Longnose gar, anyone else love targeting these guys?

Man, is it ever tough to hook them, but when you do, hold on tight! I know they're not a popular fish to target, but they are becoming one of my favourite fish to catch! the size, power, sight fishing and jumps they do, theres just noting else like it!

you can watch it all on my youtube channel here ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9ddNDNWeok...hannel=AdamStew

I have only ever targeted them once and it was because this fish was on my bucket list. I loved the experience. It was like hunting more than fishing and it was amazing.
The only one I landed was tiny next to that beast. Amazing fish congrats.

Another amazing video. We quite enjoyed watching that one together. My better half said she was freaked out by the teeth. As for advice on that fish, the way you bring the fish into the shallows will always work. So many places I catch pike or a muskie a net is not used. When I get the fish to shore I turn it upside down. This calms the fish a bit, pop the hook and away the fish goes. Sometimes hold it for a while of course if it was a long fight. Also you can try crank baits with those fish. With the two hooks on a shorter base the hook set is better and harder for the fish to shake off. This is just my opinion, but it is 50 years of experience opinion. If you ever get bored with your day job, start your own fishing show. We would watch your fishing show instead of the ones that are out there right now. I get sick of seeing grown men giggle over a fish. The wilderness and fishing and hunting is a rugged Grizzly Adams like attitude. Keep up the attitude. Stay safe though, Don't do crazy stuff like I do.

I was fishing G Bay last weekend and hooked into one of these 15lbs plus .... the jumps where insane and spit the Mepps #4....the 80lbs metal leader was crimped and frayed so bad I had to scrap it....I didn't see this one near the surface...but off this same shoal I have seen 30 plus at a time just inches under the surface....will try targeting them more often just for the fight.

Just an fyi
If you know where there are big spotted gar are the record is only 10lbs 4oz.

Sorry, I meant 30 fish in multiple schools not 30lbs ...thanks for the info... good to know .....never thought the record was not even in the teens ...the one we lost was way over 10lbs ....now I have a mission for that area.

There is two kinds of gar fish in Ontario. The larger long nose gar which is in the video, and can get huge like pike. And there is a smaller black spotted gar, this fish is endangered and very rare to catch. Good luck if someone catches one, but if you do....don't eat it. Make sure it lives to make more of these amazing creatures.

Funny I was reading the spotted gar are super common and the long nose is much rarer in Ontario.

Long nose gar are not caught very often because not too many people fish for them. There is a large and healthy population of the large gar. But the other one is endangered. When I was a kid in Kingsville you could catch them everywhere. Walleye and both gar fish were in the point pelee area. But as usual people and pollution was the problem. The long nose gar is still a great fish to catch as long as the fisher knows what they are doing. That is why I enjoyed the video so much. Adamstew is always careful with all the fish he catches

Good to know. I really want to do more gar fishing and learn more about them. The Long nose gar can grow pretty darn big. I saw the record was over 30lbs.

Yes big fish...In Canada the record is 20 pounds. In the southern U.S. it is almost 50 pounds. Most of the fish are bigger there because they don't have the winter slow down in growth. But Canadian fish taste better, much better. EH!!!

I have never caught one or fished for them, but have seen many while fishing out in Lake st clair. On calm days you will see these monster swim by or while running out to the next spot see them swimming along the top of the water. I have already seen them once this year. That is a great vid. Thanks

yes, this is a super fighting fish at times and sight fishing for them is just a blast. I have not caught many , maybe a dozen or more, but all of them wer just fun.

My best day was 5 i believe in shallow waters just watching lots of them sitting just under thesurface or cruising around in 3 feet of water..we rigged up a float and a tinly minnow bait and just twitched it......lots of hits and much less hookups, but really had a blast with the ones that did stay on.....

nothing over i would guess 6-7 pounds but fun fun fun

When I was a kid we fished for them at night with minnows under a bobber or small lures, in the shallow sandy water with grass weeds like walleye. Some of the gar were as big as we were. It is always a good idea to bring an old dish towel and get it wet. Gar use up most of their energy on the way in but you can wrap the towel around their head and turn them upside down. Take the hook out and they are free to go. This also prevents cuts in the dark, watch out those teeth are no joke. These fish get their energy back fast...never had a bad release. Some people eat them, I do not...they stink.

Great video and very interesting info, guys! Thank you.
Never had a chance to fish for them. Would be nice to try.