GrantA Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 My lakes are full of alligators and I was wondering if anyone ever had problems with alligators eating swimbaits. And if you do, how do you get the bait back? CaliBassin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliBassin Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) No alligators here in cali but I can’t quite imagine you getting your bait back... lol might have to call crocodile dundee for that shiit Edited July 17, 2019 by CaliBassin yev14 and Texasfishn 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangermike Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 Yeah I fish Florida a lot only had that problem a few times, on smaller ones just reel them in and tickle their belly and when they open their mouth get the bait. With big ones jump on their backs and wear them out before trying the bayou belly tickle. Good luck! yev14, basskickinrednick, CaliBassin and 3 others 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amistoad Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 Gators are here in Texas, but I’ve never had a problem with them. Seems like guys that do have thrown a lure deliberately close to them so they can get some sort of thrills. I just steer clear and let them do their thing. yev14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbass Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 As started above, the small ones can be a issue. If you do catch a small one you can hold behind the head neck area and try to get the bait out with pliers. The big ones not so much. I had a really big gator come up on a 10" FS heavy floater and all I did was reel in very fast, it followed it and then gave up. One other time I was fishing a RS slow on the bottom and a 6 feet gator smashed it. Was thinking state record but not. He came up to the surface seen me and openes its mouth and the bait came out. If rhe hook was buried I would have just broke off and moved on. So just fish regular and if you see one don't cast in the direction or if you see a line of bubbles cast some where else. GrantA and StriperAddict 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasfishn Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 I know for a fact the little ones will hit a crankbait. There’s some in the nature refuge on lake worth. Don’t know about a swimbait, but I bet given the chance they would Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loganodum38 Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 only time I’ve ever had problems with them is on surface baits. Especially wakes because it’s a lot harder to burn in a wake bait that is pushing a lot of water versus a surface glide bullshad frog etc. idk how most people get the bait back but I’m a big fan of .556, pancake batter, milk and mustard along with a frying pan. dheath2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thastickybandit Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 “You know that gator that got your Hinkle? Well I got it’s head.” Texasfishn and SethMuffinson 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfla Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 Avoid them if possible. They tend to give up the chase on your bait if you burn it in. The ones you don't see in the pads or eat your lure underwater or snag unintentionally suck but it's part of fishing down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volfan Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 My wife had one trying to chase down her Whopper Plopper on an evening out near Fort Myers. Once she saw it coming she threw the rod down and took off on a sprint towards the house. dheath2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SethMuffinson Posted July 19, 2019 Report Share Posted July 19, 2019 On 7/17/2019 at 1:46 PM, thastickybandit said: “You know that gator that got your Hinkle? Well I got it’s head.” *falls out of the window and dies Texasfishn and thastickybandit 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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