[DynamiteDavetheCatter]

I've heard alot about the gators down at Santee and was wondering if I need to be leery. Are they a big problem or just a once in a great while thing.
I'm coming down to Santee next week from Ohio for the first time and can't wait. I'll be in a 14' aluminum boat. any advice is greatly aprecieated

 

[flatheadhunterx]

depending on where you fish you may encounter none or quite a few. jsut watch your pet around the water if you have one. and just becareful its a dangerous lake tons of stumps and trees. but once you go once you will always want to go back.

 

[flatheadhunterx]

if jim sees this from what i gather he can give you prob. the best advice or info about the lake

 

[blackwaterkatz]

There are plenty of gators in the lakes, but they shouldn't be a cause of concern. If you are fishing at night, their eyes are more likely to be seen by lights, but in the daytime you may not even see any. If you do, just stay clear and you shouldn't have any problem. They normally are shy around humans, and they have a plentiful supply of food. If you have pets, I would keep an eye on them, though. They are more likely to attract a gator's attention.

 

[DynamiteDavetheCatter]

thanks alot guys,
we dont have any up north here the only ones I've ever seen were at the zoo

we're planning on fishing mostly on Moultrie but you never know and no I'm not bringing a pet but thats what made me think about aasking the question

I saw the post about the guy bringing his dogs and the pic on Santee Cooper Cats Club home page.

 

[klemsontigers7]

You have nothing to worry about. You might see a few but I've never heard of anyone at santee having any problem with them. I've been there twice and I believe we saw some both times.

 

[Knockingbottom]

Gators are an ever present threat to watch out for. Last week I was pulling
my kids on an inner tube. Had just pushed my 6y/o out, tightened the rope, and was getting ready to throttle up. My wife says GATOR!!! We use a 60 ft
rope and he was closer to Tyler than I was. It was headed straight for him,
swimming slowly but with purpose.I eased the throttle up and tried
to pull Tyler out of the general area without doing anything to provoke it. It
followed the tube, increasing speed as I did. Slowly but surely I gained ground until when we got about a hundred yards away I stopped and
pulled him in quick. Later I had two other people tell me similar stories. Santee
Cooper says the average size is 6ft, but there are several in the bar pit and
potato creek hatchery that push 16ft. Please be very careful at the waters
edge and especially don't let kids play at waters edge without you. If you doubt their power or cunning watch the discovery channel one night and you
will understand. Don't want to scare anyone away, I try to fish Santee at least once a week. But be aware of your surrounding, mother nature can be
unforgiving.

 

[DynamiteDavetheCatter]

Thanks for the info guys
not taking the kids it's just fishing, fishing, fishing
Of course we'll always be aware of our surrounds, always am
Just plannin on haveing a great fishing vacation but it would be cool to see one from a short distance.
Dave

 

[RedEye_Allen]

I have only been there twice but Both Times i Had Gators all around me. They will Talk to ya. . Bunch of Grunting , Growling , Green Lizards. Never Really come Close to ya. Unless you got a Dog with ya.

Anyway have Fun.

I am working a good job now so i am hopeing to buy a Boat within a Year or so then They won't be able to keep me away. . I love Lowfalls Landing

 

[Kittyhunter]

I'm probably a little late with this one but, I know a guide on Santee (we have fished with him before) who has 2 places that he rents out in Summerton. One is beside his house, the other is right on the lake. We have always stayed in the one on the lake. It is a small house but roomy. It has 4 BR's 1 1/2 baths. 2 BR's have a double bed in each, the other 2 have 2 singles each, two sofas in the living room, one pulls out to a bed, private pier with a dock on the end. You could put your boat in and leave it in for the weekend, just tie it up on the dock. We went with 6 people and had plenty of room. We fished with him both times but are planning to maybe go back and fish in our own boats. Anyway, he rents the house for $125 a night, the singlewide at his house I think rents for $80-$90 a night. The house is a much better bargain. Email me at [email protected] if you want his contact info. It may be a while before I come back to this post.