Gar

[CarpinMNRiver]

I have been seeing a lot of gar swimming around in the spot I have been fishing on the river. I was out again last night after dark and they were everywhere chasing minnows. I have tried just about everything aside from snagging them or netting them. I have never caught one before and think it would be kinda cool. I read some stuff about using frayed nylon rope. Any ideas how to rig that up or any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[JBMasterAngler]

The only gar I ever caught was on a jointed rapala. And it definitely took all 3 treble hooks to get him. Those long snouts can work against you. Of course the fun doesn't truely begin until after you net them.

[nsnutter]

Yeah, nylon rope will work, but man, I tell ya, those guys love chub and cut suckers ... I can't tell you how many shortnose we used to catch down in kato ... a real nuisance actually lol

[mainbutter]

Use your favorite search engine and look up "rope lure", and you should be golden.

Minnows under a bobber and cut bait will work too, especially if you can sight and cast to them.

[StillwaterAaron]

Yeah, nylon rope will work, but man, I tell ya, those guys love chub and cut suckers ... I can't tell you how many shortnose we used to catch down in kato ... a real nuisance actually lol

Long nose and short nose are very different. The rope lure is not effective on the shortnose. Plain old minnow and aberdeen hook is very effective if you are not sure if they are longnose or shortnose. either one will take that rig.

[Mudcatman]

If your on the MN river, which by your location I would guess you are, they are probably 99% shortnose gar. The rope lure will not be the best bet for them, they work best on longnose gar. Try the method mentioned by stillwater aaron, or try some cutbait on the bottom where your seeing them. Smaller pieces work the best..

[DTro]

yep, a bobber with a plain hook and minnow about a foot under works good.

Set the hook hard...

[CarpinMNRiver]

They are shortnose. I think I will try the bobber thing next time I am nightfishing. They seem to be a little easier to spot.I will get one eventually. I may have to jump in and catch them with my teeth.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I would target them if we could use two lines, but otherwise I would feel odd targeting a 2 lb fish when I could be soaking a Bully on the bottom.

I have caught a handful of them when targeting Cats at night, but does anyone know if they feed actively in the shallows during the day like they do at night?

[BlueBillStacker]

I love Gar how big are these fish you have been seeing? My favorite presentation is a bow, arrow, and a spotlight. Could you give up an area possibly in a e mail? Thanks [email protected]

[Schollmeier]

I love Gar how big are these fish you have been seeing? My favorite presentation is a bow, arrow, and a spotlight. Could you give up an area possibly in a e mail? Thanks [email protected]

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[StillwaterAaron]

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[JBMasterAngler]

As cool as gar are, they don't strike me as a fish that would taste good Anyone ever eat one?

[StillwaterAaron]

As cool as gar are, they don't strike me as a fish that would taste good Anyone ever eat one?

Why would they not taste good? They eat minnows? is that not what walleye eat?

They are a very firm white meat that you may slice your hand getting at. They have great backstraps that you need a metal shear to get. They are a chore to clean.

I have even made belt buckles out of the hide and scales. I keep a few of the jaws for the rows of teeth. A very cool fish.

[mainbutter]

Gar taste great, but as stated already they are a pain in the lower back region to clean.

I know of more than one southern alligator gar bowfisherman who has given the good ol' chainsaw a go at a big one.

IMO they'd probably be the perfect meat for pickling, if that was the sort of thing you liked to eat.

[CarpinMNRiver]

They are pretty cool fish. Kind of a waste just to shoot them unless you are eating them. Search the threads, there are gar all over in the spot that the guy caught the huge rainbow trout in the river. I just want to catch one to add it to the list of fish I have caught. Unfortunately work has picked up and I have not been fishing for 5 days.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Saw them ALL over the place tonight eating minnows. They were thick out there.

[BlueBillStacker]

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Hey their bud sorry to type in the wrong forum haha. U take this a lil to seriously i cant say what i want to but you make me laugh, I have been to the rio grande and shot many gar, I like em cause they taste great, cook em like crab or other seafood and their the best tasteing fish that exists, I was just curious as to where i could find a few of em. As for you i think your on the wrong web site many you should go to

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Maby you would like to correct my punctuations aswell??? Your a negitive to this HSOforum

[BlueBillStacker]

and all you do to clean em is take a tin snips make a slice down each side and cut them all the way back to the tail,fillet out the big slab of meat and enjoy sunfish require more work

[Schollmeier]

BlueBillStacker -

As for your grammar, I'm not going to go there. I'm not "that guy"

People Eating Tasty Animals?

Hey, if you eat them then great, I have no problem with bowfishing on that level. I'm not a fan of the guys who shoot natives and think that fertilizing the garden is a good use for them. It wouldn't be acceptable to do that with ducks (and yes I am a duck hunter too) so why would it be acceptable with fish? Anyway, like I said I have no problem with people who eat what they kill.

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[StillwaterAaron]

BlueBillStacker you seem very defensive. Sch was very nice by just reminding you that this SECTION is for angling and there is a separate Section for Bowfishing. You need to be prepared to clean them a little more than most fish, They are tough and that is why they have made it so long on this earth. Sch... is a great guy with great talents that you will probably never know about because of being so defensive so fast on him.

Back to the topic........

There are lots of different ways to catch them and all will work. Over the past few years my rigs have gotten more and more simple so they can be set up fast. But like I posted before

-4 or 6 pound test (for easier casting)

-Aberdeen hook

-Minnow to most closely match what they are chasing

It will take some time and it would be easier to just stab them but the chase is the fun part for me. And yes I am an archery hunter.

BlueBill---I see you found the correct forum for bowfishing and nobody suggested angling as an option. Not even me.

[hector00]

I have always wanted to catch a shortnose gar where is a good location to try to get one?

[sanka]

The Minnesota river is full of them. Had probably half a dozen hit my beetle spin this weekend. About impossible to hook though.

[hector00]

You couldn't by any chance give me a good location on the river where to find these? I am trying to catch one for a species contest that I am in.

[StillwaterAaron]

Hector look for current breaks and also look for minnows. They are there to eat them so you find the food you find the gar. Typically near fast water.