Genome

Looking to launch a gheenoe from a trailer. What are my best options below shadow lake. I saw a road (dirt path) on the south side by the ballparks in Noel on Google Earth. Anybody know if that is an option. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Does anybody know what happen to this project? City is just mowing the riparian area like they always did. Trees that mako planted seem to be mowed to. seems like a lot work happened and then it just was forgotten.

I'm one of the said researchers from missouri state that did cottonmouth research at crane. There is a good population there. There is also an even better population of northern water snakes. Watersnakes are a mimic of cottonmouths and most people will mistake the two. I collected cottonmouths from crane and every state they inhabit for genetic research. I wish cottonmouths chased people, would have made my job much easier! If you've ever gotten the impression a snake is charging/chasing you it was because you were between the snake and the spot it wanted to retreat to (to get away from you). Please leave the snakes alone.

Anybody ever have consistent success with hybrids on Sping river? Do they run with the whites, after?

Suprisingly its not that hard but it takes a few minutes to get them out (but the gar can handle it fine). I used a pair of needle nose pliers to open the mouth of the gar (just stuck the point in the side of the mouth and then slowly opened pliers). This gave me room to remove the fibers. Just kind of picked at them with my hands or slid the flat screwdriver along the jaw. Admittedly the rope fly looks pretty bad after just one landing. If I guy was willing to sacrfice a fly for each fish you could just cut them out really fast. The rope flies cost basically nothing and are simple to tie. Based on the flies apperance after a couple of uses I might just sacrifice the fly in the future.

Thanks for the help, it sounds like below noel towards 43 (and past) is worth a look. I'll give it a try.

Most of the body of the fly is just some unravled and combed out nylon rope, I added some Puglisi fibers (white but turned gray with a gray sharpie) for the dorsal to give it a shad look, and some flashabou down the middle. I did most of that just because, I think you could have equal sucess with just the frayed out nylon rope. Most people I talked to and videos I watched talked about the arieals. Biggest fish gave me the goods twice, with the two smaller gar each coming out the water completely, once each. They don't seem to have the latic acid threshold that carp have, but they fight great! Plus its mostly sight fishing. I can see how a 40lb 6 footer could be seen as the closest we are going to get to Tarpon here in the lower midwest.

TR under general angling discussion. Thanks again Bird Watcher!

with a gar on the fly. On some advice I succuesfully solicited from Bird Watcher, I headed to Spring River OK on Sunday to chase some Gar on the fly rod. I had wanted to do this all summer, I just wasn't sure about which water to try. It all came together on Sunday. Did some recon, tied some ammo, Rigged the canoe and rods Hit the water Gar on and for the first time, "roped" up! And after a couple hundred million years of evolution, this one succumbs to my rope fly! Victory lap This was a blast. After I got the art of fly fishing for gar dialed in, I landed two more. I will definitely chase these again!

Thanks for the info gentlemen. I am going to head to Spring River this weekend Bird Watcher...hopefully I will have some luck and can put together a decent TR!

I read some posts about Gar on the James. Was hoping to find a more local Gar hole (near Joplin) but would be more then willing to give the James a try if I can't find some around here. Was going to canoe some local waters (Elk, maybe Shoal) but thought I might try wade fishing some spots for Gar on the James. Any suggestions on access points? Cheers.

Bump, Not lookling to hotspot, just looking for some help to reduce my recon workload. Places to avoid would also be helpful. For example, would it be worth my while to float the Elk from Noel to 43hwy this weekend in the hopes of finding some Gar? How about on Shoal for Gar, below the dam in Joplin? Avoid it, give it a try? Everybody want's more time on the water and mine is limited too. Based on kids, upcoming work, etc i figure I'll have one maybe two days in August/September to chase one of these toothy creatures down on the fly. Thanks for any info you can supply

New to the forum and also a noob at chasing gar on the fly rod. I live somewhat near the Elk and have heard of some Gar between Noel and 43 hwy. Anyone have any info on the whereabouts of these toothy creatures. I'm try to check Gar of the fly rod list, plus I have been told they are a blast on the long pole. I have seen some small pods here and there, but was hoping someone might be willing to give up some info on a more reliable spot. I'll make a drive, so east Grand Lake, Shoal, Center Creek, or other water in this area would be great. Feel free to post or send me a PM if you have any info and can help. Cheers, Genome