Gar lure suggestions?

[MOFishwater]

Been out with kids quite a bit this summer near Route 66 and we are encountering a lot of gar. Nothing too big but they sure get the kids excited when they come after a lure and you can see the approach in the (somewhat) clear water. We must've missed 8 bites in a row and never hooked up last time out. Any favorite lures to tempt one of these fish? Kids just want to battle one finally, I am not worried about losing a lure or two in the pursuit. I was actually tossing a craw jig when the action started over the weekend and had one hit it 3x before it tore the bait off completely. I know most of what I have read suggests live bait and i've heard the adage about frayed rope tangling up their teeth but would prefer to just toss some artificial baits. Thanks for any suggestions if you know something that's worked decently. 

[FishnDave]

You probably aren't flyfishing with your kids...but a #10 Woolly Bugger has had a pretty good hook-up rate for me.  Maybe try very small, lightweight jigs...like 1/64 oz crappie jigs.  If you can see them eat it, you may have to wait until they reposition it completely inside their beaks before setting the hook.  Sometimes once they have it, a slow pull will start the hook point into flesh, whereas too strong of a hookset will pull the lure right out of their mouth.

[MOFishwater]

Thanks Dave! I will definitely give that consideration on the next outing, I'm more than happy tossing a fly for my rig. Also appreciate the suggestions for being patient with hookset. quite possibly ripping it out too fast due to seeing the oncoming strike or just setting way too hard. 

[jdmidwest]

I used a live minnow on a single hook with a treble hook trailer hook about 4" down floating under a bobber.  They grab the minnow, the hook set pops the treble into the jaw to hook them.  They don't inhale bait, they snap it sideways with teeth.  Hard to hook them.

[1farmer]

A topwater wearing panty hose.

[rps]

Unravel a 3 to 4 inch piece of white rope. Leave a small part of one end intact. Hook it solidly at one end of a small in line spinner like a mepps or panther martin. The gar teeth get caught in the rope fibers. You will need a glove to hold the fish and pliers to pull the rope from the teeth.

[fishinwrench]

10 hours ago, rps said:

The gar teeth get caught in the rope fibers

Yeah that whole rope business.....🙄 

Nah, been there/done that, it ain't for me. 

IMO the best way to catch gar is WITH A HOOK.   A small one.   #6 or #8 is sufficient.   A #10-12 is possibly better if they aren't bigguns.  

[Hawg]

If you can get close enough, I’ve caught a bunch this year mainly on small floating shad raps when they’re hunting on the surface. If they drop down they still will hit it when you crank it down.

Also caught a bunch on poppers with the fly rod…

[fishinwrench]

If they are visibly cruising, a strip of fur with a deer hair head worked just under the surface, is alot of fun.  

[fshndoug]

I have seen that fly