It's not as hard as everyone makes it out to be!
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE is that GATORS DO NOT LIKE SUNLIGHT....most fishermen only like to go out on sunny days....THAT'S A PROBLEM!
A Gator's eyes are set up to give it a huge advantage over it's prey AT NIGHT or in low-light conditions. Fishing in Ohio in the Early Spring is PERFECT...most of the time it's cloudy, dark, and dismal...PERFECT Gator weather!
Add to that, Gators are a COOL water fish, and you just entered "Valhalla For Gators"!
Before the Gator Spawn, shad will start moving up into the shallows in Late Winter or early Spring. The days are getting longer, and the sun's rays are warming rocks/etc....this may only raise the temps a couple degrees in the shallows but that will move shad that are seeking warmth.
The Gators are trying to Gorge before the Spawn and follow the Shad to the shallows to hunt and feast....the little pigs will eat until nothing else will fit in their mouths.
All of my early damage was done in the shallows around the lake...if you can find rocks (rip-rap) or feeding flats, you have just increased your chances even more!
Yes, in the Summer you can catch Gators in the deep dark water or under shade trees...but you have to put in ALOT of time chasing them.
If you fish THE SHALLOWS at night in the Summer you increase your chances, and get the added benefit and fun of them aggressively "smacking the living daylights" out of a swimbait......at night, you don't get the "limp rag" hits like during the day on a opportunistic bite. Since Walleye have the sight advantage at night, they move Shad Shallow on feeding flats or hunt freshwater lobster in the shallow rocks.
During the day, even in the deep, Gators like Bright Flashes of color and vibration, especially when the sun is out....On cloudy days, I still use Neon Glow or UV Phosphorescent colors...Pink heads and bodies and a glow orange tail have been working for me lately. My buddy Pat has been doing well with a Green Chartreuse. At night I go for a Black or White Swimbait...Walleye see at night in HD Black and White...they are good contrasting colors at night. Walleye don't seem to like a big loud Spinner, Chatterbait, etc...just a 2.8" Keitech Swing Impact fat!
Gators WILL NOT typically eat a BIG thick lure....their Favorite food is their cousin the Yellow Perch...that is the shape you go for, long and skinny. Gator's throats were designed for this shape of food and unless they are starving this is what they look for so they don't get hurt. And Yes, in CJ as in other lakes they have adapted well to Shad because they have soft rays, smell like sushi, and the shad cannot hurt them as they are sliding down the narrow throat.
By next week when the weather improves, the Gators will be gorging again to fatten up for summer, they need the extra fat in reserve to handle the heat, and the stress of summer. This is another Great time to FISH SHALLOW for them....Shad will start to Spawn and the Gators will get their fill of unsuspecting shad that only have Love on their minds!
Good Fishing Young Jedi, may the Force be with you!
(The New Star Wars film is set for December 2016 release...just saw the trailer!
lol)
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Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR
