The South Fork River and Catawba River confluence is now submerged under Lake Wylie near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. Crusading vet treats some of LAs most cherished residents: The pets of skid row, Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murdering wife, son in June 2021, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, O.J. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. Pleasant Knoll, Gold Hill and the new Fort Mill Virtual Academy have seen leadership changes this summer. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. The average depth of the lake is just over 20 feet. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. 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. 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. "Clearly it's an alligator, three actually it looks like," said Dr. Roberts. He said he fishes about 200 days on the lake. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. Lake Wylie is a popular spot for Spotted bass fishing. Lake Wylie's location on both the South Carolina and North Carolina borders makes it a common recreational destination for residents of nearby cities including Charlotte, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill. Alligators are a protected species in South Carolina and it's illegal to kill them. If you enjoyed this article and would like to support the Singular Fortean Society, please consider becoming an official member by signing up through our Patreon pagemembership includes a ton of extra content and behind-the-scenes access to the Societys inner workings. Lake Wylie monster? Jessica Plate posted with her photo. Giant snakes were not the only mysterious creatures inhabiting the river in the days before European settlement of the region. Last Saturday, she says she saw more alligators, three to be exact. Heres the list. The Singular Fortean Society (Tobias & Emily Wayland) 2016-2020. To keep up with the latest news and events happening with the Singular Fortean Society, sign up for our monthly newsletter! DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. 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. They said gators are natural in the Catawba River near Lake Wateree, but getting that far past all of the dams is very unusual. 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. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse! she told McClatchy. There are also two towns that are located on Lake Wylie, including Tega Cay and Lake Wylie. Fishing at Lake Wylie is easy, and youll be able to land some in no time. 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. Cary man becomes 27th North Carolinian charged in Capitol riot. Lake Wylie is a great place to catch bluegill. White perch are a good choice for beginner anglers because they are easy to catch. they tried getting photos before the gator jumped off the log and swam toward shore. Yes, catfish are biting at Lake Wylie. Lake Wylie monster? Jessica Plate posted with her photo. She thinks the sensible explanation is that it was an alligator, despite the fact alligators dont live in Lake Wylie. [1], In 1924, the Southern Power Company raised the level of the dam and built the new Catawba Hydroelectric Station to replace the original. How Deep is Lake Superior? The Catawba Nuclear Generating Station is located on the south-western part of the lake, and draws its cooling water from the lake. Which is better Lake Norman or Lake Wylie? A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. The wake it made was enormous! "It was swimming out toward the bridge and just circling and I just said, 'That ain't no otter.' 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. One person suggested it was a a big nasty snake, while another said it was nothing more than a floating log. I always thought it was a fib people told. 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. 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. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. Lake Wylie is an artificial reservoir, so likely, the bottom of the Lake is mainly composed of sediment and rocks. The two returned to the spot April 9 in preparation for a tournament this weekend. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. 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. GATOR FOUND: How did a gator get into Lake Wylie? York County coronavirus unemployment versus the Great Recession? 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). How should a boat sit on a Trailer? Channel catfish are healthy fish and can be found all around the Lake. 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). There was a lot of information on the internet, but we always spent hours searching for 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. Commenters on the photo had a long list of other possibilities. 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. You can buy your fishing license online now. This story was originally published December 30, 2019, 7:40 AM. It definitely freaked us out.. Anglers find these spots highly rated for catching this species of fish. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. But first, Thomas said. LAKE WYLIE, S.C. (Mark Price/Charlotte Observer) - The legend of a monster snake in the Catawba River dates back centuries, but some see new proof in a grainy photo taken over the weekend at Sunset Point on Lake Wylie. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse!. The Lake is home to several fish attractors that can help anglers catch various fish. 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. I dont want anything to happen to the alligator, but I certainly dont want him on the lake, she said. 6 biologist, said he didnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. I dont think its posing a threat yet.. Have a look, Commentary: Large or small, make life better for them all on Change a Pets Life Day, SC prosecutors will seek life sentence, not death penalty, for Alex Murdaugh in murder trial. There are several fishing spots at Lake Wylie. 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. Orella. Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State, though alligators have been found occasionally, 80-pound invasive fish can frighten people by jumping into boats in Mississippi, Ghostly image captured along Lake James reignites Bigfoot fever in North Carolina, Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. 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. Same exact log, same exact position.. Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. According to The Herald and Lake Wylie Pilot archives, DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. Lake Wylie is home to a large number of white perch. There is no definitive answer to this question. The Lake is named after the Wylie family, who were the original owners of the land. Located at South El Monte's Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Wheel Fun Rentals provides the San Gabriel Valley a great selection of bikes, unique specialty cycles, and watercraft rentals like Surreys, pedal boats, and Quad Sports for outdoor fun. The wake it made was enormous! 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 first sighting was Friday. 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. Fisherman Carson Orellana and friend Chris Carnes shared this video with Lake Wylie Pilot of an alligator spotted April 5 while fishing on Lake Wylie. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. The next day, Antonio Figueroa and his brother were fishing on their kayaks when they spotted the gator. Also, there is a FAKE alligator head floating around the docks at Papa Doc's Shore Club. 6 biologist, said he doesnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. 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.. But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. Plate asked in the photo's accompanying text. Medford learned of the gator, estimated to be about 20inches long, about two months ago when an angler contacted him with photos. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. 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. "One of my twins saw it sitting on a log," the father, James Thomas, said. Lake Wylie is about 30 miles east of Charlotte and 20 miles north of Rock Hill. This story was originally published August 13, 2014, 10:00 PM. We believe thats the size when they were put in there, Medford said. 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. One person who viewed the photograph suggested it was a big nasty snake.. We welcome stories and community members from anywhere people experience the impossible. Lake Norman is said to host its own lake monster, which witnesses have described as being similar to a large sturgeon or alligator garalthough some say it is closer to an overgrown alligator. It was still in the same cove farther back, Thomas said. DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. "It's possible somebody was along the coast caught a few and thought it would be funny to throw them in there," said Roberts. Captain Chris Nichols provides information on the best spots to catch them. BELMONT, NC (WTVD) -- An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. Winthrop University Biology Professor Doctor William Roberts saysfrom the pictures and video hehas seen the ripples seem to be alligators. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A family out on Lake Wylie this week spotted an alligator, according to WSOC-TV. Kayakers on Lake Wylie near Copperhead Island boat docks were surprised by a visitor spotted on a log earlier this month. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. Jacob Cannon told Channel 9 he was hanging out with friends Saturday night at Belmont's LoftinRiverfront park when he saw the reptile. Its not big at all, but its definitely living there, said Carnes, 17, who lives on Lake Wylie. 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. You can find this fish on various baits, including worms, artificial lures, and baitfish. Contents 1 History 2 Other information 3 See also 4 References 5 External links History [ edit] What is at the bottom of Lake Wylie? An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. "I don't want. Jessica Plate remains curious about whatever it was she saw and intends to keep investigating. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. Julie Orr has been going out to Lake Wylie for more than 20 years and she says it's not the first time she's seen alligators in the lake. He also urges anglers to move to another spot. Yes, you need a fishing license to fish in Lake Wylie. South Carolina alligators can be found thriving in the shallow and swampy areas of the lake and can also be found in coves and creeks. BELMONT, NC (WTVD) -- An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. Lake Norman, another site near Charlotte created by damming the river, is said to be home to a creature called the Lake Norman Monster. I got outta there," Cannon said. The Singular Fortean Society is based out of Madison, Wisconsin, but operates globally. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. The next day, Antonio Figueroa and his brother were fishing on their kayaks when they spotted the gator. It could've been released. Anglers Carson Orellana and Chris Carnes trolled up on a 2-foot alligator sitting on a log near Copperhead Island Access Area. Although they are not as popular as other fish, they can provide a tasty meal. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. Please, does anyone know what it was! she added. Anglers Carson Orellana and Chris Carnes trolled up on a 2-foot alligator sitting on a log near Copperhead Island Access Area. 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. In conclusion alligators are not going to invade lake Wylie so there is no reason to be worried. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Heres why some opposed that Panthers deal, and why York County approved it anyway.