Good place for gar in Illinois?
06-23-2006, 02:16 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Too close to Chicago
Posts: 3,337
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
I did get a 36 incher off the Kankakee last year (while standing in a canoe[:-]), but you just don't see them in large numbers up here, and most are on the smaller side.
07-03-2006, 07:30 AM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: East Central ILLinois USA
Posts: 1,595
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
I just got back from Lake Mermit near Metropolis Illinois and I saw tons of them in that lake
.... I saw more long nose gar than any other fish in that lake.
I got to shot my 1st Long Nose Gar there
.... I saw more long nose gar than any other fish in that lake.I got to shot my 1st Long Nose Gar there
07-03-2006, 10:55 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Too close to Chicago
Posts: 3,337
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
Very nice!
I should mention also here that I found some gar in the Des Plaines by Joliet last weekend. It may have been a fluke though since it was the first time I've seen them in three trips.
I should mention also here that I found some gar in the Des Plaines by Joliet last weekend. It may have been a fluke though since it was the first time I've seen them in three trips.
07-03-2006, 04:04 PM
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,610
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
Isn't that a spotted gar she is holding? My sister just shot the new state long nose record down in the Kaskaskee river below Carlyle dam. 13# 14 oz.Too bad we cannot shoot there any more.
07-05-2006, 08:08 AM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,608
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
That's a neat-looking fish. I saw one in Wisonsin about a month ago. It had an almost diamond-shaped pattern on it's back, down the whole length of it. It was a little less than 3' long, and it had these orange-ish stripes that criss-crossed it's back. Of course, I didn't have my bow, but I was happy to at least see it.
I'm thinking my best bet of shooting some bigger gar anywherenorthwould be Hennepin, and that's so far west, I may as well go to one of the lakes down south.
I'm thinking my best bet of shooting some bigger gar anywherenorthwould be Hennepin, and that's so far west, I may as well go to one of the lakes down south.
07-05-2006, 08:10 PM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 459
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
Is there a field guide to identify rough fish? I don't know my spotted gar from my shortnose gar; mysmallmouth buffalo from my largemouth buffalo; my grassies from my commons... Y'all get the idea.
Judd
Judd
07-05-2006, 10:03 PM
#18
Spike
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 6
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
As for north of bloomington, we have a fair amount in the Illinois river, especially in the section between Starved Rock and and Peru. We don't seem to get especially big ones (at least I don't) though, but they are there.
) though, but they are there.
07-10-2006, 09:42 PM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Too close to Chicago
Posts: 3,337
RE: Good place for gar in Illinois?
For those who did not see this post in the Illinois Bowfishers forum...
Robow commented on Lake Mermet where Lady Forge got the nice gar shown above:
Sounds like it's worth the trip.
Robow commented on Lake Mermet where Lady Forge got the nice gar shown above:
I've never seen so many spotted gar before in one location and although I can't say the quantity is there, the average fish is of very decent quality. I shot 6 with the largest going 5 3/4 lbs. I'm sure there are larger and undoubtedly a newstate record spotted gar could be had there since it presently stands at 7+ lbs.
