Longnose Gar Fishing

[Micro]

Does anyone ever target Gar specifically?  I've caught a couple accidentally, and they are pretty good fighters.

The rivers and creeks in which I fish are loaded with them.  I see them rolling on the surface (gulping air?).   I also see them just below the surface, sometimes in large numbers, as I work up and down a shoreline for bass.  But I can never seem to get them interested in anything I'm throwning.  I caught a couple on in-line spinners before.  I've also had a skirt torn off a spinner bait by one.  Otherwise, they just hang around oblivious to my presence.  A few weeks ago I saw 4 or 5 of them in a group hanging around my bow trolling motor.  I was able to get some crappie jigs in front of them, and even bump a  few with them, but they seem completely disinterested.  

Anyone have any good techniques?  Lures?  

[skillet]

 I think the folks that actually target gar use live bait and wire leader...

                                      As Ever,

                                       skillet

[Daniel My Brother]

When I was a kid we caught them on live minnows, but mostly they stole the minnow and got away. Their jaws are very hard to penetrate, so set the hook with all your might.

Just yesterday I tossed a 4" inch senko at a gar floating just beneath the surface and he turned and grabbed it, I tried to set the hook but he spit it out. They're very frustratrating to fish for.

BUT, if you're good with a bow and arrow, you'll catch (kill) plenty.

Good luck,

Dan

[njdvorak]

I've caught them using bacon. Use a sharp hook about 8" below a cork. I've casted in front of them and thet really seem to like the bacon. But watch out! Depending on the size you're in for a fight.

[southbassfisher]

Ive caught lots of gar while fishing for striper. They do fight really good. I've also caught some gar using a casting net while trying to catch live bait. So I guess you use live bait to catch them.  

[s_self88]

The easiest way to catch longnose gar is with a piece of nylon rope.  Just take about a 6 inch piece of nylon rope, and unwind it, so its all frayed up.  Attatch it to a swivel with a wire tie.  There are many ways to fish it.... steady retrieve, jigging it on the bottom, or like a jerkbait.  The gar are attracted to the rope, and when they bite it, their teeth get tangled in it.  You don't need any hooks.

[bass109]

I plan to do some gar fishing, its my first time to catch this species. Thanks for tips also

[Micro]

I'm going to give the frayed-rope-thing a try.  I'm going to make some of my own jigs and see how they do.  

[beetlespin91]

i have caught gar on topwaters like devils horses.just reel it in really fast right past them, actually i have caught them on the small cricket poppers you get at wal-mart.

[GoBlue80]

There are alot of gar at the pond I fish at.   I have been very tempted to catch one.

[rondef]

I caught a 31 inch long nosed gar on a Booyah BoogieBait. They are great fighters and they are really cool looking fish. I brought mine home because I thought is was citation size but I was wrong. They need to be 40 inches for a citation in Virginia.

[rondef]

Here are the Booyah Boogie Bait lures, I used the Alpine to catch him.

[BirdNestBen]

I've slicked many a gar down here in Texas back behind a spill way....

The guy with the nylon rope was right on the money.... here's my suggestions and you'll get all the gar u want and then some.......

1. go to store and buy couple dozen bass minnows

2. cork

3. leader

4. nice strong hook... not to big though because the minnows aren't so big

5. nylon rope- like he said string a little close to the minnow and the gar's teeth will become entagled....... heeeeeeee the only way he can now get loose is break the line!!!!!!!!!!

OOOOOO son you need some heavy line and a big heavy leader....

set the drag medium to loose.......

They are big brawlers and don't easily give up.......... I've seen and hook some down here this is an exaggeration of course but felt as long and strong as a Chevy pickup truck........

Good luck and let me know how u do................ and you can always use cutbait (shad) if you don't want to spend the money on minnows, but bass minnows work best.............. 8-)

[IMPY03]

Gar are spawning this time of year in the river that I i fish in and I bet I spotted a total of 15 gar surfacing and swimming around where i was wading. I was using a rat-l-trap(silver/chrome) for SM and hung (not caught) 4 gar in about 2 or 3 hours. For some reason everytime I would hang one, I could fight him for about 10 or so seconds and the lure would just pop out like I didnt set the hook. so I dont know what the deal was but I know they like to hit crank baits a lot right now.

[suede55bowtie]

Here in La, while fishing its not uncommon to see them surface, big ones too. Biggest one Ive seen surface was almost the size of our boat, probably a few feet off (our boats 14') so Im guessing he was at least 10 foot in brackish water so that probably explains the size of him.

Best way to snaggem down here is to rig a hangmens noose out of wire, and on the bottom of the wire you rig a chicken neck. Put this about a foot below a big cork and tie it all to some rope. Throw the whole shabang out there by hand and tie it off to something. When you see the big cork start bobbin, untie it and get ready to "set the noose" when you see the cork going down the canal PULL with everything in you, the noose will snug down on his topjaw and youll have one hell of a fight on your hands. Im 19 and I think Im pretty fit, these things are MONSTERS though. IF you can get him in, bring him home and scrape the meat out of him. Mix it with some spices, peppers, and maybe a pork base and roll them into meatballs. Throw them in a pan with some spaghetti sauce and bake it. When its cooked take it out, make some noodles and boom, gar sketties! Sooooooooo good! hahaha

[S I G M A]

I've seen people catch them on live minnows... followed by shaking their heads in disgust...

[CL]

from what i have heard they will ruin a pond.

[Numpty]

The easiest way to catch longnose gar is with a piece of nylon rope.  Just take about a 6 inch piece of nylon rope, and unwind it, so its all frayed up.  Attatch it to a swivel with a wire tie.  There are many ways to fish it.... steady retrieve, jigging it on the bottom, or like a jerkbait.  The gar are attracted to the rope, and when they bite it, their teeth get tangled in it.  You don't need any hooks.

+1

[BassShephard]

I think the best way to catch them is with live bait and a sharp hook. Once the Gar take the bait don't set the hook right away, believe it or not their picky, they will hold the bait in there mouth and kind of chew on it before eating it I guess to make sure its something they want.  They may run with the bait to if they run let them once they stop set the hook!

edit: Maybe try a treble hook never tried it but you may have a better chance of Hooking vs a single or rig up 2 single hooks on your bait (it will be hell to get out later though.

Plan to try for some in the creek I fished at the other day, I know there in there and its perfect time cause its flow is low and has pools of about 3-5 feet, perfect for Gar just not sure if its the right time of the year never really tried late summer/fall.

[1inStripes]

I had one hit a Pop-R the last time I waded the river in front of my house.  Live minnows are the preferred technique around here it seems also.