Copperhead Island Access Area. "One of my twins saw it sitting on a log," the father, James Thomas, said. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. Lake Wylie is a 12,000-acre lake on the northern border of South Carolina, at Tega Cay. Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. (Jessica Plate). Orella. Its not big at all, but its definitely living there, said Carnes, 17, who lives on Lake Wylie. York County coronavirus unemployment versus the Great Recession? So we decided to create a place where we could gather all our concerns, and who knows, maybe we could also help someone else in our situation. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. Lake norman is larger than the other lake. Neither lake, nor the Catawba River which connects them, has any indigenous alligators, although several alligators are found along the Catawba each year. Last Saturday, she says she saw more alligators, three to be exact. The only time an alligator has actually been in Lake Wylie is when someone caught an alligator somewhere else and dumped it here (and quickly picked up by Wildlife officials). We just watched, she said. One involves monstrously large snakes that prey on people in the rapids and giant leech-like creatures, reported John Hairr in the 2013 book Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State.. The truth is, Alligators do not live in Lake Wylie. This facility opened in August 1925, increasing the surface area of Lake Catawba from 668 acres (2.70 km2) to 13,400 acres (54.2 km2). From land, the alligators are difficult to make out, but the observers canmake out threedistinct separate ripples in the water. "All of a sudden he flew out his line and the next thing you know, it's a gator," Figueroa said. If its as cold as last winter, he almost certainly wont make it.. "The first sighting was Friday. People may be scared about having an alligator in the lake but in all actuality it is only around 3 feet and won't do anything to humans. I dont think its posing a threat yet.. These creatures made their presence known by coming out of the water and sunning themselves on the rocks. In 2000, officers found a gator in the. types of services we offer. The only time an alligator has actually been in Lake Wylie is when someone caught an alligator somewhere else and dumped it here (and quickly picked up by Wildlife officials). Fort Mill school district names new middle school principal as start date nears, Prime Fort Mill riverfront property among biggest York, Lancaster, Chester land sales, Fort Mill just named its top teachers and staff members for 2023. Cary man becomes 27th North Carolinian charged in Capitol riot. they tried getting photos before the gator jumped off the log and swam toward shore. Alligators are a protected species in South Carolina and it's illegal to kill them. A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. This story was originally published December 30, 2019, 7:40 AM. ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) - Three alligators have been spotted swiming in Lake Wylie and it has people who spend time there concerned for their safety. LOS ANGELES Kilo, a muscular gray pit bull, stood staunchly by his homeless owner in the middle of 6th Street on L.A.'s skid row. The Singular Fortean Society (Tobias & Emily Wayland) 2016-2020. Dr. Roberts says the alligators pose not threat to people until they get to be about 6 feet long, but they could be dangerous to small pets. Medical Marijuana bill passes NC Senate; some cannabis supporters against bill, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Another reason why experts believe the alligator was taken care of by somebody is because it's a lot wider than a typical American alligator, which suggests it has been fed by somebody. Ive been fishing Lake Wylie for about 10 years, he said. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. Lake Marion is known for its abundance of big fish and incredible wildlife. Lake Wylie is a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts. For the most part, if theyre there, people do detect them.. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. James and Christine Thomas of Lake Wylie and 13-year-old twins Brandon and Chandler were paddling about 1 p.m. Aug. 3 when they saw an alligator lounging on a log on the water. Heres the list. We dont want people feeding it, Medford said. An Alligator was found on Lake Wylie on Sunday. The alligator population has thrived in South Carolina in recent years - so much so, that a hunting season was instituted in 2008. He said while people who learn about the gator say theyll never swim in the lake again, Carnes isnt worried. Sold: 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2415 sq. York County, tri-county unemployment hit milestone numbers with coronavirus uptick. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. GATOR FOUND: How did a gator get into Lake Wylie? "It looked kind of like a lizard; it . Within hours of it being posted online, talk of alligators, giant water snakes and a monster were being shared on Nextdoor.com, a community networking site. The Southern Power Company was merged with Duke Power Company in 1927. GATOR FOUND: How did a gator get into Lake Wylie? Video shows driver nearly hitting 2 students crossing NC road to board their bus, NC Supreme Court blocks transfer of school funds in Leandro court case, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Man charged with DUI after 3-year-old child dies in Fort Mill car crash, police say, The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesnt look like pie at all. Author John Hairr wrote in Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State that both the areas indigenous people of the Catawba Nation and European settlers have legends going back centuries of snake-like monsters living in the Catawba River. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses. Lake Wylie is a reservoir or man-made lake in the U.S. states of South Carolina and North Carolina. One person suggested it was a a big nasty snake, while another said it was nothing more than a floating log. Two fishermen got a shock April 5 while fishing on Lake Wylie. You can find this fish on various baits, including worms, artificial lures, and baitfish. Is there any truth to these stories?