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This article is another in our "Sponsor Spotlight" Series
By Louie Stout
You’d be hard pressed to find a boat dealership with more experience than what Moore Boats in Ligonier, Ind. has to offer.
First, Todd Moore has owned the business for 32 years and his chief mechanic Dewey LeCount has been there throughout while fellow mechanic Ryan Grote has been there 17 years. In this era of mechanics jumping jobs, that speaks volumes to the shop’s commitment to providing solid service and stability.
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By Louie Stout
If you have hopes of the new DNR boat launch on Eagle Lake to be developed anytime soon, forget about it.
Darrin Schaap of Clear H20 Tackle and I had a conference call last week with DNR officials who are overseeing the project.
For those unfamiliar with the project, the DNR purchased land to install a new and safer boat launch on the east side of Eagle Lake in August, 2014.
That’s right 11 years ago.
Since then, the Eagle Lake Improvement Association has filed multiple lawsuits – which they lost – yet continue to throw roadblocks at the DNR to prevent the development.
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By Louie Stout
Michiana Outdoors News publishes a lot of tournament results and relies upon anglers to provide some insight into how the fish were caught.
The purpose is to recognize successful anglers, but more importantly, share information about various lakes and successful techniques that are working in the Michiana area.
Tournament directors have a lot going on, so we’re extremely grateful that tournament directors make the effort to get us details and photos and some basic information about how the fish were caught. We request the winning pattern, depth, key lures and any other information the directors care to pass along to us.
We’re especially appreciative for what we get from Brendon Sutter (Tackle Shack), Bill Mathews (Stars and Stripes) and Rick Kedik (CastingCouples and Michiana Singles) who often provide additional quality details on their events.
Yet, tournament directors can only pass along information that they receive from top finishers.
Since I review all the information – and even participate in a few of these events - it is apparent that some competitors aren’t being honest.
That not only blows my mind, but diminishes the credibility of this website as well as the angler.
If it’s so important that you hide that you won a couple hundred bucks skipping docks or scoping a jig and minnow in 50 feet, just tell the tournament director, “I’d rather not say.”
That’s what Trevor Paulus said after winning The Tackle Shack tourney on Lake Charlevoix this summer. He had his reasons and we can respect that.
It’s a lot better than lyin’.
So, if you’re fortunate enough to get a check at one of these Michiana derbies, please provide legitimate details.
We aren’t asking for your secret spot. We just want basic, honest details, like, “half ounce green pumpkin jig on outer weed edges,” “Pop Rs over shallow weeds,” “scoping suspended bass with jig/minnows in 40 feet,” “cranking Rapala crankbaits on 10-foot weed edges,” or whatever pattern worked best for you.
Or, simply tell the director, “I’d rather not say.”
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By Louie Stout
If you simply like to catch fish and don’t care what species, Kyle Hammond has some advice for you.
Try fishing for gar.
Gar record-holder Kyle Hammond
“I’ve never met a fish I didn’t like and I’m always chasing something different,” says the Fort Wayne angler who holds TWO Indiana records, the spotted gar and the shortnose gar.
He’ll fish for them from the bank, a kayak or a canoe, and has caught more than 15 this past summer.
But why gar?
“Because they are different from any fish out there,” he explains. “They have a mouth of teeth, a hard, armored body and they can breathe even when the water has low oxygen.”
He likes fishing for them in quiet, off the beaten path waters. The Maumee River around his home is a good place, but so are the small pothole lakes around northern Indiana.
Gar fishing lure
Surprisingly, he only uses artificial lures and generally ones that he makes himself.
He sneaks around, looking for the gar to hover on or just below the surface and will cast to individual fish.
“It’s like sight fishing,” he describes. “Watching them strike is really neat. They don’t fight hard but make fast runs and jump.”
Gar rope rig
For longnose gar he uses rope flies made from frayed, small diameter nylon rope sections. He unbraids one end of the rope piece then combs it out then attaches a large split ring on the other end.
The split ring is secured by pushing the rope through the split ring twice and then tightened with either a fly fishing wrap or a zip tie.
“It has a ton of action,” Hammond offers. “It shimmies and looks like a school of baitfish.”
And get this – no hook required. The moment the gar latches on, the fibers get tangled in the fish’s teeth.
He casts a foot or so in front of a gar that he sees then eases it towards the fish.
“If they see it they will bite it,” he insists. ”There’s no need to jerk hard; just add pressure. If you do it right, you will land nearly every fish that bites.”
Gar fishing lure rig
For spotted and short-nose gar, he uses a 3-inch soft plastic minnow bait. He pushes a screw-in spring lock into the nose of the bait and attaches a split ring and a treble hook. He then ties a piece of fluorocarbon line to the split ring and attaches it to another treble on the back of the soft plastic bait so that there are hooks fore and aft on the bait.
“Those types of gar have solid bone in the mouth,” Hammond says. “You need something small and sharp to get the hook into them. I will have 10 fish strike and land only 2 or 3.”