10-23-2003, 01:31 PM
Urban legends are like opinions, everybody has them. After reading a post from a member about the underground lake in Tenneessee, it got me to thinking. (You can read my reply under trout planting in Lake Irvin). There's always a story about a giant "something" that ambushes ducks and the only evidence is a swirl in the water. Or maybe just a glimpse of a large fin. While I prefer fresh water fishing, I have fished the briny deep and been entertained with stories of an unknown in the depths. Perhaps it is the unknown that interests all of us.
Here in Colorado, Denver area specifically, there was a massive search on in Washington Park lake for a supposed crocodile supposedly seen swimming in the water (now where else would it be swimming?). Local fishermen swore that the fish population declined to almost zero because of that croc. Local state DOW officials electroshocked the water, nothing but the sightings still came in. Then winter set in and the lake froze over. So-called experts decided that the freeze-over would kill the croc and someone would discover it floating belly-up come Spring. Anyone want to lay a bet on the results? Yep, no croc and no sign of it all this year. Where did it go, if it were ever there? Another one of those mysteries that remains unsolved.
Only if someone has been hibernating the last ten years have they not seen the movie "Creature", written by Peter Benchley (of Jaws fame), about a giant squid that terrorizes a small coastal town. Supposedly he wrote that story based on fact, that a giant squid did infact terrorize a small town, but on the eastern seaboard. Another story lost in the annuals of the past.
California did have an unknown creature wash up on the beach many years ago. It was "supposedly" identified as a dinosaur that was declared extinct 65,000 years ago (I have the pictures, I think).
Now we jump to the Texas/Louisianna stateline and Caddo Lake. My Dad took me there fishing when I was just knee high to a small possum. The fishing camp owner swore that there was something living in the swampy lake that was credited with using unwary fishermen for food (seeing as this is a family-oriented forum, I'll be nice with the descriptions). According to legend, Davy Crockett volunteered to enter the swamp and put an end to its murderous ways. When he didn't return after several months, the local residents assumed that he was the loser. Fortunately, he exited the swamp on the western side and went on to the Alamo, and history. The point being, the legend existed 150 years ago. true or false, I don't know.
Seeing as scientists still are cataloging new species everyday, it isn't a far fetch of logic to think that we have unknowns living in inland waters. I've hooked some strange-looking fish in a short lifespan of 60 years (actually 59 1/2) that have been hard pressed to be explained. Like UFOs, I saw something but couldn't explain it.
Now, I may be becoming a pain in the posterior on this board but I'm a firm believer that if you want an answer, ask. So I'm asking. let's hear about your local urban legends but keep them clean, some of the young'ins reading the posts might be offended, or scared.
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Here in Colorado, Denver area specifically, there was a massive search on in Washington Park lake for a supposed crocodile supposedly seen swimming in the water (now where else would it be swimming?). Local fishermen swore that the fish population declined to almost zero because of that croc. Local state DOW officials electroshocked the water, nothing but the sightings still came in. Then winter set in and the lake froze over. So-called experts decided that the freeze-over would kill the croc and someone would discover it floating belly-up come Spring. Anyone want to lay a bet on the results? Yep, no croc and no sign of it all this year. Where did it go, if it were ever there? Another one of those mysteries that remains unsolved.
Only if someone has been hibernating the last ten years have they not seen the movie "Creature", written by Peter Benchley (of Jaws fame), about a giant squid that terrorizes a small coastal town. Supposedly he wrote that story based on fact, that a giant squid did infact terrorize a small town, but on the eastern seaboard. Another story lost in the annuals of the past.
California did have an unknown creature wash up on the beach many years ago. It was "supposedly" identified as a dinosaur that was declared extinct 65,000 years ago (I have the pictures, I think).
Now we jump to the Texas/Louisianna stateline and Caddo Lake. My Dad took me there fishing when I was just knee high to a small possum. The fishing camp owner swore that there was something living in the swampy lake that was credited with using unwary fishermen for food (seeing as this is a family-oriented forum, I'll be nice with the descriptions). According to legend, Davy Crockett volunteered to enter the swamp and put an end to its murderous ways. When he didn't return after several months, the local residents assumed that he was the loser. Fortunately, he exited the swamp on the western side and went on to the Alamo, and history. The point being, the legend existed 150 years ago. true or false, I don't know.
Seeing as scientists still are cataloging new species everyday, it isn't a far fetch of logic to think that we have unknowns living in inland waters. I've hooked some strange-looking fish in a short lifespan of 60 years (actually 59 1/2) that have been hard pressed to be explained. Like UFOs, I saw something but couldn't explain it.
Now, I may be becoming a pain in the posterior on this board but I'm a firm believer that if you want an answer, ask. So I'm asking. let's hear about your local urban legends but keep them clean, some of the young'ins reading the posts might be offended, or scared.
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