I think i know the gar you are talking about. Was it almost black looking?good to see ya back flem.. get those exams out the way so you can fish!! if it makes you feel any better the rain won't let off here either...
did lose my first gar yesterday in the rain though. got him to the bank made a poor attempt to net a fish far too long to fit in said net because he was't hooked properly. missed and he swam off! 40"+ fish, easily one of the longest freshwater fish i've ever hooked in to