I wondering if anyone has used their guide service?I never have been bowfishing so I want know what I am getting myself into. My wife suprised me today cause she got a groupon for a 4hr trip for 2 for $100. Is there any tips you guys have? I am excited to go and so is she. We also were pondering if anyone on here goes noodling cause we want try that also. Thanks

you said a bad word............ they WILL IGNORE YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT "THAT STUFF HERE" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bowfishing is generally frowned upon among actual anglers. even though gar are considered a "Trash fish" by many, alot of people 1) still target them as a game fish, and 2)those that dont, dont agree with the unnecessary killing of something, with no intent to eat, or use it in some way.

The guys over on the TexasHuntingForum should be able to help you out with reviews of the guide service.

Other than that, like is said above, no one in here is to high on bowfishing. Unless maybe you are doing the aerial bowfishing for asian carp... I really want to try that out.

If you are not going to eat it don't kill it. That is wrong. If your going to eat it, then happy hunting. If you can catch 175lb gar on a rod and reel then you are my hero. That is an accomplishment. You can take photos and then release a great fish to live to fight another day. Most anyone can expose a gars weakness and hunt them at night with lights and bows. A rod and reel person is a real sportsman.

I am sorry for being such a newb, I didn't know that it was such sensitive subject on this forum.I didn't plan on killing gar just for the sport of it.I never kill something I don't have a use for.I release all the fish that I catch on my own and always eat every bit of fish that I catch on the guided trips I take.On Garquests facebook page they have pictures of filleting them and using them recipes that look darn good.When I go on this trip I was going to ask the guide on how to prepare and cook it.I am willing to try anything once, I have found that there was alot of good food I was missing out on cause of my old closed minded ways.I also thought if I didn't like the taste the meat would make good cut bait for catfishing.I also have never shot a bow or have gone hunting so my expectations for this trip is low.I thank all of you that replied and letting me know about this taboo subject.I just recently got into fishing and finding spots on my own and don't want anyone to have a negative opinion on me cause this topic.I like the openness and friendliness of this forum.Sorry once again and I will keep this topic off this forum, OTTERS

Check Texas Bowhunter .com

Good luck otter I bet you have a great time. There is a picture of an 81" Trinity River Gar in the photo section.

Otters,

You don't need to apologize, it was more of a warning not to get in too deep with it.

If you mean to eat them go right ahead. There is a 1 alligator gar a day limit anyway, so it's not like you were going to decimate the population. I have been wanting to keep a gar to fillet it out for a while now, but I never have the correct tools (or energy) to get the job done when I think about the work that is required.

One day I will catch, fillet, and eat a gar, just to know whether or not it is worth the hassle of clearning them in the first place. I cleaned a couple smaller carp I caught a couple months ago, haven't eaten them yet, but I can tell you from the amount of work it took, I wont be keeping carp ever again. Though I am sure if the guide does the cleaning it will be more than worth it.

Gar Balls anyone???!!!

Still wanting to do the aerial bowfishing.

Otters, we certainly understand and do not chastise you for wanting to try that sport. We have had several bad experiences with Bow fishing enthusiast vs the Carp Anglng groups. and have had folks post pictures on heere that demonstrated literally hundreds of dead fish piled high after a bowfishing "tournament". Wanton waste was an understatement. So we discourage the sport of bowfishing, generally, on the fishing forum. The fellers on the THF should be able to help answer your question regarding that guide service. Otherwise enjoy our forum!! No harm no foul!!

You can't really filet them but you can take off the armor and/or steak them(my personal favorite). They are pretyy good barbequed and especially made into gar balls(fish cakes).

It's not difficult but a lot easier to filet a crappie.

There are ways to catch them on a hook by the way and they put up one heck of a fight.

Not quite correct. I love bowfishing as a few others. The challenge we have here is TFF people come after you looking for a hanging if you speak of it. They all want to know what you did with your kill and I have always felt its none of their business and still do.

Here is a post I made about cleaning gar. Good luck and have fun!

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/5101355/1

I always used a hatchet, but I like the tin snip idea.

Man those things tast good when done right.

x2 on the aerial bowfishing, but i might have more luck with a baseball bat on those flying fishes. I'm one that really wants to try gar one day too. I just never get around to it, looks like a lot of work when I can fillet a mess of catfish in half the time.