Oops. That’s Not a Redfish
So I’m down in the Louisiana Delta this week chasing redfish around the marsh, and yesterday something happened that I’ve...

So I’m down in the Louisiana Delta this week chasing redfish around the marsh, and yesterday something happened that I’ve heard a lot about, but never experienced first hand. I pitched a popping cork and jig up against this cane bank, and all of a sudden there’s a wake a lot bigger than a redfish’s headed my way. And fast.

This five-foot gator was on a mission. It could care less how close it got the boat, wasn’t scared of us at all, and clamped down on the popping cork just a few feet from the end of my rod tip. He let it go quick, and I was left with a souvenir cork with some nice teeth marks. By all accounts a mild encounter, but I bet some of you have better stories. What non-fish species have lashed onto your line? A friend of mine actually landed a gator a little smaller than this one on a Heddon Spook. It came up from below unexpectedly, and not wanting to leave the poor guy swimming around with a face full of treble hooks, he wrenched it in close enough for his guide to pop the lure loose with a net handle.