Gar #4 Fell Prey to One of My Flies!

I just couldn't help myself!  I had to go back to make sure that the gar that I caught on a fly wasn't some fluke.  To read that post, just click here.  Truth be told, I wanted to go without Waylon, earlier in the day, and wanted to get some good video/pictures.  As you can see, it was not a fluke but the fishing was considerably tougher.  The fish were deeper in the channel, less active, and took less interest in my fly.  I hooked two and landed one and I was fine with that percentage.  I'm still learning some intricacies but mark my words, I expect that percentage to be better by this time next year.

In regards to learning, here is what I have learned about fly fishing for gar in my small amount of time chasing them.  Fishing a fly with one hook isn't enough.  I like to use an articulated streamer and that is because gar tend to bite flies sideways.  They don't inhale it from behind like a bass or a trout.  Having multiple hooks (and may I suggest that one of those be a treble hook) means that you are more likely to get a hook into their boney mouths on a hook set.  Their mouths are indeed boney which means you want a small but sharp hook.  You want a hook that can pierce bone and to get that done you're going to have to lay the wood to the fish on a hook set.  

Going back to flies, I like to keep my gar flies in the 3-4 inch range.  I'm not going to throw a 6 inch game changer or 7 inch circus peanut for these things.  I also want a fly that has a really slow sink rate.  In most of my situations, the eats I have seen have been visual and either in shallow water and/or near the surface.  If a fly sinks into deeper water or lands on the bottom, it probably isn't going to get bitten.  When a fish does bite, you might not feel it as the gar I have fished for bite the fly and then nibble on it a little.  It's not going to grab and go or try to drag it into the depths so be ready for subtlety.

So that's what I have experienced and what I know about fly fishing for gar thus far.  I hope it helps and I will continue to share info as I learn it.  On this particular day, I was happy to catch gar #4 and yes, I'm going to count them because...why not?