TALE WATERS & TIDES · POCKET FISHING GUIDE
ARKANSAS SPORTFISH
Longnose Gar
GO100SCORE
ARKANSAS RIVERHOME +10
🔥 SPAWN NOWNeedle-nosed prehistoric. Surface-rolling sentry.
SIZE
30–48 in
MAX
72 in
WEIGHT
Up to 50 lbs
HABITAT
RiversReservoirsBackwaters
Open river, oxbow lakes, reservoir bays.
DIET
Shad, suckers, smaller fish — slashes sideways with snout.
BEST BAITS
Rope lures (frayed nylon — no hook) · Live shad · Cut bait
SEASONAL PATTERN
SPRING
BESTSUMMER
FALL
WINTER
Summer: PEAK — heavy roller activity.
ANGLER INTEL · RIGHT NOWHIGH CONFIDENCE
DEPTH
2–6 ft
shallow cover
TIMING
Any time today — steady bite
TOP LURE · LURE
Rope lures (frayed nylon — no hook)
reaction strikes on bed — aggressive
TACKLE
Heavy rod, 50 lb braid, wire leader
TECHNIQUE · Slow presentation in shallow cover
ANGLER STATS
SPAWN 65–78°F TEMP MATCHBITE
65
FIGHT
88
STEALTH
60
FUN FACT
Longnose gar can breathe air through a vascularized swim bladder — letting them survive in oxygen-poor backwaters where most fish suffocate. They've been doing it for 100 million years.
STATUS
Secure
Native · Lepisosteidae
PFG SIGNAL · EST74°F · Arkansas River● GO 100