Trash Fish Bucket List?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Here's something only my fevered mind would dream up.
Every angler wants to catch the big name fish. Big bass, Massive salmon, trophy bluegill, arapaima in South America (my personal quest), and so on.

But what about those other fish, the "trashy" ones we don't admire nor talk much about? If you were to target them, which ones would you go after?

In other words, what would a "Non-game Fish Bucket List" look like?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Ive never caught enough of them to say for certain. Id sure like to catch more.

[Ben Seay]

Well. strike two on trying to catch Billy (Gar)! He took my bait THREE times last night. When Billy initially grabs the bait with his long mouth I open up my bail and let him run with it, hoping he will swallow the hook and bait; however, every single time Billy crunches his mouth down and the hook falls out. Billy just swims off smiling with those razor sharp teeth. You just wait.. one of these days I am going to get Billy Boy Boy Boy Boy

 

 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

The gar feeds by shredding its food. It takes it in that long snoot and chops it up by smacking its jaws together. Its actual mouth is small, so once its victim is nicely diced, it can scarf down on the remains..
The elongated jaws are practically all bone, so hooks haven't much to pierce into. And all ths jaw gnashing and teeth smacking will play hell on your line. If you're not using a wire or stout synthetic leader, your line is toast. I've usually lose them at the hook, when the line is severed.

When you do manage to land one on hook and line, you will have beaten some odds.

[Ben Seay]

I am using steel leaders. I will get him eventually!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

That's the spirit, Ben!
When you get him, use heavy gloves. The gill cover and scale edges are quite sharp... Careless handling can earn you a painful cut.
Mr. Gar also likes to snap those toothy jaws of his, open and shut. If you are going to keep him for the table, just cut the line and leave the leader in. You can retrieve it later. If you plan to release, cut the leader at the hook.
If you must get that hook out, pretty open his jaws and wedge something in place, like a soft stick. The hook is likely to come out easily, since they don't go in far anyway.

[Jim Gronaw]

I would like to catch a White Amur, or better known as a common grass carp. They are difficult to catch, but found in a few ponds and lakes along the Mason-Dixon.

Caught some white suckers to 23 inches on jigs while fishing for smallmouths at the hot water plant in the winter.

[Ray Ditzenberger]

My grandpa always fished for white suckers. He would let a worm sit on the bottom below one of those huge red and white bobbers. He ate those boney fish and said they were great. I didn't like the bones so I have never tasted them. In the mountains of TN the locals would wade the creeks at night with a light and spear them, or so I have been told.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Thanks, Ray.
To me, every fish is bony!
But I don't know of I've ever caught a sucker, that I know of. The red fin sucker is a lovely
Fish and I'd like to catch one.

[Ben Seay]

Not exactly a sucker, but I caught this redfin Chub last year. It made a funny squeaking noise kind of like a Catfish:

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Neat...never seen one.

[John Sheehan]

Was this caught in a small creek? Like this one :http://bigbluegill.com/photo/may-92-rbsm?context=album&albumId=...

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

If anyone can catch that elusive Amur, its you!