A while back I was making long casts with a fluke and working it through grass in about 1-3 feet of water.  I was trying to throw a couple of inches onto the bank, slide into the water and begin the retrieve.  Just as my fluke touched the water I had a major blowup, set the hook and began the fight.  About two seconds after the hook-up, I saw the tail and since it was only about a 30 inch little guy I fought him to the boat removed the hook and let him go.  I have had a few gators blow up on top waters before but I have never had one hit a soft plastic.  Anybody out there had it happen?

have caught them on flukes, top lures, senkos and other fish while reeling in.

I have caught them on everthing listed as well as frogs, crankbaits and texas rigs.

A Devil's Horse in the Tamiami; A Spook on the Alley and a Senko at Lox. I hated losing that Devil's Horse, it was a fish-catching machine.

Big lizard and frogs have landed little guys but a spinner bait in Kissimmee a few years ago got a 4 footer.

Yea they seem to always like my spro frogs If there over 3 or so feet ill let them pull me around in the kayak then get the knife and loose a 10 dollar frog.

Never caught one on a fluke, but have on various topwaters where they actually striked at it.  Most of the time I get it away from them, but I had a few scare the living (you know what) out of me  Last month while fishing a frog bait at night I had about a 5 footer swim up rapidly behind my Spro frog and strike at it.  I was perched atop my jon boat's front seat!!

Foul hooked about a 6-7 footer in the thigh with a spinnerbait while fishing the Stick Marsh, that was tons of fun  ;D

Wowser! Made a trip down to Welaka in 2007 and saw several, but never had one strike at anything. Heading back down in April this year. Think I'll keep a knife handy.....

Enjoy your trip to Welaka.  I just came back from a week at Welaka Lodge.  The fish are solid on the beds in the big lake and early in the am in the mouth of the river straight across from Welaka the schoolies are great until about 7:30.  You probably won't catch a gator up there, but if you do please make an effort to get your lure out.  If the gator is less than 36" they are easy to handle; just grab them behind the head firmly and remove your lure with a pair of pliers just like any toothy critter.  Anything much bigger don't mess with them unless you are experienced.  Chances are remote that you will hook a gator--I have been fishing Florida waters since 73' and have only caught two by accident.

Wowser! Made a trip down to Welaka in 2007 and saw several, but never had one strike at anything. Heading back down in April this year. Think I'll keep a knife handy.....

Flyboy, tell you what. Give me your cell phone number and I'll give you a call if I hook a gator. This Ohio boy isn't about to wrestle a gator for a $5 lure! Had one about a foot long by the tail at Hilton Head one time, but that's as close I'm going to get..... We are staying at the Welaka Lodge. Great place and good folks. Fished the mouth of the river a bunch last time. You have any suggestions for what to take in the way of lures?