Gar Fishing

Thinking of making a run up to PIB tomorrow, if not then within the next few weeks.  Just last weekend fishing a trib to the Ohio River in Ohio I hooked my first gar.  I didn't catch him(only had him hooked for like 2 seconds) but now I really have the itch to actually land one.  So how common are they in Presque Isle?  I'll only be able to shore/wade fish.  Any parts of the bay that are better than others? Sight fishing maybe?  I'll be both spin and fly fishing, but I think rope flies may give me the best chance at actually keeping one hooked.  Thanks in advance, just want to scratch this cool species off the list!

A week ago we were on the bay fishing for LM and got into the gars on flies. I ended up with landing three the guy with me landed one. For about a hour they were hitting ever cast but only a few hookups. Some freinds were out last week and landed 13 on rope flies.

BREAK....HIS...FACE!!!!!!
They are very difficult to land, and as slick said, hookset is everything.  Whereas other fish you want to wait a sec before you set it, with gar u gotta be quick.  If ur fishing live bait for another species and gar are in the area, move to a diff spot!  They will wipe out a dozen minnows in a flash and leave u very frustrated.