Gar In My Favorite Bass Pond

[aqualkinbush]

So recently there was some pretty substantial flooding here in clarksville. The river rose about 15 feet the local fishing pond flooded like crazy and I believe the waters intermingled with the water coming off the river that feeds into the cove where the marina is. They are all very close to each other. Now I've been fishing this pond pretty heavily for the last few months and hadn't noticed any gar up until today. I totally struck out for the second time here since the flooding seeing no bass.  Not necessarily uncommon since thye appear to be in full post spawn. However,  I saw a bunch of gar some small 1 - 1 1/2 footers up to a pretty decent sized 3-4 footer. I was wondering if you guys think these gar are a problem fish for this pond, its not huge but its not small either, or if these fish have possibly always been here and are just active right now. It kinda seemed like they could be spawning, I pretty much saw two every time I saw one. Just want to know if maybe I should target these fish (as difficult as that can be) or just let them go about there business.

 

Hope that wasn't too much reading and made sense.

[gripnrip]

Welcome to the forum. If you get a chance introduce yourself in the "introduction" area. Anyways . I have fished around gar and carp for years. They won't cause any problems for you. If the fish ate in post spawn that is your focus. Stick on the post spawn pattern and you'll be sore lipping some soon!

[Bluebasser86]

Gar aren't going to bother bass. Your biggest problem may have been bass leaving the pond in the high water that ended up in the river or even other ponds if the water made it that high. If the water level dropped rapidly following the flood it may have shut them down also. I wouldn't worry too much about it right now. If you get some stable weather and continue to strike out then you may have a problem but I can almost promise the gar are not it. 

[countrygal1951]

My Dad and I used to fish in ponds in Virginia.  Often we would catch Gar fish.  We would throw them back.  Our reason for fishing was strictly for fun.  The Gar we caught were usually around 6-8 inches long.  Just a little FYI.

Glenda 

 

[bulldog1935]

Gar are a hoot to sight-fish on a fly rod.  

They make astounding charges to grab a lure 8 or 10' away, then they make astounding aerials in the fight.  (30" longnose gar)

[bigbassin']

6 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Gar are a hoot to sight-fish on a fly rod.  

They make astounding charges grab a lure 8 or 10' away, then they make astounding aerials in the fight.  

I’ve never been able to get one on the fly. 

[bulldog1935]

cats whisker tied on Tiemco hook.  

I filmed an episode of KT Diaries with Kevin Townsend, True Texas Bass - it was on our endemic hill country limestone creek bass.  In that episode, he made a day trip to the state hatchery, saw big alligator gar in their ponds, and broke out his fly rod to sight-fish gar to 150-lbs - it's kind cool to watch.  

KT likes his clausers for catching absolutely everything, I like my cats whiskers for exactly the same.  

[moguy1973]

1 hour ago, bigbassin' said:

I’ve never been able to get one on the fly. 

To fish for gar on a fly rod people make nylon rope flies that don't even have hooks in them.  All it is is about 5-6" of white nylon braided  rope that is unfrayed except for the end where you tie your  line....  It looks like a minnow streamer fly in the water.  The gist of it is the gar eat it and the strands of rope get all tangled in their teeth  enough that you can reel them in.

[ArthurLK11]

No the gar aren't going to bother the bass. Gar aren't huge predators like bass. I'm not sure why people hate them so much. Just let them be and let nature be natural.