Just a reminder to be careful when bank fishing in the weeds, you never know. I know this was discussed in a kayak thread, but bank fishing can be just as dangerous when dealing with critters. Was fishing this morning, I went in the opposite direction when I started this time. Low and behold, a 7-8 ft gator just hanging out. If I would have come from the other direction, I would not have seen him until I was on top of him. Just be careful!

Edited February 28, 20215 yr by Biglittle8
Added another picture

No gators here in Oregon. But we have lots of rattlesnakes ?

1 minute ago, optimator said:

No gators here in Oregon. But we have lots of rattlesnakes ?

 That's worse in my opinion.

I've never seen a gator in real life. Pretty sure I have a better chance of running across the abominable snowman up here.

 

One time I was inches away from stepping on a nest of harmless water snakes. I can't explain the terrifying shock that shot through my body.

You get used to gators... That's when stuff happens.

Never would I ever get comfortable with a critter that has a mouth like that.

 

Only gator I've seen in the wild was in Alabama visiting family. 

 

Keep safe.

My biggest fear are bees , especially ground hornets . They hate me .

I've had more than a few close encounters with alligators and a handful of confrontations. Thankfully, I now live in an area where I don't have to worry about that.

 

A few years ago I posted some information and videos on how to handle fishing in gator country. Feel free to review it.

 

 

Last year I was bank fishing a new (to me) pond. I was about 15’ from a small tree growing at the water’s edge when I saw a head pop up out of the water. Thought it was a turtle. It was a coral snake. First time I ever saw one.  

Years ago I got my overhead environment scuba cert in the middle of a swamp and saw gators everywhere.  Our instructor wasn't concerned so I wasn't.  I'm from northern Illinois so that was really my first encounter with them in the wild and guess what?  None of us were eaten.   LOL

 

37 minutes ago, scaleface said:

My biggest fear are bees , especially ground hornets . They hate me .

Those things are nasty... I dropped a tree on a nest once. I had to wait hours to get my saw back as I killed it and dropped it to RUN!

32 minutes ago, Koz said:

I've had more than a few close encounters with alligators and a handful of confrontations. Thankfully, I now live in an area where I don't have to worry about that.

 

A few years ago I posted some information and videos on how to handle fishing in gator country. Feel free to review it.

 

 

Yeah Koz, I've been stalked too. They will definitely try to intimidate you for a fish.

i had an encounter with one in thailand, scared the daylights out of me.

Just now, throttleplate said:

i had an encounter with one in thailand, scared the daylights out of me.

Save me a thigh?

Our gators have lots of teeth, no legs, and are lure pirates. 
Muskie and Northern

But they don’t get in the boat with you either.

Just now, E-rude dude said:

Our gators have lots of teeth, no legs, and are lure pirates. 
Muskie and Northern

But they don’t get in the boat with you either.

I miss Musky and Northern fishing. I grew up right at Niagara river, lake Erie and Erie canal. I miss hitting all the Northerns coming up the canal in spring to spawn!

1 hour ago, Dens228 said:

Years ago I got my overhead environment scuba cert in the middle of a swamp and saw gators everywhere.  Our instructor wasn't concerned so I wasn't.  I'm from northern Illinois so that was really my first encounter with them in the wild and guess what?  None of us were eaten.   LOL

 

We swam with lots of gators while cave diving Florida springs (sinks and sumps too). I was an active cave diver in the early 2000's. Might we have crossed paths?

1 hour ago, Bird said:

 

 

Only gator I've seen in the wild was in Alabama visiting family. 

 

Keep safe.

How far do gators travel to visit family?

Never underestimate their power & speed. Even this small one was very strong for his size.

 

2 hours ago, Biglittle8 said:

Those things are nasty... I dropped a tree on a nest once. I had to wait hours to get my saw back as I killed it and dropped it to RUN!

Yeah Koz, I've been stalked too. They will definitely try to intimidate you for a fish.

 

That one was not stalking me for my fish ?

If crocodiles, alligators, or venomous snakes invade my home waters, I'm out. My new screen name will be NeedlePointMan.

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

If crocodiles, alligators, or venomous snakes invade my home waters, I'm out. My new screen name will be NeedlePointMan.

yeah i think i will stay put in minnesota where beavers are my nemises going after my top waters and the occasional snapping turtle.

6 hours ago, scaleface said:

My biggest fear are bees , especially ground hornets . They hate me .

Yep. They’ve almost killed me at least twice 

5 hours ago, throttleplate said:

i had an encounter with one in thailand, scared the daylights out of me.

And you went to bed with a full belly!

5 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

yeah i think i will stay put in minnesota where beavers are my nemises going after my top waters and the occasional snapping turtle.

You might have the big bad wolves closer than you know. There’s a reason he makes an appearance in a lot of early literature, I don’t think attacks were uncommon back then 

8 hours ago, Dens228 said:

Years ago I got my overhead environment scuba cert in the middle of a swamp and saw gators everywhere.  Our instructor wasn't concerned so I wasn't.  I'm from northern Illinois so that was really my first encounter with them in the wild and guess what?  None of us were eaten.   LOL

 

Nope.  No way. Nope nope nope nope

Field mice.  Their bites are painful. 

Saw 3 gators soaking up the sun together today at Choke Caynon in south Texas all over 8 foot... Typically I just fish through 'em in the boat cause they've never bothered me, but for some reason I was thinking that these 3 were conspiring against me so I decided to turn around... These are the things I think about when I'm by myself on the water lol

2 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Field mice.  Their bites are painful. 

That's why I started "Take a cat fishing" day ?