Targeting Gar

[loves2fish]

Hello, My name is Danny and i'm a 16 year old from southeast georgia and a fan of The Hunt For Big fish. I've caught nearly every freshwater fish my area has to offer but have never caught a Gar. I'd like to change that this year.
The problem is, I have absolutely no idea how to go about targeting this particular species. Will these fish hit lures or should I use natural bait? What type of areas should I fish?

[Henry Schmidt]

Wow never? Sometimes I cant get bass cause the gar get to the topwater first. But down here theyre all very small. I bet they get bigger in Ga. rivers. In texas they replace the treble hooks with unraveled white rope or cord that tangles in the gars teeth. What a job to clear it from their mouths I bet.

[loves2fish]

Yeah, The Georgia state record Longnose Gar is 30lb 4oz: http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/164
And i've heard stories of stringers being pulled up with nothing but fish heads attached in the Satilla river.

[fishhuntace]

Hi Danny, glad to hear that you are interested in fishing for gar, hope some of my (and web) info helps.
I love fishing for gar, and I fish for them in Florida. Gar can and do live in any body of water accept fast moving water or tiny ponds.
Their favorite habitats are slow moving rivers and canals. (Especially canals !)
Here is how I fish for them.
Because gar are usually small (thin) and have tiny mouths, I do not use live bait to catch them (it is difficult for them to swallow "big" bait, takes for-ever).
So your best bet would be a [u]strip of meat from any fish.[/u] (bluegill, carp, any rough fish will do).
attach to [u]small hook[/u](like you use for crappie or bluegills) to strong braided line as leader - when your target are small gar (yes you will get break-offs, but you will get allot more hook-ups).
For bigger gar, you will need to attach your hook to wire leader.
I usually fish for gar on the bank of a canal. I may use a simple slider rig that people use for catfish but it usually is not necessary. Most of the time I use no sinkers at, (just the hook with a piece of fish meat on it).
Once you cast it in, open your bail (or free spool), so that when gar picks up your bait, he will run with it and feel no resistance.(you will see your line run into the water). -----Pick up rod close bail (or engage drag, if you have a casting reel), [u] and set the hook![/u]

HINTS --- If gar are holding "on top" of the water use a small float (tiny) to keep your bait close to the surface.
--- Gar love to hang out close to snags, log jams, etc. so adjust you line accordingly.
--- Gar are creatures of the night so fish for them at night, morning, or evening hours.
--- Never stick fingers inside JAWS of a gar to remove hook!!! always use needle nose pliers or cut the hook off.

[u]Happy Fishing and enjoy these links bellow!!![/u]

Gar time
http://www.roughfish.com/content/view/263/29/

Minnesota River Shortnose Gar
http://www.roughfish.com/content/view/242/30/

http://www.roughfish.com/content/view/202/30/

GAR ANGLERS HOME
http://www.garfishing.com/

GAR MAN JACK
http://www.garmanjack.net/index.html

Land big fish - fishing for gar
http://www.landbigfish.com/articles/default.cfm?ID=2451

Gar Ain't No Garbage Fish!
http://www.gon.com/article.php?id=1218

West point lake gar grabbers
http://www.westpointlakegargrabbers.blogspot.com/

[loves2fish]

Thanks!