Gar beat us

[riverbowman]

What's a good way to fish when gar are working the TOP of the water column?

My son and I have been seeing tons of gar surfacing in one area of the lake. Last night I netted some 3" to 5" shad and tried fishing on the bottom and under floats. They left the bottom shad a lone, but they wore the floats out.

We had no idea what we were doing and definitely were not set up for gar. Several exciting hook-ups occurred, but they all spit the bait or were so big they just snapped the line. The shad were on a medium treble hook about 2 feet under the float in about 10 feet of water.

Guidance is appreciated. I know gear is as important as the method with these beasts. We're ignorant on both subjects.

[ultralite09]

1ft section of frayed rope

[Tryton]

When they take the bait let them run with it...open spool. When they stop give them a little time to start swallowing the bait and cross their eyes.

[riverbowman]

Thanks. I will google how to use frayed rope.

Tryton, I think you found one of our issues. We were trying to set the hook when they were first starting to run with it.

[GarGuy]

30 inches of wire leader wit a 2/0 treble. One hook barb in the top edge of the bait and the rest exposed. Uses as small a bobber as possible too keep the bait up.. if gator gar, use lb plus baits. if big longnose, use half a gizzard shad. When the gar takes, feed him line from an open reel. Dont use the clicker! let him run till he stops. waait 30 second minimum after that. then reel down tight against the fish. He will usually start moving away. that makes the leader pull to the corner of his mouth for a hard hook set. hang on.

[batmaninja]

My understanding is that they have really bony mouths and you need to try to hook them in their gut. Or use the rope trick to get it stuck in their teeth, maybe even soak it in fish oil.

This guy is on 2cool and FB, interesting guy, but he catches huge gar. May be worth asking him.

https://www.facebook.com/CatchingDinosaurs/

[riverbowman]

30 inches of wire leader wit a 2/0 treble. One hook barb in the top edge of the bait and the rest exposed. Uses as small a bobber as possible too keep the bait up.. if gator gar, use lb plus baits. if big longnose, use half a gizzard shad. When the gar takes, feed him line from an open reel. Dont use the clicker! let him run till he stops. waait 30 second minimum after that. then reel down tight against the fish. He will usually start moving away. that makes the leader pull to the corner of his mouth for a hard hook set. hang on.

Excellent advice. Thanks. Can't wait to get back out there and try this.

[riverbowman]

My understanding is that they have really bony mouths and you need to try to hook them in their gut. Or use the rope trick to get it stuck in their teeth, maybe even soak it in fish oil.

This guy is on 2cool and FB, interesting guy, but he catches huge gar. May be worth asking him.

https://www.facebook.com/CatchingDinosaurs/

Thanks. Will check this out

[elliscountyhog]

If you have room a good way to know when to set the hook is let them run with it until they return to the exact spot they picked the bait up or atleast start heading back to you. They will swallow what they have and return for more once eaten. If no room or they run too far then its basically a 50/50 chance but most just wait for the 2nd run to set.

[justindiehl7]

A bow-fishing rig


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[Stykbow]

a 31" white piece of fiberglass hooked to my bow.

[riverbowman]

a 31" white piece of fiberglass hooked to my bow.

Ha. We've done the bow fishing thing and it is a blast. My 12 year old really wants to fight a gar with a rod though.