Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Gator Gar and Bowfin

The only way i could get some for my lake was to net and fish them out of a river by my house. they were from 5inches to 1 foot. The average growth was from 1ft. to 1.5ft in one year. One thing to do to make sure they grow is to have an healthy perch and shad population. If you want your gar to get big put gizzard shad. In the long run the gar will control your bowfin and anything else in your pond. You dont have to dred a pond with overpopulated big shad because a 4-pound gar can devour a 14inch shad. In about 2 years you should have some gar knocking on 20-pounds. I don't know if they spawn well in a pond that big but there should be nothing in there to eat them. I dont have much experience with bowfin but i heard they fair well.