A real suprise while crappie fishing

[36Tango]

We were down this weekend to do a little crappie fishing. We cleaned about 80 real nice ones that probably averaged 11". Just for a change of scenery, we decided to go down below the dam on the Legion side where Jr. and I caught some nice stripers (stripers, not strippers) a couple of weeks ago. I was using 6 pound line and a G Loomis ultralite when I hooked this gar. After setting the hook it actually took a hard run and got completely airborn. Between the current and the trees, I was really suprised that I landed it.

[Reggie]

[smilie=appl] cool

[QWKRN U]

Nice

[ASH]

Did you give it the Calilfornia beach release?????

[Griz]

.[smilie=appl]

[1BadStinger]

Nice job! I'd never eat em, but they put up a good fight.

[36Tango]

Did you give it the Calilfornia beach release?????

which is???

We did turn it loose after snapping a few pics.

It is amazing the difference in not just the water but the people above and below the dam. Below are a bunch of locals either bank fishing or in the jon boats catching fish to put on the dinner table that night. Not a bad thing, just a big difference.

[Crownie 11]

Nice! I've never hooked a gar, but they look like they'd give you quite a battle, then try to bite your face off once they're in the boat.

[docjimm]

Gar suck, when I used to bass fish , every once in awhile I would hook one and they would usually ruin my bass lure , bend it all up, I dont know what Ash's California beach relaese is but I think I did the same to the ones I got on shore.

[SinkorSwim]

which is???



I am pretty sure Ash is talking about throwing them up on the bank to die..

Thats what my grandpa taught us growing up in Defiance... toss up in the weeds for the racoons to eat....

[baditude]

the best method is to tie their bill shut then cut off a fin that way all they can do is swim in circles

[36Tango]

Not that I am a tree hugger by any means, but what damage do gars do? I don't eat many fish but enjoy catcing them, whatever they are.

[ckmansell]

I am pretty sure Ash is talking about throwing them up on the bank to die..

Thats what my grandpa taught us growing up in Defiance... toss up in the weeds for the racoons to eat....

YES, YES, YES.. never throw them back. If I catch one they always get thrown up in the weeds for the racoons. My grandfather always taught me the same thing. Sometimes I stab them in the mud by their nose. LOL... Gar and Bluegill. I never throw them back. After all the coons need to eat too.:oops:


Not that I am a tree hugger by any means, but what damage do gars do? I don't eat many fish but enjoy catcing them, whatever they are.

They dont really do any damage except ruin fishing because they are so over populated. Same with Bluegill. They can be/are fun to catch. But believe me, if you dont throw them back there will still be more than enough to catch.

[MAKESMEHAPPY]

Not that I am a tree hugger by any means, but what damage do gars do? I don't eat many fish but enjoy catcing them, whatever they are.


They can also scare the sh&t out of you when swimming and one starts cruising around you back in a cove:oops:

[flying33]

Bill em! bill em in the sand.

[Scarab Babe]

My dad used to catch them in lines he'd set when I was a kid. He'd always come home complaining about them. The only way to get them off the line would be to whack them with an oar and break their bill off. I thought that was mean...but like you said earlier (and my dad told me), they are way overpopulated... And that was 30 years ago!! I can just imagine what they're like today.:shock: