My Run In With An Alligator Gar...

**Won Mo Kasst** · #1 02-07-2010, 01:44 AM

Decided to wade a secret spot that has produced my personal best this season of a 31 inch trout about 12 am yesterday morning. I was only about 20 minutes into my wade when I hung into a "crabtrap" or some "shell" and after trying to unsag myself I realized that it was not a regualar hang up. I realized that my line was moving at the slowest and steadiest pace possible. At first, I thought it was a big red that had not recognized that there was a hook in its mouth. After about two minutes of slow circling, I decided that it was not a red. Twenty minutes went by as I brought it closer and closer, circling, until it was about 10 yards away. It was then that I became worried when I saw the tail at one end, and movement about 6 feet on the other end. "What the heck is this?!?!" stirred through my mind, until it turned toward me. I froze solid, and waited for the light of heaven, as I truly believed the giant on the end of my line was about devour me whole. What swam by me was a seven foot gar. Relieved that it was not a sea monster hungry for the flesh of humans, I began to laugh at the thought of retrieving my lure from the armored back of this giant gar. This certain lure is important to me as it the first of my own personal lures that I make, and the lure that I caught my personal best trout on this season. I lightly touched its tail, as it slowly swam by. This made it make a long, slow swim out into the middle of the bay. Whether it was the challenge itself or the retrieval of my special lure, something made me decide to try and reel this fish in. After it pulled about 50 yards of line off, it let up a bit. I decided that instead of the boat, I would be better bringing the fish in to the shallows of the shoreline. I climbed onto the shoreline, and sat down as the fish made another run. It was a slow two hour process, of which I called a few friends to help me pass the time, thank goodness for speaker-phone, but finally got the beast into about a foot of water. I climbed onto the back of this fish, pulled out my pliers, and yanked out my lure. Success was mine! I bid the fish farewell, and a thanks for the awesome challenge! I grab him by the tail, and give him a good push out to deeper water. I start to walk back towards my boat, and give a quick glance toward the area I last saw the fish. He was stuck in a foot of water, and rolling onto his side. I gave a good sigh, and started to head back to give him a help out of the shallow water. I reached down to what I thought was his tail. His back was the only part of him sticking out of the water. I stuck my hand directly in his mouth on accident. He clamped down which absolutely scared the heck out of me, causing me to rip my hand out of his mouth(not the most pleasant thing in the world). Which caused me to fall back on my butt, to which I braced my self with my previously bitten hand. The bad part is, a piece of shell was rammed straight into my hand that further damaged the already hamburger-looking piece of meat on the lower portion of my hand. Upset, I drag the fish to deeper water and set him free. In the hurry, I quickly looked at my hand, and thought it wasnt so bad... the water must have washed away the blood. I wade back to my original spot and load up for my first cast. I still had my head lamp on as I released a whipping cast into the unknown darkness! A mist of red exploded from my reel. I looked down and saw the multitude of open slits. "Holy ****!" I screamed! I quickly waded back to the boat! I got home, and surveyed the wound. Cleaned and dressed every wound and went to bed! The only problem is now... I have to wear a rubber glove as eating crawfish tomorrow is going to be quite painful without! Remember... Won Mo Kasst Lures always catches the biggest fish, and they are a lot cheaper! No pics of lure or fish, but you might get a glimpse of the lure one day!

**Won Mo Kasst** · #2 02-07-2010, 01:54 AM

Oh BTW, reel was Shimano Calcutta 200b, rod was the 50 dollar All-Star Wader Special that they sell at Academy(I leave the made in China sticker on for fun haha) and line was 14lb test Trilene Maxx! How I landed this fish... I have no clue, straight up patience I guess! Sorry, no pics for a while... as they all have my lure in them!

**fwoodwader** · #3 02-07-2010, 01:54 AM

Keep an eye on it man.

**scubaru** · #4 02-07-2010, 01:59 AM

I'm throwin down the card.

**TripleGrip** · #5 02-07-2010, 03:25 AM

post pictures of the gar we wont look at the lure.

**Reel Time** · #6 02-07-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleGrip

post pictures of the gar we wont look at the lure.

Post pictures of your hand!

**Barnacle Bill** · #7 02-07-2010, 08:02 AM

Yeah, post pictures of your hand! LOL

That is a funny story amigo! Won Mo Gar... Won Mo Stitch... Won Mo Cut...

**essayons75** · #8 02-07-2010, 08:11 AM

Should of eatin' it! J/K hope you heal up with no issues.

**bearintex** · #9 02-07-2010, 08:15 AM

No pictures, it didn't happen!

**Blk Jck 224** · #10 02-07-2010, 08:35 AM

[QUOTE=fwoodwader;2573650]Keep an eye on it man.[/QUOT

I'd have called my doc & had a prescription of Doxycycline, Flagyl, & Bactrim DS waiting at Walgreens when I got there. You are probably safer now that the water is cold, but that is serious exposure. I encourage you guys & girls to carry a first aid kit with betadine in it on board your boat & if something like this happens....SCRUB THE HAIL out of the wound immediately. Vibrio, necrotizing faciitis, & mycobacterium marinium (just to name a few) aren't bugs to play around with. I wouldn't want to have to figure out how to fish with only one arm.