Here lately I have been fishing for gar with rod and reel with cut bait. I did a little fishing last year for them and caught a nice 4 foot needle nose. This was caught about 3 feet below a cork. This year nothing has been messing with my bait on the cork, but every bite I have been getting is when the bait is on the bottom. However, I cannot hook them. I tried setting the hook instantly, that did not work. I tried setting the hook after he runs,stops,then runs again, that did not work. I don't know what to try next. I do not want to use the "rope" lure because I am going after large needle nose and alligator gar, also kinda catfishing at the same time. I did manage to catch a 39 lb blue cat 3 weeks ago. Do any of you think a santee cooper rig will be worth a try? I am thinking that it will get the bait up off the bottom and the fish might inhale it better on the initial grab.

try it keep us posted

I've hooked them both ways, and lost many more than I've hooked both ways. :-/
Perhaps you could pm texas megafish for some tips?

Also try: www.garfishing.com...

santee cooper i think would be your best bet

I am having the same problem fishing the San Antonio river. I have managed long nose to 4 feet but have missed alot. I am going for Gator Gar soon and hope to have better luck. I think the best bet is no weight and a super sharp treble or two. It doesn't always work but letting them run is better. Good Luck.

we have a ranch in goliad with ton of big gator gar i used a palm sized strait hook with a big trebble trailer on the end wish i could get some time an fish that river agin

If anyone is familiar with lake Granger the gar are by the dozens down at the spillway. went down there awhile back and couted atleast 60 different gar. The best way to catch'em is by tying a noose around your hook and just noose the gar. use a cork bobber. minnows or cut bait will work. circle hooks on a 2' steel leader will do ok but a noose is best

I have often debated in my head whether a treble is better or not. I know that a 4/0 Eagle Claw Musky treble is a popular hook for gator gar fishing and is all you need to catch 100+ fish. However, after watching River Monsters where he fished for the Goliath Tiger fish with that insane triple treble rig and his subsequent explanation of how you spread the hookset out over multiple points vs. one or two that you would have on a single hook or snelled single, I am leaning more towards trying a J-hook next year.

has anybody used the team catfish circle hooks for gatorgar? i have only been able to hang up with one gatorgar and i give their hook the credit. i have used many different types of hooks from small straight hooks to large ones, small to large trebles and several different brands of circle hooks. but they have the best hook in my opinion.

have you tried attaching the bait to the leader above the hook, kind of like carp fishing? a lot of people around here do that and it seems to work.

I have use team cat fish double action hooks for gar with a 12in steel leader same (santee cooper) rig I use for big blue I use live perch for gar I never had a problem hooking long nose or gators I also used those big gun hooks wit off set I fish the trinity for gar