Help with garpike fishing

[Pikeman85]

Morning all, I plan on trying for a gar pike tomorrow in between the bass fishing. The area I fish have tons of gar pike, I see them breaking the surface a lot grabbing bugs. I've tried top water frogs, poppers and shallow swimming lures;with that said, can anyone recommend a good lure or technique that works? Any suggestions will be appreciated.thanks in advance.

 

[Cody309]

Hey Pikeman85 - the gar aren't actually hitting top-water - they are breaking surface to breathe. They are able to use their swim bladder as a lung, and in certain areas will commonly break the surface to take a gulp of air.

I'm not sure how you are fishing/targeting them, but when I've chased gar, it was solely using a fly rod and baitfish streamers with a very sharp stinger hook. When we saw a gar, we would cast out perpendicular to its direction of travel, and strip the streamer across its field of view. Sight fishing for these guys is an adrenaline rush, as you can watch the fish become interested, chase the fly, and strike. Once the strike happens, set the hook HARD, and hold on for a wild ride.

If you're using spinning gear, I would suggest spoons in baitfish colors, or anything to really imitate baitfish for that matter. Good luck - they're a blast!

 

[getin]

What a beautiful species! It is one I am determined to check off my fishing list, if I know where to target them. Any hint?

I have seen some videos on targetting garpike, and the method was to cast and retreive shallow diving jerkbaits like Rapala.

 

[Cody309]

Bay of Quinte is phenomenal!

 

[Pikeman85]

Georgian bay has tons of them as well close to Waubaushene

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

+1 for Madoc's answer.

 

[Alfiegee]

Fish water that gets a lot of sun, doesnt have to be deep.
Live minnows, 6 inches down from ur float, sharp hooks!!!
Any shallow bay around lakes O or E, the Grand, Ottawa ..
They are everywhere. Just nobody really looks for them.

Alfie.

 

[Leggomye990]

I was able to land some with a bait harness, and pickled minnows lol of course the hooks were small stinger hooks, barely hooked into the fish.