Does anyone know how to catch gar in clear lakes with no weeds? I know about rope lures and that is about it.

Thanks

Ben Eipert

What type of gar?

Longnose and shortnose

I know how to catch gar in the muddy mississippi .

I don't know about clear lakes but here in South West Tenn. They will hit just about anything you can cast. So come on down here and catch all you want.

I am on Norris up near the Powell side. I just do not know where to find them. I see the in coves occasionally but am wondering if there is any particular structure they tend to hang around

The ones I catch in Florida are purely accidental.  Much of the time I don't find them to be overly aggressive, but sometimes they are.  I caught a few a couple of months ago, haven't seen any since, season could play a big part.

A lot of fun to catch.

I am on Norris up near the Powell side. I just do not know where to find them. I see the in coves occasionally but am wondering if there is any particular structure they tend to hang around

I can't get rid of the dern things.  They are everywhere here and they are beasts!! They are about like bass during the summer months ive noticed they hang near the surface. Cut bait, shrimp, crickets, and minnows are all good bait. When I do try to catch then I sight fish for them and just put a hook on the line no sinker, just keep throwing to it until he grabs it. But they are very ski dish in some since.

I use to fish for them along the sand bars on the Mississippi river during the summer . Id cast a dead creek chub hooked though the mouth , out in deeper water on a Carolina rig { we never called  it a Carolina rig just a   weight and hook] let it sink to the bottom then retrieve it slowly. When I felt something i'd disengage the reel and let it freespool . Id count for 30 mississippis then engage the reel and set the hook. 

They love jerkbaits and minnow baits. I've caught a bunch sight fishing with a big Rebel minnow. They're not hard to get to bite, hooking them is almost impossible.

Yeah don't use any artificials if you want to keep one pinned. Just a spinning rod with light line, 10-15lb test leader, small light wire hook #8-#2 depending on the size of the fish, and a strip of cut bait will do the job. Sight cast to them, and let them swallow the bait. Their jaws are too bony to hook. The ones around here are very wary and not aggressive most of the time. I did hook one while burning a 6" bull shad swimbait though.