Alligator Gar

[Sam]

My grandpa, a real Ozarks old-timer (1890-1968) called ALL the garfish around here "alligator gar". I think many in his generation just thought that's what their name is (and maybe it sounds more nifty than "gar"). He also called walleyes "trout", and any fish in the bluegill/sunfish line "perch". Rock bass were "goggleyes" of course, and I still call 'em that.

From what I've read and from some place-names that are left, I think Ozark folks in the generation before his called deer "elk". Terms change, and I doubt there were ever any alligator gar in Bull Shoals.

[FRENZEL]

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.

Bull sharks do not live and breed in the fresh water.. They merely migrate and feed into the fresh water. Im not saying they would have prospered in the white but If they had historically been in the lower white it seems reasonable that a few could have made it upstream and gotten impounded. It wasnt always a frigid trout fishery before these lakes were built.

[Mr. Smallfish]

I was at the dock at Pontiac today and there looked like hundreds of long nose gar swimming under the boats. Never seen so many. Would have liked to have had a bow with me there, but I'm sure it's illegal anyway. A few were as long as the pontoon boats were wide.