Alligator Gar

[johndarin]

Are there still alligator gar in bull shoals?

[Ham]

Big Long Nose are in there by the bunches. I was not aware there were ever Alligator Gar.

[JohnP]

Never have seen one in bull shoals. Now long nose gar, that's another story. Been bowfishing pretty much from mincy on up for the past 10 years or so and have never seen one or heard of one being seen in that area. Not saying there not in there and it wouldn't surprise me if there are some.

[johndarin]

I didn't think there was but i had someone tell me there used to be a lot of them in there. Wanted to see if it was true or not.

[Hojo]

There aren't any alligator gar in Bull Shoals.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Just a thought, I've heard large Long Nose gars called alligator gar in years past . This wasn't a different name, but wrong identification.

[Mike Worley]

I did catch a alligator gar in the Barnes Bay area about 25 years ago that was 6 1/2 ' long on a red plastic worm while night fishing. Back before 9/11 when folks could still park their boats along the face of the dam it wasn't uncommon to see large alligator gar cruising along the dam while night fishing under lights for trout.

[FRENZEL]

It would make sense that they were at one time at least in the lake. Once it was a river & far downstream there is alligator gar water. They are in the Mississippi. Which means they WERE at least in the White. WATERSQUATCH!

[Ham]

There are Bull Sharks in the Mississippi River, but I doubt any ever swam up the cold skinny water from the warm muddy water of the Mississippi to roam the upper White prior to its impoundment. I'm guessing mistaken identification on any "alligator " gar, but who knows. Have fun sticking the 6 foot Long nose ones that swim in Bull Shoals now.

[bfishn]

Right. Their range is limited to lowland rivers. Fishes of Arkansas notes no current or historical records from the White above Batesville. A 240 lber was caught by a commercial fisherman in the extreme lower White in '04.