<p>After obsessively reading the 2013 thread on longnose gar for research, I headed out twice armed with modified rope flies and (after learning the hard way to NOT set the hook) after two trips and dozens of hook-ups, but none all the way into the kayak, I finally got the hang of it, and landed this nice female yesterday. I also hooked a bunch of smaller ones, but they actually seem harder to keep hooked. In addition to this one, I hooked a beauty that probably went 50 inches, but it let go while I was fumbling for the camera. Amateur mistake! Can't wait to get out there again. <img alt="" src="http://roughfish.com/sites/default/files/G1272021.JPG" style="width: 1024px; height: 742px;" /><img alt="" src="http://roughfish.com/sites/default/files/G1272009.JPG" style="width: 1024px; height: 677px;" /><img alt="" src="http://roughfish.com/sites/default/files/P6031005.JPG" style="width: 1024px; height: 640px;" /></p>
Way to go man, gar fishing is a great amount of fun.
Awesome!!!! I wish I had gar locally, looks like a blast in a yak'!
Way to go.
Eli
If it can let go of a rope lure, the lure's not working properly. The biggest longnose in the world shouldn't be able to get off a properly tangled rope, in my opinion. Maybe too short or not frayed enough, or fibers too stiff to Velcro into those tiny teeth. It seems ropes improve in tangling ability the more gar mouths they encounter.
Way to go on getting some longnoses in the kayak! That's a blast. The big ones will motor you around the lake.
Redhorse ID cheatsheets, gars, suckers: moxostoma.com
2020: 10 days fishing 11 species 0 lifers. 2019: 34/45/13 2018: 39/40/5
Awesome!
Congrats on a rad lifer! Man, Gar are so cool.
Love the pic of those critters in the water!
Fishn sure is neat
I wondered if the rope was the issue...it was fairly smooth clothesline "insides". Today I tied up a bunch that are more "wavy" from some dock line, and combed them out with a flea comb. Heading out again tomorrow to shop and compare. I also took the other clothesline flies I tied, brushed them so they're more fluffy, and added some red mylar to a few of them. If any of the above works, I'll hopefully be posting some more photos tomorrow. I really am enjoying the sight-fishing aspect of gar fishing. One of the few fish here in NY that lends itself well to a stealthy approach in a kayak and then dropping the fly right in front of them. Lots of fun.
Joel Spring
Author of "The Ghosts of Autumn" 2016 and "The Ultimate Guide to Kayak Fishing" 2017. New book in 2018, just released is "Strong is the Current: A Grieving Father's Meditations on Life, Loss and Fishing" (West River Media).
That should work well. Most of mine are made from dock line (the really smooth, soft, supple kind). The fibers are really fine, they tangle well, and it's easy to work with.
Sometimes a squirt of shad scent (the stuff they sell for bass fishing--I guess you're supposed to spray it on your lures, but that seems weird to me) on a rope can up the action. I suspect a rope lure holds scent a lot better than a crankbait.
Can't wait to see more pics. I haven't gotten out after gar yet this year. I'm in withdrawal.
Redhorse ID cheatsheets, gars, suckers: moxostoma.com
2020: 10 days fishing 11 species 0 lifers. 2019: 34/45/13 2018: 39/40/5
I'm pumped I read this. I was researching this exact pursuit before I recently went on an inshore bender. Now I just need to teach myself how to tie a rope fly or break down and buy one off ebay.
Wes Ketchum
DO NOT BUY ROPE LURES!
They're super easy to make. Lots of instructions, videos, etc. online. Many on this site.
Some photos and links here: http://www.roughfish.com/content/species-week-longnose-gar
And here: http://www.roughfish.com/content/rope-lures-please-add-your-tweaks-ideas-photos
Redhorse ID cheatsheets, gars, suckers: moxostoma.com
2020: 10 days fishing 11 species 0 lifers. 2019: 34/45/13 2018: 39/40/5
Congrats on a great fish!!
Just a couple of more shots from my new gar-spot. I'll be going flyrod-only sometime this week and post if I have any success. Gar-flyrod-kayak...what could go wrong?
Joel Spring
Author of "The Ghosts of Autumn" 2016 and "The Ultimate Guide to Kayak Fishing" 2017. New book in 2018, just released is "Strong is the Current: A Grieving Father's Meditations on Life, Loss and Fishing" (West River Media).