That’s a first

When you hit a certain age in life, the list of “firsts” gets shorter and shorter. By now, you figure there are not too many things left to accomplish in the outdoors world. Sure, you can best your biggest catch of a certain species, shoot a bigger deer, or catch more fish than ever before, but when you have been fishing as long as I have, you figure that by now you would have pretty much caught all there is to catch!

Last night, dad and I went over to a lake that I like to crappie fish. It was really early when we arrived so I didn’t expect to catch a whole lot until the sun got lower in the sky. The fish finder really told me all I needed to know. The water was too warm, the sun was too high, and there were zero fish. I figured they were hiding under the lily pads and brush on the bank, staying cool and in the shade.

As we made our way close to the weed edge on one side of the lake we both noticed a fish up close to the surface. It had a something white on it that appeared to be a snagged lure. I thought it was a pike based on the body profile and the length that I could see. I flipped my jig out in to the open water and within two twitches I had the fish on. As it got closer to the boat I could see that I had not hooked the fish in the mouth but actually in the white area on the back of the fish. 360 degrees on a compass and I threw my jig in the path of this fish perfectly. I couldn’t have gotten it closer if I tried (which I didn’t). As it got closer, we got a bird’s eye view of the fish. It was not a pike as we suspected!

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In all of my years of fishing, this is the first Gar Pike I have ever caught. I’ve seen a few from time to time but they are pretty elusive. The white mark on the top of the fish appears to be where someone hit it with an arrow while bow fishing! The interesting part was, after I released this fish we saw no less than 20 more Gar of varying sizes fanning and moving along the surface. I had quite a few slash at the baits and dad had several that took the tails off his soft plastics. I’m not really sure why they were in this one area. I assume that this might be the time of year that they spawn. I know this lake chain gets hit pretty decent with bow fisherman. Now I know the reasons why! Pretty cool to catch something like this. Especially when you are now old enough to understand the gravity of catch. I’ve gone a long time before catching one. I might not ever catch another one!

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Oh, we did catch some crappies. As expected, they were under the pads. Once the sun went down, they started to slide out to the edges. My normal tricks in this lake didn’t pan out but we were able to keep it simple, use a bobber, a number 6 aberdean hook, a minnow, and no weight to take home 11 decent sized crappies that will at some point in time be introduce to hot oil!

In case anyone is interested:

That thing around my neck is a "HUK Trophy Gaitor".
A year or so ago, Steve turned me on to HUK clothing. In basic terms, they make clothing for people being out in the sun. Some of the companies that sponsor me provide me with long sleeve shirts that have SPF40 sun protection. They keep me very cool, dry, and my skin away from the harmful sun rays.

Since May, I've had issues with my head, ears, neck, and face. When tournament fishing, we spend a ton of time out in the sun. By the end of a weekend, we have the better part of 40 hours on the water chasing fish. I don't care how much of a tan I have, the sun beats me up. I needed a solution.

I've seen a ton of guys wearing these sun gaitors made from several companies. The issue I have is that I wear glasses all the time. Sunglasses or regular. These gaitors don't allow the moist air you exhale to escape thus causing your glasses to fog up. I turned to HUK to see if they might have a solution to the issue. After going through several options (they have a ton). I came across the "Trophy Gaitor". It has mesh on the front that allows your exhaled air to escape without coming up the front and distorting your vision.

I purchased one in dark blue followed by two more in light blue. I can tell you this, I will never be caught on the water without one in my boat!! That is how much I like them.

For me, I take off my hat, pull it down and leave the top extended well up on my head. I put my hat back on, then my sunglasses. You cannot see my face. I have zero issues with glasses fogging and zero issues with breathing. If I want to take a drink of something, I pull the front down.

They keep the sun off from my face, lips, ears, and neck. Another great feature is that they keep the bugs away. I looked at my dad last weekend out on Saginaw bay and he was covered in the bugs. Normally he would be the first to be swatting and I never even heard him say anything about it.

I've found a few sun spots on my skin within the last few years (a few on my neck and face) and my grandfather was prone to having skin patches removed for being cancerous. This was the best $23 dollar investment I have made in a long time. The only downfall (in my eyes) is that their name is all over this thing. As a tournament fisherman that makes money representing companies, the last thing you want to do is represent a company for free! This product however is so good, I don't mind the free advertising!

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When I was in 6th grade our class took a canoe trip down one of the area rivers, I can't remember if it was the Grand, Looking Glass or the Thornapple..... but I do remember seeing several Gar pike as we canoed down the river and remembering I was very conscious to not tip over as I was sure they'd rip me apart!

Years later one of the farmhouses we bought had one mounted that the previous owners left behind.....I was still scared of that long snout they have. I sure wish I knew what became of that Gar Pike mount, it would make a nice conversation piece for sure.

Good job on the catch and release Rich!

As far as Huk......I love their shirts and in a couple weeks when I'm offshore fishing in Florida I'll know if I like their Gaitor, but I bet I will.

Rich, if you fray a piece of rope and attach it to your line you can catch gar without a hook. When they strike their teeth get caught on the rope and they can't get off. There's a spot on the Grand River above Weber Dam that the gar congregate in July. A few years ago I saw no less than 100 gar in one area. Some of them were HUGE! Pretty cool catch for you.

Jerry,

I was watching a Michigan out of doors show a few years ago and remember seeing the exact same thing. I wish I would have actively targeted them. Now I want to catch another.

Based on what you said, there has to be something about July.

I've seen GAR at Half moon lake an a large one in Lake St.Clair . The only one I have caught was bass fishing on Griffin Lake in Florida. Was twitching a floating Rapala doing my best dying minnow retrieve, had a half hearted strike, I set the hook and when it ran ,I asked the friend who lived there if they had northern pike down here. it fought just like one. Was 4 Ft.long but the fight for a fish that size was weak. Maybe the warmer water or ready to die of old age.

Funny you say halfmoon. Fish was caught on Woodburn which is the last lake in that chain.

It was on an light weight rod but not much fight. They can run quick and turn like a missile though. Hard to describe their skin. Amazing fish for sure.

Was on woodburn 2 weeks ago , could not find a crappie , caught a northern pike ,a large mouth bass, both on crappie jigs but no crappies which we venture up there to catch.Are usual hot spots failed to produce so we made several drifts but could no locate or even see fish on the hummingbird.

They have not been in the main basin this year for whatever reason. The pad action on the Northwest side has not been great either. There were a few in the bay directly south of the inlet and north of the channel (not the one going to N and K).

Wanted to try the weedbed on the North North East side of the Island on Watson but I hate dealing with the watercraft!

Lots of preditors for some reason. Last trip we caught 5 or 6 pike. Not unusual to catch one or two, but there have been more this year for some reason.

Back on the HUK,

Steve was at my Son's open house, and was wearing his HUK shirt.
I was going to ask if it was missing a letter, and supposed to be "HULK", cuz I have seen them both the same shade of green.... :Rofl


Seriously, I was going to ask about it, but I got so dang busy making 32# of french fries, i was tied up the rest of the day.
I was actually apologetic, and apologized, we were so BUSY for his open house, I didn't have more time to talk.
I mean come on, who would have thought, that home made french fries would be the second best dish at an open house????

Anyway,
Being a "Ginger" and I mean literally, if I had any hair left you would see that I had Red hair at one time, and a really WHITE reflective completion.
Enough so that once while in my youth I had my eyes blistered shut from sun burn.

That being admitted in public, I have went to great lengths to avoid the SUN at all costs. So much so that I am usually off the lake by 10:30, 11 at the absolute latest, and the fish had beetter be snapping for me to stay that long, if I do a morning trip.

I am so aware, that some people might think I'm weird as I might walk over to some shade to talk to them, while its a calm cool balmy day. I will STILL burn.

I to searched for a long time, I have and still use Gander Mountain (RIP) Guide Series Short and Long Sleeve SPF 40 or 50 shirts.
They have been the best option I could find at the time and I still use them. They are excellent at keeping you cool also.
I bought my Son, some, my Daughter one for Marching Band.

I use a Tilley T3 hat that is 50+UPF to avoid the Sun on my Dome. (Cabelas)

Salt Armor Face Shields, made in both insulated (Fleece Lined), and uninsulated. SPF 40, However to note, they will fog glass's. They Fog my Sun Glass's.

When I am fully decked out, there is not much skin available for the sun to burn.

I also have some American themed head bands, similar to Do-Rags, that are SPF 30/40 as well, I can use depending on the conditions.

When I fish with others, they probably at first wonder WTF is he doing, he brought a Back Pack of clothes and Crystal Light Peach Mango Drink mix........lol

I like the Non fog idea of HUK though, and will have to check them out.

Here I am at the DR decked out in protection.


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Not really sure why its Sideways...........

Heard that's the same way "Steve the hulk" looked not too long ago, horizontal and yelling HUUUUUK. :puke:Rofl

Ohhhhhh, how I can relate!
Always check the expiration dates on what you consume!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITBXC_WSHnE

Aaron, you won't be dissapointed with the trophy gaitor.

My buddy Brian is also a ginger. My daughter actually tells him... "It puts the lotion on the skin" even though she has never seen the movie. Hilarious

I don't wear shorts (just never have). I wear lightweight zip off paints (never zipped the legs off). I purchased all of my current ones at Gander Mountain (about the only thing I buy there). Lightweight, breathable, and keeps the sun off while keeping you cool. I always carry lotion and extra long sleeve shirts just in case someone needs it. We even have straw hat sombraros!

A bimini top just gets in the way with how I walleye fish but, we purchased a beach umbrella. It is lightweight, stores in a small bag, and pops up easy. I can set it right in the middle of my divideded windshield with the shaft on the ground. I use velcro straps to attach it to the window support. Works like a champ when there isn't much wind out to keep you cool.