Caledonia report from today.

[Alfiegee]

Hey guys we went to Caledonia today, hoping to catch whatever.
There were 5 of us. First catch, a Rock Bass. Then I caught 2 Channels a lb or 2.
Then the Gar came out to play. I wish I'd had my fly rod with me. They were surfacing everywhere.
Our group of 5 landed about 20 Gar, 20-36 inches, it was crazy. We also lost many due to their sharp teeth and 8 lb line. We were after Walleye, Bass and Cats maybe a Pike, but they weren't co-operateing today. It was Gar, Gar, Gar today.
What a fun fish to catch, they fight so well on light gear, and they love to take to the sky when hooked.
I will attach some pics but I still haven't figured out how to do this yet.

Alfie.

 

[hamiltonangler94]

Sounds like fun! I have yet to catch a gar...what were u catching the gar on?

 

[Alfiegee]

Minnows. They were surfacing everywhere tho. I really wish I had my fly rod.
They are very areobatic.

Alfie.

 

[Dozer]

Nice surprise, sounds like an awesome day

 

[Drop_Shot]

NICE! Grand never ceases to surprise!

I was at WIlkes Damn last week in Brantford and was hoping to target Channel cats but caught about 50 smallies... Seemed like Rock bass and smallies were the only thing that lived in that stretch that day

 

[Alfiegee]

NICE! Grand never ceases to surprise!

I was at WIlkes darn last week in Brantford and was hoping to target Channel cats but caught about 50 smallies... Seemed like Rock bass and smallies were the only thing that lived in that stretch that day

Normally in Caledonia we get lots of Smallies and Channels. Yesterday was 2 Channels, small ones, 1 or 2 lbs and 3 small Bass, less than a lb.
I think Gar was the only thing living below the dam yesterday.

Alfie.

 

[iJay]

Gar are definatly fun to catch. Top water hits are amazing. As you said super acrobatic. Great to hear, I honestly didnt know Gar came up this far north!
Will have to add to my "to-do" list.

 

[chris f]

down in the southwest i see gar all the time, never really targeted them either alfiegee, but managed to hook up with one years ago man gotta be careful handling them for sure with all those teeth, anyway sounds like you had lots of fun even though you weren't really after them, our river down here is like thet you nevr know what you might get.

 

[Alfiegee]

down in the southwest i see gar all the time, never really targeted them either alfiegee, but managed to hook up with one years ago man gotta be careful handling them for sure with all those teeth, anyway sounds like you had lots of fun even though you weren't really after them, our river down here is like thet you nevr know what you might get.

We did have a lot of fun considering the other species weren't really cooperating much. We do often get 1 or 2 Gar on a visit to Caledonia, but have never caught the numbers we got yesterday, about 20, with 7 or 8 more breaking us off. Like you said you never know what you will catch next. I read online recently that the Grand holds 86 different types of fish (I'm sure many are various minnows). After a quick survey of my mind I can think of 18 different types of fish I have landed there in the last few years so when I go there I am targeting fish , no kind in particular. That's why I use minnows there, all those different kinds of fish will hit a minnow.
And yes Chris pliers were a must for unhooking them. I did cut my line on a few to let the hook deteriorate naturally rather than damage the fish trying to save a hook. After the Gars long "nose" their mouths are very small.

Alfie.

 

[Dugger]

awesome, Alfie! i'd love to land a gar some day

 

[Alfiegee]

awesome, Alfie! i'd love to land a gar some day

Well I've given away a good spot, but they are all through the lower Grand, not sure how far up they can be found. When I first fished the Grand I noticed a lot of fish swirling but wasn't sure what they were because of the murky water. All I really saw was spots. Then when I did land one I knew what I had been seeing. I really want to try them on the fly.
The fish in your avatar Dugger is a Buffalo? That's something I have never caught but would like too.

Alfie.

 

[Dugger]

yes.... Big Mouthed Buffalo from last year... I get three a year on average, wonderful truly Canadian fish, not brought here from anywhere and fights like nobody's biz

 

[Alfiegee]

yes.... Big Mouthed Buffalo from last year... I get three a year on average, wonderful truly Canadian fish, not brought here from anywhere and fights like nobody's biz

Where'd you get the Buffalo?

Alfie.

 

[diggyj]

That's awesome, I'd love to catch a GAR.

Dirk

 

[GVIT]

Went there today, end with no fun at all. A local family with 2 kids stole our chain stringers, not expensive, I just wish I have released the fish.I have been fishing lots of places, nasty only happened in Caledonia Ontario. So cheap....just want your daughter will dream of that fish in rest of her life.

 

[free reign]

next time take pic with your phone
call 1800222tips, get license plate or home address.
theft of fish
possibly they have no license to fish