Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species Long nose gar

i have noticed a large longnose gar in my wife's grandmothers pond. I have no idea how it got there. Just looking at it I was thinking it to be around 35 lb or so. I went and looked up the state records, and for Georgia it is 30 lb 13oz. I have never caught a gar but really want to catch this one. What is the best way to catch it.would love to be in the record books if this thing is as big as I think.

I have occasionally caught one while bass fishing. Generally though, with conventional tackle, they're tough to hook well and you lose them. I've had better luck with live bait and letting them run with the bait free lining it until you're confident they have got the bait deep into their mouth.

Guys also use crazy hookless baits for them... I've never utilized this method. More info here: http://www.garfishing.com/longnosehow.html

I would use a stout rod with 20-30lb test and a real strong leader.

Their teeth will shred line. I was targeting bass when I hooked up with a gar. Landed the gar, the next one cut the line. I switched up to 15lb braided and have landed more gar since. I have landed them on breaded and fried shrimp, raw shrimp, hamburgers and hot dogs. Leave the bail open and let 'em run a bit.

Cray, I used to catch gar up in Michigan (of all places!) by using small 3 - 5 inch BG as bait. Sometimes I would clip a few fins or do something else to slow down the BG so they'd appear more vulnerable. Probably the gar would bite during the day, but it always seemed that we did better at night. Good fighters, they would jump, which surprised me for some reason.

If you wish to catch a state record, you might consider thin steel leader as well to eliminate chance of bite through. Let them swallow the BG pretty well before setting the hook.

Good luck!

I don't believe gar have the greatest of eyesight, but they do inspect a prey item before they decide to eat it. They'll coast right up next to a fish, inspect it, then attack it from the side so that the fish is perpendicular in their mouth. Even with it in their mouth already, they're still "tasting" it, making sure they still want it. When they've figured out it's what they want, they turn it so that it can slide down their throat.

Like Travis said, go with live bait. If you can spot him, get a free swimming large minnow, maybe a creek chub, and get it to swim close enough that he can spot it. Wait and wait and wait. Maybe tear your line up pretty good, wrapping it around that bony snout and teeth, but at least you'll get him. Never caught a 35 pounder myself, but plenty in the 10-15 range.

They have a narrow mouth. If I used a golden shiner what size should I use. Also should I hook the bait in the nose or behind the dorsal fin?

I think either would work. I hook in the dorsal more often, personally. Trick is to let it run once he takes it. Let him go and decide it's what he wants and chomp on the hook himself.

Would a 6" shiner be ok?

If you've the inclination try a hot dog. Cut the hot dog into two equal halves and bury the hook in the dog so no part of it is exposed. Put the tip near the surface but don't break the skin. If you know where the gar hangs toss the dog there. Otherwise not far from shore and leave the bail open. Watch the line peel off for maybe 10-15 seconds. Often there is the initial run, a pause, and then a second run. I close the bail then and gently reel in. When I feel the gar fight I then set the hook. If ya attempt to set the hook immediately watch out as it may fly back toward you as the gar releases the bait.

Josh, you're gonna break your record this Summer, I guarantee it. Bruce and I stocked several that were into the 20# range in your pond. You can thank me later.

Surprise!

Thanks TJ and Bruce!

They won't eat my tadpoles either!

I tried the hotdogs today all I did was feed the turtles. I will try live bait next time.

Cray -

LOL I didn't know ya had turtles. But yeah turtles will rob yer dogs.

So two things to target the gar: 1) spot the gar or identify hangout(s) and fish just those spots, but also 2) I fish only at night for the gars between 11pm - 1am and usig hot dogs never got a turtle during those hours and only landed gars. Maybe try the nighttime fishing?

That sounds good. I will try night fishing.

Cray -

Let us know if you've got bait stealers at night as well. Those turtles shouldn't be active then. And if you have identified an area or areas where that gar hangs obviously target it first. Every gar I've landed I've dropped the hot dog within 4 feet from shore. I let that line just peel off. Most runs are slow - a bit of line off, a pause, more line, a pause, and then more line etc. There is usually a long pause though somewhere and that I've determined has been the gar deciding to either eat that bait or spit it out.

Curious to hear how it turns out for it. IF you switch to live bait I would nostril hook the minnow or shiner.

So I went yesterday afternoon. Used a 10" bass for bait. The gar showed up but was more interested in my cork than the bass. He bumped the cork twice. But never bit the bait.

maybe a smaller bait and a shorter drop line to keep it near the surface?

Simple nightcrawler might do the trick then.

I'd use trot or jug lines and let them sit overnight and use a variety of baits. With multiple baits going your chances of success improve dramatically. That's what I recommend for guys trying to get a turtle...flood the water with baits, you'll get him eventually.

She is possibly a record for my state, so I want to catch her on a rod.

A favorite gar fly or lure in our area is to "comb out" a short length of small nylon rope - if a gar just bumps one of these things he becomes tangled and hard to release.
G/

Cray -

If it bumped the cork try the hot dog at night when your turtles are resting.

If you have multiple rods and it bumps the corn try slinging out a hot dog not far from the cork. Or, attach the dog to the same line.

I have heard of that method...old school - but I bet very effective.

and post a picture when you land it

Folks in south La. night fish for gar... Nocturnal feeders? I don't know but I've caught several inadvertently day fishing.