Pike and gar hooksets

[Esox obsessed]

Is their a technique to setting the hook on a pike or gar when they dont smash a lure or set it themselves ect as the last pike i had i lost on a wacky rig and there was nothing I could do

[BassmanRudy]

In my experience gar have such a bony mouth area some hooks just never have a chance. Plus they usually "grab and clamp down" prey then swim off and rotate it to eat. Watched it a lot in the bass pro tanks during feeding times when they strike the minnows. So you'll get a bite and they swim off but are just clamping down on the piece they have and it's not actually in their mouth.

Pike for me usually get hooked but they also have a bony jaw.

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[Esox obsessed]

Same for the pickerel and all but 1 pike Ive caught
Never caught a gar either but is there anything you can do to hook them

[Capt. BassinLou]

Can't speak for catching Pike, but I can tell you about gar. They are a pita!! I hook into them all the time. If you want to target them, and I don't see why, but if you do, smaller jerk baits with small trebles will do the trick. If the jerk baits have a white or red feather trailer even better. They will hone in on the feather and hook themselves by the small fleshy part in the tip of their snouts.

[Esox obsessed]

Any alternatives to the trebles

[Capt. BassinLou]

Any alternatives to the trebles

You want to target gar?

[Deadeye]

Simple. Use No Hooks.

Instead tie on about an 18 inch section of nylon rope.

Start to undo the end so the material is frayed about 8-10 inches.

When they bite their teeth get wrapped up in the thread. You'll catch all you want.


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[Esox obsessed]

Any alternatives to the trebles

You want to target gar?

No but ive seen them in the area and if i caught one while fishing for pike I wouldn't mind catching them

[fishballer06]

Pike/Muskie are very aggressive eaters. They generally deeply inhale everything they eat. If you ever look in their mouth, on the back roof of their mouth, you'll see a spongy, teethy material. This holds all of their prey in their mouth once they get a hold of it. So I think they deeply inhale everything so that it gets stuck in that and doesn't escape.

Whereas a bass will slap at something, or just barely grab onto it, rather than totally inhaling it all the time. So that's why we feel bites sometimes but don't hook up. 

[zippyduck]

Sorry I missed this.

Pike are going to give you troubles on jigs and t-rigs. They will inhale and cut you off most times with these types of lures. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits attract them like a juicy burger attracts me. Use white and chartreuse colors.

Now gar in my area are just the longnose and they are almost impossible to hook with a single hook. I do take a few kids out for them on purpose and we use cut bait on a small treble and snag the outside of their mouths when they first take the bait.

[Wizard]

Make the poly rope a bright color and I agree with Deadeye. Gar put up a great fight and are fun to catch. You can even eat the critters by making fried Gar balls. You have to catch several Gar for the recipe as their balls are pretty small.

Wizard

[Esox obsessed]

So for gar replace the hook with some nylon rope and fray it up