well iv landed a few small one but i would LOVE to do a trip with someone and get a big one

I went to a local walmart here to see what they had. I found a 8' Berkley big game rod($30-ish) and a Shakespere tidewater reel ($38) now the reel was a baitcaster but it looked plenty stout and was a larger size.

They also had the Berkley big game rod in a spinning version and they had a larger Shakespere alpha spinning reel. I wanna say it was around $30 or a bit more. It was rated for 30lb test, but I plan on using some stout Spiderwire.

I was just really worried about the drag system on these cheaper reels. With out going for a long drive to an Academy or a Cabela's this is about what I am limited to.

I am going to look into the Penn 209's. Just cant find any locally.

the tidewater reel is doo doo. im not trying to whiz on your picnic. i know how it is to be limited to wal mart. thats why i know that reel is doodoo. the big game rod era excellent though. i have 5 of them. ive broke off my 50 lb test with them when hung up drifting for cats. they are tough.
try that reel out but save your receipt. i caught a 30lb blue on mine and it pretty much did the ole shakespear in. the clicker was a POS too.

again im not running what you got down im just telling you what experience i had with it.

I havent bought anything yet. I am shopping around and seeing what is out there. I dont have much experience with the larger gear.

But thanks for your post. Its exactly what I am looking for.

Good to know that that rod is good as I am going to be going for alligator gar. What reel do you reccomend? I would prefer a spinning reel.

For my Gator Garin I use my dads 8ft Eagle Claw Watereagle rods, with Penn 209 reels spooled with 25lb BBG mono. Below you'll find a few pics of the rig I use for Gator Gar, as well as a Pic of my PB Alligator Gar.



PB Alligator Gar, 4ft long


GG

WOW What a great post! I was wondering how to set up the rigging. I see that those Penn 209's dont go for too much on Ebay either.

But only 25lb mono? I was under the impression of more.

Nah! Keep your drag set right, and you'll be fine. The biggest problem will be the fish getting you wrapped in, or breaking you off on snags, but that's just part of fishing right? Hehe.

so whos taking a trip and need company?

For gator gar your going to need a reel that can have a very large capacity of line. If you hook the big one, he can and will spool you if your not in a boat chasing him.
That's why a penn 209, or 309 would be the only reel I'd use for gator gar fishing.

If you look in the background of the pic of my PB Alligator Gar you can see the reel used to catch the Gar.

as for line, 25lb mono should be fine. just use a 4-5ft 170lb wire leader so they can't bite you off.

GG

If you can get a copy of the March 2006 issue of In-Fisherman magazine, there is an extensive article on fishing for alligator gar with Capt. Kirk Kirkland in the Trinity River somewhere twixt Dallas and Houston. It also has some good information on rigs and techniques.

Really.... good to know. I'll have to try to get a back copy then!

GG

I cant find a copy of that anywhere on line. I checked ebay, amazon ect...

try contacting them and asking for a back issue of the march 2006 issue.

GG

Well I went down there and picked up a Daiwa EMcast Sport 6000 reel. It looked to be about the best spinner I could find in the size and it was only $60! She will take 40lb test mono! Thanks for the tip on that one GG!

For a rod I grabbed a 8' Berkely big game spinner in med.heavy as that was all I could find, but it looks plenty stout. They had the Water Eagles at Cabelas but they were only casting rods.

I also picked up some size 2, 230lb test swivels, some 6/0 circle hooks and some Eagle claw Lazer sharp 5/0 trebles and some beads.

I did have trouble finding leaders though. The ones I did see were single strand wire with snap swivels on the end that didnt look like it would be strong enough. Wal Mart only has 40lb test leaders.

Now that I look at your rig again, I see that you are making your own leaders. Do you need any special tools to crimp the leaders or can you use the regular pliers? Your leaders also look to be multi-strand. Just about everything I seen was a single wire that looked like it would be too stiff.

Would anyone be interested in making me some A.Gar rigs? I would definatley buy a few.

Jeff

How much 40lb mono can your reel hold? The Emcast sport may be to small for them if you don't plan to follow them around, but I'm not sure.

Yes, I make my own leaders, I use 170lb Berkley 3 strand sevlon wire. I got them at academy. but watch out, you need very large crimps for it.

You can use any pliers that can crimp. I use the ones you use for working on electric stuff.

I MAY try to get back to you on the gar rigs.... later today.

GG

It can hold 190yds of 40 lb mono, and I use braid I've got a 300yd spool of 65lb Spiderwire that says its 15lb mono diameter. I am sure the reel can hold all of it. Its a large reel.

The Emcast sport is the same size and everything of the other Emcast they had there, its just a different color. The sport felt way smoother and came with a extra spool. Seemed like a better reel, the price was the same.

BTW I do have a boat.

I think I will head out to Stillhouse to see if I can catch some bass.

Thanks for all your help

That should be good, but if not use your trolling motor if you have one. Fighting a large gar is like tying your line to a truck and having to drive a way. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GG

May I suggest an Ambassador 6000?
I have one on a berkly big game rod loaded with 35# gorilla braid for catfishing. The reel has plenty of capacity, also has clicker on free spool to let you know when a fish is running.

I have used a abugarcia Ambassador 6000 for gator gar.... preformed great.

PM sent My96z.

That Abu Garcia 6000 was tied for my second choice along with a Penn 209. Just I have a bad taste in my mouth from baitcasters.

PM replied.

LOL...

It just hit me, that gator gar in your pic looks like he is smiling for the camera!

hahahahaha...... it does.

GG

The biggest gar I have seen alive was swimming under the rail trestle just east of 360 in the trinity. I'd say that any sand bar between 360 and 19th street in Grand Prairie would be a good place to gar fish at night. I like the stretch behind the old Wax Museum. You don't have to go far to find gar around here. I would be tempted to head out to the hole MarkTx posted about in the catfish forum, near where Belt Line crosses the Trinity. Protect yourself from chiggers and mosquito's though.

If you do fish a sand bar, fish the flat side, not the hole.

Which place closest to Killeen/Temple has them? Nearest place I have heard is the Brazos. I just wonder if they haven them near Waco.

Jeff