[Maliboo]

People think I'm crazy, but all I want is to catch a gar! Anybody know where they're at?

[Any Luc]

Garvana holds the fish you seek.

[Mindfloodz]

I've caught Gar in the Kankakee, Des Plaines, and the Illinois this year

[Maliboo]

Mindfloodz wrote:

I've caught Gar in the Kankakee, Des Plaines, and the Illinois this year

Wow. Were you specifically targeting them? I understand they're very hard to hook. What'd you get them on?

[RiverRat]

This time of year they are thick around the dams in the evening at the places Mindfloodz listed. I catch a lot catfishing with cutbait or live bait, but because they have a very thin, bony beak it is almost impossile to get a good hookset. I've caught the most casting bladebaits that I've put a good solid treble on. I saw a guy in one of the forums had a great idea where he took apart a jointed f7 and tied white nylon rope on the back half. They are fun to catch, they tailwalk, tear drag and put up a huge fight, the downside is they are almost impossible to get a good grip on as they are very slippery, and getting the hook out can take work because as mentioned before the beak is all bone. Watch the teeth, they will cut you open pretty good.

[Maliboo]

RiverRat wrote:

I saw a guy in one of the forums had a great idea where he took apart a jointed f7 and tied white nylon rope on the back half.

Ha! That was me! I'm determined to get a gar now that I've caught some bowfin. I'll probably try the Channahon Dam and the Kankakee State Park this weekend.

[fishingmike75]

I also use a similar ropelure myself it is with a spinner on it though you can buy them at I think it is gar guys.com. It is a great lure though the gar get tangled up in the rope and are not harmed. My buddy is from Savanna and the army depot is the place to be for gar. good luck

[mississippi punk]

fishingmike75 wrote:

I also use a similar ropelure myself it is with a spinner on it though you can buy them at I think it is gar guys.com. It is a great lure though the gar get tangled up in the rope and are not harmed. My buddy is from Savanna and the army depot is the place to be for gar. good luck

Kudos to that! Also try the dikes of Spring lake just downstream of there for lots-o-gar action. Closer to home you can always look to the Wilmington Dam or Warner Bridge for gar in the late spring/early summer.

[GETDANET1]

Monster Lake Mazonia.