Depending on the size of the lake, they are generally harmless. I think they eat more frogs, snakes, turtles, mammals, and birds than they eat fish. If you harrass them, they will never come near humans. Never feed them or throw crippled or dying fish back in the water! A good way to harrass them is to cast a fishing line over their back and snag them. It's fun until they break the line, and they won't come around humans for a long time afterwards. When they get really big, they can become a serious problem in small lakes. Personally, I would not tolarate them at all in my small pond because they grow up fast. But they would arguably be good for a 10 acre lake or larger. If your lake is small-ish, let them grow to 6 feet, shoot them, and call your friends for a BBQ!
