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Sampling Gar/Bowfin

Started by Guest_NVCichlids_* , Jun 29 2010 04:44 PM

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15 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_NVCichlids_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 04:44 PM

Friday morning I am going to a stream that has both long and short nose gar, and bow fin, not to mention norther, and grass pickerl. I was wondering, what is the best way to sample these? I primarly have my dip net That i use for everything, but I figured these guys would get away easily this way. I will be going out alone, so I won't be able to seine either, so what would be reccomended?

#2 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 05:31 PM

Rapalas and spoons!!!!!!

#3 Guest_FishMan81_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 05:34 PM

cast net has allways worked the best for me when it comes to gar

#4 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 07:20 PM

A lightly weighted ball of yarn often works for gar. They strike it, and their teeth get tangled in the yarn, so there's no hook damage.

#5 Guest_BullHeadsrdfish_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 09:07 PM

If you are collecting solo, castnetting might be your best bet to aquire gar or bowfin. I have been able to collect quite large specimens in this manner.

#6 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 10:13 PM

Castnet for gar or bowfin. I agree with Dan on this. Spotlighting at night for small pickerel -you can clean up! For big pickerel a seine will do well.

#7 Guest_Mysteryman_*

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Posted 29 June 2010 - 11:23 PM

I used a castnet on a really huge gar once... it didn't work out very well. I'd still recommend castnetting as the method of choice, just don't try it on a 6-footer.

#8 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 02:45 AM

Sorry to poo on the parade here, but cast nets are illegal in Wisconsin. Only approved gear are seines, hook and line, dip nets and fish traps. I've only caught gar, bowfin, and pickerel seining. I would imagine that hook and line would be good too. Sorry.

Brian

#9 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 06:42 AM

A lightly weighted ball of yarn often works for gar. They strike it, and their teeth get tangled in the yarn, so there's no hook damage.

That's pretty cool. I've never thought of that, that's very humane of you.

#10 Guest_Brooklamprey_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 06:48 AM

Seining is likely to be more effective than most other methods however you can dipnet them if your patient. Dipnetting gars is much like what Martin said above for pickerel. Go out at night and spotlight them. This method is also the best if your looking for small sized fish.

Larger Longnosed and to a lesser extent Shortnosed can be caught using a rope lure and sight casting for them. For Shorts try using a Roostertail lure or a rope with a small treble hook embedded into the head.

If you need instructions on making a rope lure I can post that...

#11 Guest_Brooklamprey_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 06:50 AM

That's pretty cool. I've never thought of that, that's very humane of you.

It is the only method to effectively catch Longnosed on hook and line. Works to a lesser degree on other species.

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#12 Guest_NVCichlids_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 07:26 AM

I think i will stick with seining and attempting to dip them as I do not want to mess with that mouth lol.

Thanks for all the input, and Brian, I know of the illegal cast net so I was staying clear of that idea (even though we are now currently in FL as of this early AM, which i am doing some reading on the what I need to collect while here.)

my trip for friday has been suspended as the quick vacation came up and we are now out of state. I do plan to have this trip after we get back (after the 18th of July)

Thanks again... and that lure looks aweful, but it looks like it would work!

-Nate

#13 Guest_Brooklamprey_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 11:00 AM

Most lures look aweful after being wrapped around the mouth of a P.O'ed 27 inch Longnosed...

#14 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 04:06 PM

Most lures look aweful after being wrapped around the mouth of a P.O'ed 27 inch Longnosed...

Never caught gar but I've seen what muskie will do, I can only imagine.

#15 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 30 June 2010 - 09:09 PM

Sorry to poo on the parade here, but cast nets are illegal in Wisconsin. Only approved gear are seines, hook and line, dip nets and fish traps.

This is no big deal - a castnet is nothing more than a round seine. :closedeyes:

Or a large, frameless dipnet if you prefer. Therefore, feel perfectly free to use your castnet with impunity, knowing that you are within the law. :D/

#16 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 01 July 2010 - 06:30 PM

You are being very naughty, Irate!

You can dipnet small pickerel by shoving it up to the bank and under overhanging vegetation. Kind of a shove, shake and scoop motion.