Critters on Greenville Lake/Pond shores?

[Ruy Lopez]

Don’t mock me. I’ve lived in New England my whole life. Never fished in the south. I might be headed to Greenville, South Carolina for four or five days and might want to do some bank fishing. Never had to worry about anything killing or eating me in New England on lake/pond shores lol.  
 

I know I’m probably being a nervous Nellie, but would I have to worry about anything like snakes or anything else that may “spoil” my fishing? I’m assuming you don’t have gators?  I apologize for any ignorance, but this is the stuff some sheltered New Englanders worry about when they head elsewhere to fish. 

[TnRiver46]

I don’t believe gators are that far inland but always watch for snakes. They don’t regularly kill anybody but might make for a rough day if one bit you 

 

people always worry about things like snakes, gators, etc but they are very low on the danger list. Deer jumping in front of your car is always number one most dangerous wildlife. Domestic dog is usually second. The wild thing that actually hurts people that I would look out for is hornets and yellow jackets 

[Team9nine]

Agree with @TnRiver46 No gators in the upstate to my knowledge. There are a few poisonous snakes, but the odds of running into  one are probably pretty low unless you really get deep into the swamp or woods. Here’s a link with info.

 

SC Poisonous Snakes

 

I’d be more concerned with wasps, fire ants, etc., but right now it’s still very early in the year and not a lot of critters have come out yet.

[TnRiver46]

Oh god . Fire ants. Forgot about those. I have some in my yard 😂 

[FishTax]

Fire ants are out in NC, found out this weekend.... so yeah they should be in SC also although not as bad as potentially in a few months. 

 

Greenville NC has gators. Thought that's where you were going from the thread, but you're in the clear in SC

 

Copperheads are mean, avoid them. There are some snakes we call water snakes in my area, not sure what species is, that look scary but I'm pretty sure are nonvenomous but are easily confused with Mocassins. 

[Woody B]

The biggest threat around Greenville and pretty much everywhere else is people..

[the reel ess]

There are no gators more than a little above the "fall line". That's an imaginary line through the midlands. Certainly, none as for inland as Greenville, SC unless they were released pets. And they couldn't stand the winter. It's the same with water moccasins. Many will argue that last point and they'll be wrong. The most dangerous thing about Greenville would be the humans being. Fishing public places around there you could easily encounter a homeless person, wine-o or drug addict. It's a city after all.

 

A few of my favorite places to eat around there are Sobe, Smoke on The Water, Grill Marks, Rick Erwin's and Willie Taco. My daughter went to the Governor's School there and we got to sample a lot of cuisine. Oh, if you like steaks, there's Hall's Chophouse. Overpriced IMO, but I'm the kind of dude who looks for the gourmet burger on the menu in a steakhouse. And there aren't any there.

[TnRiver46]

Well someone caught an alligator here in Norris lake this week……. Had to be an aquarium pet I guess

 

https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/03/19/an-alligator-was-caught-norris-lake-what-do-tennessee-wildlife-officers-have-say/?outputType=amp

[Fishlegs]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well someone caught an alligator here in Norris lake this week……. Had to be an aquarium pet I guess

 

https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/03/19/an-alligator-was-caught-norris-lake-what-do-tennessee-wildlife-officers-have-say/?outputType=amp

I just saw that. It had to be a released pet. There is a small population of gators in north Alabama, but Norris is hundreds of miles, and multiple dams from the closest population. I can't imagine a gator making it that far on its own.

 

Still better watch out if you go swimming though! 🤣

[Koz]

I used to live in the Greenville / Spartanburg area and I can tell you that there are no gators. I can also tell you that all of the little lakes and ponds there are heavily pressured and your days will be filled with little kids running around and casting on top of you.

 

While the fishing is still pressured, try Croft State Park or Paris Mountain State Park. A little further out is Table Rock State Park. There's plenty of room to spread out and fish from the banks. I always preferred Table Rock.