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. Plate asked in the photo's accompanying text. River, water, and lake access. The average depth of the lake is just over 20 feet. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. The wake it made was enormous! This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. The two returned to the spot April 9 in preparation for a tournament this weekend. 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). The truth is, Alligators do not live in Lake Wylie. The wake it made was enormous! We just watched, she said. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. More than likely it was released but we don't know that," Cody Walker, with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, said. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. South Carolina resident Jessica Plate posted a photograph to social media site Nextdoor recently that has some speculating about a monster in Lake Wylie. 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. First of all, it's a great place to swim. If the alligator is presenting a threat to humans, in North Carolina, call N.C. Wildlife at 919-707-0010; in South Carolina, call 800-922-5431. He said he fishes about 200 days on the lake. Medford said its likely someone released the gator into Lake Wylie. A website is devoted to alleged sightings of it, which some say is a giant fish more than a monster snake. 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 first sighting was Friday. Harnett County deputy involved in 2-vehicle crash that left 2 dead, Raleigh rents increase nearly 6% from last year, 4 people arrested, charged in February stabbing in Burlington. Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. "One of my twins saw it sitting on a log," the father, James Thomas, said. This time we visited on a Friday and there were lots of people there. 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. A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. However, because it is a popular fishing destination, much fish will likely be in the Lake. I dont think itll mess you.. 49.81 square miles vs 21 square miles. The photo, posted online Sunday, shows what could be the head of something sticking out of the lake, with a sinuous wake spinning several feet behind it. On Sunday, their five heaviest bass weighed more than 20 pounds, which is good for this lake., Seeing the gator, he said, just summed up a great day.. Lake Wylie is a reservoir or man-made lake in the U.S. states of South Carolina and North Carolina. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. In 1905, the Catawba Power Company became part of the Southern Power Company. It isnt close. Carnes, a junior at Clover High School, started the York County High School Anglers club. People are advised . Lake Marion is known for its abundance of big fish and incredible wildlife. 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. The best sites for bass include the dam and drop-offs in the main channel. [1], In October 1960, the power station was renamed the Wylie Hydroelectric Station, and the lake was renamed Lake Wylie in honor of W. Gil Wylie, one of the founders of the original Catawba Power Company that had created the lake and become Duke Power.[1]. 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. Anglers can also catch largemouth bass, spotted bass, and shad at Lake Wylie. Rupert Medford, N.C Wildlife Resource Commission District 6 biologist, said he didnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. 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. The Singular Fortean Society earns a fee as an Amazon Associate for qualifying purchases. Catfish and Shad are familiar food sources for largemouth bass, making this spot ideal for fishing with bait and lures replicating these foods. Most likely, they saw a log or another object resembling an alligator. Lake Wylie is home to a large number of white perch. Its likely that little alligator is probably going to die here, he said. It was rumored to have been first spotted alive on Saturday, and then discovered dead, floating in the water, just off highway 74. The South Fork River and Catawba River confluence is now submerged under Lake Wylie near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. Jessica Plate remains curious about whatever it was she saw and intends to keep investigating. All You Need To Know. Last Saturday, she says she saw more alligators, three to be exact. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. "I know this picture. At first, I thought it was a dog or deer, shoot, maybe a scuba diver!. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. The Southern Power Company was merged with Duke Power Company in 1927. I always thought it was a fib people told. Sold: 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2415 sq. Ive heard a few people say theyve seen them on the lake. Mountain Island Lake is fed by the Catawba River, and is the smallest of the three man-made lakes that border Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie).Mountain Island Lake is managed by Charlotte-based company Duke Energy.The primary function of Mountain Island Lake is to provide drinking water for over 1 million residents of Charlotte and . Alligators are not native to the area and would not be able to survive in the cold water of the Lake. It was in the same exact spot, Carnes said. Lake Wylie is a great place to catch bluegill. She thinks the sensible explanation is that it was an alligator, despite the fact alligators dont live in Lake Wylie. "It looked kind of like a lizard; it . Two fishermen got a shock April 5 while fishing on Lake Wylie. Lake Wylie feels more like a really wide river so to speak and doesn't have the expansive open water like Lake Norman does especially on the southern end. But we stayed away from it.. "Wylie Hydroelectric Station Celebrates 75 Years Of Service: A Little History Gets A Chance To Shine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Wylie&oldid=1094559366, This page was last edited on 23 June 2022, at 10:41. Bluegill is most active in the early morning and late afternoon. One of my twins had just jumped in the water to swim and gotten back on, said Christine Thomas. Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. White perch are a good choice for beginner anglers because they are easy to catch. Simpson, others react on social media after Alex Murdaugh is found guilty, Strong storms, tornadoes possible in Midlands. 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.. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. Channel catfish are one of the most common fish species to be caught there. "I don't want. 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 in the case with the infamous Loch Ness monster, proof has never been found of anything large or monstrous in the river, though alligators have been found occasionally in the Catawba. Lake Wylie monster?" In the past, he said, 6- to 8-foot gators have been sighted in Lake Wylie and other bodies of water where alligators dont normally live. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. I also heard the lake is not very clean. I dont think its posing a threat yet.. There was a lot of information on the internet, but we always spent hours searching for it. LAKE WYLIE Two fishermen got a shock April 5 while fishing on Lake Wylie. We have visited Legg Lake Park and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area numerous times. It was still in the same cove farther back, Thomas said. There is no way, this creature was way too big!, The Catawba Nation, a tribe of indigenous people based in the same area, has folklore that tells of multiple river monsters. He also urges anglers to move to another spot. Medford learned of the gator, estimated to be about 20inches long, about two months ago when an angler contacted him with photos. There is also fishing. At the time of the 2010 census, the population was 8,841. This expansive park features lakes . She thinks the sensible explanation is that it was an alligator, despite the fact alligators dont live in Lake Wylie. Are There Alligators In Lake Wylie NC? His friend may be next. It could've been released. Baits such as worms, artificial lures, and fly fishing can all be used to catch Spotted bass. Are there crocodiles in Lake Murray SC? "All of a sudden he flew out his line and the next thing you know, it's a gator," Figueroa said. He said while people who learn about the gator say theyll never swim in the lake again, Carnes isnt worried. "It's possible somebody was along the coast caught a few and thought it would be funny to throw them in there," said Roberts. Medical Marijuana bill passes NC Senate; some cannabis supporters against bill, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Its not big at all, but its definitely living there, said Carnes, 17, who lives on Lake Wylie. We dont want people feeding it, Medford said. The Singular Fortean Society is based out of Madison, Wisconsin, but operates globally. "Lake Wylie monster?" Jessica Plate posted with her photo. It could've been released. 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. 2. "All of a sudden he flew out his line and the next thing you know, it's a gator," Figueroa said. All Rights Reserved. The lake has a surface area of 13,400 acres (54.2 km 2) [1] (20.9 mi 2) (5420 ha) and features 325 miles (523 km) [2] of shoreline. But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. 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). A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. We believe thats the size when they were put in there, Medford said. The Lake is also famous for water skiing, jet skiing, and swimming. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. 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