Patrick Scores Big On Guide Trip!!!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"

Patrick decided that he wanted to know the secret to catching big Longnose Gar on West Point Lake so he contacted West Point Lake Gar Grabbers for an adventure of fishing for this action packed prehistoric dinosaur of a fish. Exciting Gar Fishing action is exactly what he got too. It turned out to be a really great day!

I, Donnie Hinkle, along with Patrick began our adventure with a brief seminar on the rope lure I use and how I rig it and how to fish it. Patrick was very interested in knowing everything he could possibly learn about Longnose Gar and how to catch them so we talked in length about what I knew about there habits, habitats and how to spot them. He commented on how he has probably fished all around them without ever knowing they were there, and he is right. Gar are very stealthy creatures and if you don't have a trained eye for them you'll never know they're there.

My first goal with Patrick was to help him get his first Gar of the day into the boat so I took him to where I had recently learned was a very hot spot. That was where Patrick landed his first Longnose Gar that he's ever caught that was not by accident and his first Longnose Gar that he's ever caught without using hooks! It was a nice Longnose that tipped the scales at around 12 pounds! Patrick was off to a great start and was catching on very fast. Good fishermen usually do.

Patrick proved to be an eager and quick student as I coached him while he learned to work the rope lure with a presentation that has worked so well for me over the years.

We changed locations a few more times while Patrick tangled up with another Longnose Gar, and then another! Patrick was getting better and better at working the rope.

The sun was starting to get high in the sky and our time was nearing an end. I knew it was time to take Patrick to my favorite spot for big Longnose Gar. Just as we arrived I snagged a very nice Longnose and without actually seeing the Gar I told Patrick that this is a nice one! When I tightened up on it the rope pulled away from it's beak! Then before I could retrieve the lure from the water another Gar attacked it right at the surface while the rope was barley above the water! Wow!!! It looked as if this was going to be the spot of the day! I just wondered how big it really was? Oh well. Then It was Patrick's turn again and before I new it he had a very nice Gar on. Patrick was just standing there holding back on his rod when I realize it was still striping drag out of his reel! After he got the Gar to the boat it turned out to be the biggest of the day! This one tipped the scales at about 14 pounds and measured 47.5 inches. A very nice Gar!

When our day was over Patrick had landed 7 gar and definitely proved to be great student and fisherman. I hope Patrick had as much fun as I did with our time together on beautiful West Point Lake catching what I believe to be the most exciting fish on West Point Lake when you consider both the fight and the unpredictable release. What I mean by unpredictable is that you never know what to expect from a Gar once you have it in the boat. If you don't believe that then just ask Patrick! More than once Gar got loose in the boat as we were trying to pull the nylon from their teeth. One of them wound up in the floor of my boat right between Patrick's feet! All you have to do is relax your grip for just a moment to get some excitement started! Right Patrick!!!

Unbeleivable!!! My Daughter Shelley Caught A Black Gar!!!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"


On May 24th 2007 I caught a solid black Longnose Gar and thought it was something special. I thought it would never see it happen again in my lifetime, but I was wrong. Today, June 24th 2007 my daughter Shelley who has never even gone Gar Fishing but one other time ever before caught an ultra rare melanistic Gar!!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it! Not only did she catch this black Gar but I caught it on video too! I was so excited that I almost forgot to record it! These two videos may very well be the only footage captured of a Melanistic Longnose Gar actually being caught and just puts the icing on the cake for what has been a phenomenal year of Longnose Gar Fishing on West Point Lake for me, my family and friends!

Shelley and her boyfriend Jason are students at Georgia State University. It was a special treat to have them both with me today for a great day of Longnose Gar Fishing and it really turned out to be a special day for sure.

Jason started the show with a nice 8lb Gar, his first ever. Then Shelley caught her black Gar which was the highlight of the day. As the day grew hotter so did the Gar Fishing with Jason landing another Gar and then Shelley landing a nice FAT Longnose that weighed in at 15lbs-8ounces and measured 47 inches. Her first big Longnose ever. After that, with sun up high in the sky the sight fishing was getting really good. You could see what you were fishing for which makes it that much easier to catch that big one you're looking for. Suddenly Jason and I saw what turned out to be the biggest Gar of the day come cruising by and I tossed my rope out in front of it while we witnessed the big Gar attack the lure before our very eyes! Jason said that was pretty cool seeing how the Gar turns it's body sideways while launching itself at the rope lure. This big boy weighed 16lbs-8 ounces and 48 inches long. Both of the big Gar that Shelley and I caught very fat Gar and a ton of fun to catch!

As the day grew hotter and the jet skis and boats were starting to rock us around, it was time to head to the boat ramp. Gar Fishing on West Point Lake has never been better than it's been this year and I'm looking forward to having Shelley and Jason back in my boat before the season ends. Surely this lucky girl won't catch another extraordinary fish again! What a day!!!

The last two pictures are actually videos shot from my digital camera. Enjoy!

Timmy & Clint Both Catch Nice Gar!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"

We got on the lake early this morning because the weather forecast was calling for thunderstorms from noon until about 10:00 tonight. It was cloudy early on but the Gar were still active. Timmy started the show with a pretty nice 10 pounder. A little later I caught a couple of nice gar too. Meanwhile Clint was struggling a little. I changed locations because I knew it would be easier for Clint to catch his first today but as soon as we pulled up to the next spot yours truly landed another one and so did Timmy. Still no Gar for Clint. I noticed that his rope lure kept getting dirty but I thought it was because he was letting it drop all the way to the bottom before he began his retrieve but I took a closer look and the fishing rig I gave him to use had a 1/2 bullet sinker on it and it was dragging the bottom too much because of the excess weight in such shallow water.

After Clint changed his weight out and we changed spots again, Clint landed his first Longnose of the day. It was a very nice 10 pounder so the monkey was off Clint's back. It's a good thing too because we were giving him the devil!

I decided to change spots again and go to my best fishing hole of the year for big Gar. That was when Timmy landed the biggest Longnose Gar of the day. A very fat 49 inch Gar that weighed in at 14 lbs - 10 ounces.

I shot the first video on my digital camera of a Gar getting caught and published it here in this post. It turned out OK but I hope to improve a little on the next try.

Brand New Honey Hole!!!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"

I got on West Point Lake early today. My plans were to do a little fly fishing for what ever would bite but mainly to sharpen my fly fishing skills since I'm sort of a rookie. I went down river where I use to do some bass fishing with buzz baits. I'm not much into bass fishing anymore but since this use to be a good bass top water spot for me I though the fly bite would be equally as good.

As I was casting about I started noticing that old familiar top water activity that only the great Longnose Gar could make so I went for the bait caster that already had a rope lure attached to it and started making a few cast. Then suddenly I realized, once the sun started coming through the clouds that I was on a shallow flat that was packed full of Longnose Gar! I mean big ones too!!!

It didn't take long to realize that it was cherry picking time! Gar were everywhere and the water was still enough to begin looking for that big one. The first Longnose I caught was 15lbs-2ozs and 50 inches long, so started looking for a bigger one. The next Gar I caught was 17lbs-10ozs and 51 inches, so I began looking for a bigger one. Then I caught one that went 18lbs-6ozs and measured 51 inches long. No doubt that I was in Longnose Gar Heaven!!! I said to myself, if I can catch this many big Gar in one spot I just may be able to find that Georgia state record Longnose Gar I've been fishing four years for. So now I was began being very pick. Besides, I was by myself and I was having to set my camera on timer and run to the other end of the boat for the picture and I'll tell you, I was starting to get tired! As I was trolling along around the bend I came across a large group of Gar all in one spot and underneath then there was a shadow that looked like a big one so I made a cast. That was when I landed the biggest Gar of the day that weighed 19lbs-4ozs and measured 55 inches long.

I'm going to be seeing big Gar in my sleep tonight after today! I'm tired. I thing I'll have some supper a drop dead on the sofa!

Later on in the day I met Jonathan Smith, a fellow sales manager at Mike Patton Auto Family at the landing. By then the Gar Fishing had sort of settled down a bit buy Jonathan was able to land this "Broke Back Mountain" version of a Gar! Leave it to Jonathan to catch this freak of a Gar for his first!

I Caught A Black Gar Today!!!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"

My wife Debbie was able to squeeze out a day off with me today to Gar Fish on West Point Lake. I've been on vacation all week long and Debbie had to work but her boss allowed her this one day with me. I'm glad too because Sunday was the day when I, as Debbie says, stole her Gar from her so I had a lot of making up to do!

It was not the greatest of day’s weather wise because the wind was very tough. There was an east wind all day long. If you know anything about fishing in Georgia, a cool east wind can really screw up a day of fishing. The wind was gusting to as high as 25mph and sustained wind of at least 15mph and I fought the trolling motor as my batteries were dying a quicker than normal death. Casting into the wind was a real problem because we were using 1/8 to 1/4 ounce bullet weights with our rope lures and I must have backlashed at least forty times!

Debbie was doing very well as she caught all of the biggest Gar while all I could land were small ones. I was doing very well at making up from Sunday's fishing trip.

We spent most of the day moving from place to place trying to find a comfortable spot out of the wind where the Gar were biting but after switching places four different times we came back to our original fishing hole, the same place where I supposedly stole Debbie's Gar.

As I came around the point I told Debbie, "I've got one!" The as the Gar swirled I noticed that it was a very dark colored Gar And I said, "Debbie, this Gar looks almost black." As I finally fought it up to the water surface I yelled, "Debbie, It is a solid black Gar! Get my gloves quick!" I was afraid it would get away but I was able to drag it close and I reached out and snagged it out of the water! Man was this thing beautiful! I've fished for Longnose Gar for four years now and though I saw a black Gar two years ago, I know I saw one earlier this year in a different spot a couple of miles up river, and now finally caught a Black Longnose Gar! It was silver under it's throat, a little more spotty silver just below it's throat, but the hole back half of the Gar was solid black like a piece of shinny coal. Something else I though was strange is that the pigmentation from the Gar actually came off on my gloves like it was painted with black shoe polish or something. This was very strange indeed.

Debbie said that I'm the luckiest Gar fisherman she's ever known. Not that she knows very many. There's only about five of us in our circle of Gar Fishermen and I'm the only one who driven to catch that Georgia state record. I have had a very good season so far though, that's for sure, but I can't believe I actually caught a black Gar today. I probably never will again.

Here's a picture of Debbie's big gar too. I'm very lucky to be married to a woman who loves to gar fish too!

Monster Gar Or Doghouse Gar!!!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"

I began my week of vacation by taking my wife Debbie Longnose Gar Fishing after church today and man what an exciting day it was!

When I got to my Main Honey Hole Of The Year, the water was fairly calm and clear and there were Gar everywhere of every shape and size! There were short skinny Gar, long skinny Gar, Short fat Gar, and my all time favorite, favorite long Fat Longnose Gar mixed in here and there!

After getting our feet wet with a few nice Longnose, the hunt was on for the trophy of the day. As we trolled along they would appear in front of the boat and beside the boat, they were all over the place! Man was my blood boiling as I searched for that big boy of the day!

Debbie is a pretty good fisherman but just doesn't have the casting skills I have from fishing as much as I do, so I tried to let her have the big ones first but she kept throwing behind them and on top of them one time after another. Then a monster appeared to the left of my boat and I said, "Debbie, there's a huge Gar right there!" After giving her three shots at making a good cast for it, the Gar started to get a way so I tossed my rope right out in front of it, a perfect cast if I must say so myself, and the big Gar nailed it right off the bat and the fight was on! This Big Boy made one after another-huge line stripping runs with one headshake coming out of the water at the end of one of them. When I finally got it close to the boat it was much bigger than I had first thought, and the first thing Debbie that came from Debbie's mouth was, "You caught my gar! You didn't give me a chance to catch it!" And I said, "But Debbie, I gave you three shots at it and it was getting away!" She said, "I still could have caught it though!" I thought, Oh crap! I'm in the doghouse again! And over a Gar. A very big gar though. Well, I guess there's no better way to get in the doghouse than by catching a monster like this I thought!

I must say though that Debbie caught more Gar than I did. She even caught one that was 48" and about 14lbs. She also caught one with a deformed beak. It looked like maybe it got damaged when it was much younger and grew back kind of funny looking, sort of like a pair of scissors or something. I guess I earned my stay in the doghouse. Again, when I as she puts it, stole her Gar!

The rest of the week I'll be fishing mostly alone. But Debbie is taking one day off with me. I sure hope she catches a big one next trip because I don't thing I can survive another tongue lashing like that one again. I couldn't even get her to hand some of my tools to me so that I could get it released and she almost wouldn't take a picture for me! Man I hope she catches a big one!

Big Time Brownie Points!

Selling Cars and Catching Gars!
Ask For Donnie Hinkle "West Point Lake Gar Grabber"

I took my General Manager from Mike Patton Auto Family Gar Fishing with me yesterday evening. We got off about an hour early, just as your allowed to do just as long as you take the boss Longnose Gar Fishing with you.

It was about 7:00 when we reached my main honey hole, you know, the one your supposed to take your boss Gar Fishing at if you want him to catch a big gar and will gain favor with him for at least a short time. Or at least until I goof up again which will certainly happen sooner or later. Anyway, The Gar gods were with me because the first and biggest fish was caught after only about ten minutes of fishing by Mike, and the fight was on!

Every time Mike would get this big boy to the boat, off it would go on another long pole bending line stripping run. After several runs and a few acrobatic leaps right next to the boat, which took about ten minutes total time, Mike landed his first big Longnose gar! It was a nice one too! 15lbs-7oz and 52 inches long!

If I was at all in the dog house, I'm now out of it! At least for a while. Until I goof up again anyway, right! Maybe I should go ahead and plan a few more fishing trips with Mike just in case.