State Record Gar Questions

[skolvikesallday]

I know this is that catfish forum but I catch a lot of gar while catfishing and I assume Im not the only one, so I figured you guys might have have a little experience with gar as well.

Anyway... Ive been catching some MONSTER gar down here in Winona. The only one that I did a rough measurement on was 45" + ( I held a ruler up to it while it was in the water cause I really didnt want to let those teeth get into the boat and start flopping around) We had one on a week ago that had to have been 8-12 inches longer. And I spotted one in the shallows one day that was almost half the length of my 14' boat. It was swimming along with a bunch of 3 footers and it was twice as big as all of them.

I was amazed to find out the state record longnose was only 53" long. I am positive I have seen a few that were longer than that.

So I think I might have a legit chance someday of catching a record gar.

My questions are:

Any advice on handling a large gar and not ending up in the emergency room? I grabbed that 45"er while it was in the water and it felt like a really strong fish. I was afraid if I brought it into the boat it could slip out of my hands and start flopping around with those razor sharp teeth ripping up my legs.

What would I do if I caught a potential state record at 1:00 am? Save it and have it weighed the next day? Does it need to be alive when it is weighed?

Not planning on going out and targeting gar but I think it would be fun to have my name in the record books, even if it is for a stupid bait stealing gar.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[bronzeback]

wear gloves. wear pants. use pliers.

and take some pictures of those big boys.

[roughfish29]

wear gloves. wear pants. use pliers.

and take some pictures of those big boys.

yup

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Just grab them by the back of the head and take the hook out. Shouldn't be that hard I have had to deal with some nice hogs before and never had any troubles. As far as seeing them around the 7' range that is freakin crazy if you are correct on the size.

[carpmanjake]

wanna take me out fishing? sounds like you have a hot spot for gar!

i have yet to catch a gar, and im getting quite desperate. lol

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

The longnose gar ranges in length from 60–182 cm (24–72 in) and weighs 0.5–3.5 kg (1.1–7.7 lb); FishBase reports a maximum size of 2 m (6.6 ft).

the shortnose Color varies from brownish or olive green on the dorsal surface lightening to yellow on the sides and white on the belly (Holton and Johnson 1996). Young gar less than 10 inches in length process a black stripe along the midline. Shortnose gar may reach a size and weight of about 31 inches and about 3.5 pounds.

which one are you seeing

[skolvikesallday]

As far as seeing them around the 7' range that is freakin crazy if you are correct on the size.

Ill give the biggest one I saw a conservative estimate of 6', but thats still 72 inches and would shatter the state record.

The one I tried to land the other night was thicker than a 37" northern, so I could barely get a hold of its body, and it felt way stronger than a 37" northern too so I was afraid if it gave a good hard flop I might drop it. Also my girlfriend was in the boat and begging me to cut the line so I did.

[skolvikesallday]

BTW these are all longnose gar. I dont remember ever seeing a shortnose on pool 6

[skolvikesallday]

wanna take me out fishing? sounds like you have a hot spot for gar!

i have yet to catch a gar, and im getting quite desperate. lol

Yea its definately a gar hot spot. Also happens to be a pretty good spot for flathead if you can keep the gar off your line long enough to catch one. Its a current seam on a secondary channel, and if I cast it right on the slackwater side of the seam Ill almost always have a gar bite within 5 minutes. They very rarely hook up though with those bony mouths. I guess if you really wanted to catch one you could let it really take your bait and swallow it. Im not a fan of guthooking fish but I guess I could make and exception for gar.

they are all hitting cutbait too btw

Jake if you're ever in the winona area send me a PM maybe we can work something out.

[Brad B]

You could always get one of those spinner baits like they use down south. it is nothing more then a regular spinner bait but instead of a hook it has a piece of rope in place of the hook. the gar bites the rope and gets it teeth caught in it.

[EW6]

I'd sure be interested in taggin along for some big gar fishing down Winona way some day if you ever are looking for anyone to go along with. I live in Rochester and catfish a ton in pool 4 and 5 but have never been south of Alma. Let me know if you ever want to trade a trip.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Sounds like a task for that River Monsters dude to take on too