Yep. Wire leader is essential. It took about an hour to land this one. We shoot them in the head with a .22 lr before we drag them out on the bank.

A 3 footer can jump up head high and the teeth are dangerous when they are jumping around.

The meat from the “backstrap” ground up with onions, bell peppers, garlic, and spices, then deep fried, makes for some good eatin’ in the form of “Gar Balls”.
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"Filet that fish? Hell naw! I'll scale him, gut him, fry him up in grease, take him by the head and tail, and play him like a French Harp!" - Uncle Paul sometime in the 60s.