not much of a gape to a Gar - even the long nose.
Bowfin tend to spawn in moving water with a sand/gravel bottom - they might be a good put/take fish in a pond. They sure put up a good fight!
https://www.hbpondmanagement.com/ stock paddlefish - they detect plankton with their snouts - usually cruising mid to high in the water column. In the late summers around here they hit backwaters and corral food to the surface and put on a feeding show - it is a great sight to see.
Shovelnose sturgeon would be a cool "dinosaur" fish to put in a pond. They might kick up some sediment but they would be good for cleaning up the bottom.
