Fished today with Rory & Shawn.  Dick Neefe took out their buddies jack & Joe. Jack had a card game for this crew. Every time you catch a fish, you draw a card–then make the best poker hand out of your cards. Rory & Shawn had 8 walleyes, 11, SMB, 5 WB, two sheep, 2 LMB, 2 pike and 3 gar..so plenty of cards to build a hand. Both guys caught their first gar ever. The day was about over when Rory hooked his first gar–a scrappy 36 incher. About four casts later he set into a BIG fish. Turned out to be a 45″ gar hooked in the tail. The battle was joined. Normally I’m pretty good with the net, but missed twice cuz I didn’t factor in a foot long beak. Meanwhile, Shawn hooks into a 31″ pike. Told Rory to hang on. He would have to wait for the net. Got the pike in and out of the net then started chasing the big gar with the MinnKota. The fish, Rory and me were all wearing out.  had to net the fish in the middle usually a major fox paws. But folding the critter was the only way to get it in the net. He plans on getting the gar mounted.  pretty cool lookin’ critter. and after a 20 minute fight, certainly good for a lifetime of stories!