No-tailed Gar

Submitted by: Terry Smith

It was late June in the scorching sun of Northeast Alabama.  A friend, Steve Latimer and myself, Terry Smith were fishing on the Coosa River for the elusive, mysterious and mystifying long nose gar during the sweltering heat of the midday sun. We had caught and released several praiseworthy fish before the oppressive heat started to take a toll on us.  As I attempted to make one more cast I glanced at Steve, sweat was pouring from him like rain drops, his clothing was soaking wet, and he started laughing uncontrollably.  I was not in much better condition than he, so under the circumstances I decided we should perhaps throw in the sweat drenched towel and call it a day, but not before one more cast. 
 

Then it happened, (tap- tap,) another strike. I was unsure if I would be able to boat the fish in my horrid condition.  I could barely see through the sweat that was pouring profusely from my brow, I could hardly hold my rod, and my mental capability had diminished greatly from all the extreme heat and sizzling sun.      

 

After finally boating and examining the abnormal looking creature as best we could in our dreadful condition, both Steve and I thought that we had truly succumb to the intense heat, while on a gar fishing trip, during the month of June, on the Coosa River, in Northeast Alabama.  However, pictures do not lie.  


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