Bowfin question

[nathenpd]

I wanted to ask this a while back but I just now remembered, has anyone here ever caught a bowfin? If so what did you catch it on? The reason i'm asking is because i have had an intrest on them for the last few years, and i know we have em in our lake in Michigan, but have yet to catch one. Bowfin are also known as Dogfish, cypress trout, and a whole bunch of other odd names. Here is a picture of one

[rapanatic]

I never heard of them - they are'nt from the trout family are they?

[Bodeen]

They are not from the trout family. Most consider them garbage fish. When the spawn comes around, they get a bright turquoise color to the roof of their mouth. They will hit on the same things pike and bass hit on.

Some people eat them, but not many. There is a board somewhere on gar and on it I found a link to a bowfin message board. They prefer slack warm water. Snake looking skin. They have been confused with the invasive snakehead fish.

[nathenpd]

Yeah, this is the website www.bowfinanglers.com/, but I was just wondering if anyone on this board has ever caught one before.

[Bodeen]

Yeah, they are a nuisance. Generally, when shore fishing with live bait, if the fish hit and went upstream, it was a good fish, if it went downstream, it was a dogfish.

[wallcat]

Best way to catch Bowfin is to find some slack water(swamp) with reeds especially in Late May Eary June(Spawn). Throw on a bobber with a 12-20inch lead to a 2/0 hook with a large minnow or a chunk of bluegill. If no bites after 10 minutes cast to another likely spot, close to the reeds or swamp mats. Bowfin will typically hang close to cover, by cover, I mean the thickest nastiest shit you can find. When in the spawn, the males turn all green on their fins and some have even their entire bellies turn a bright green of course with the red spot on their tail. Probably the most colorfull fish in Freshwater. Jeff you should mount one for your wall. The females are plain Jane, black finned, white/cream belly. These are who you want to catch. Males 2-6lb. Females 7-15lb. Bowfin can be caught over and over again. Catch one, release it and put your bait right on its nose again and it will bite. They'll eat plain hooks if you hit it on their nose. Instinctive biters. Very, Very Strong jawed like a snake and mouth full of teeth, WATCH your hands. Also hard to hold for pictures for their sliminess and very strong bodies, easily strongest fish in the lake. Heavy line is a must, since you'll be fishing in the crap. I use 50lb Musky braid on a 6ft Stout(extra stiff) Boat rod, like a Saltwater boat rod. If Bowfin were more edible I really think they would be quite popular because of the incredible fight they put up and their large size. Take a kid fishing for Bowfin, they'll love it. Finally, there are three secrets to really drawing Bowfin into the boat, once in the swamp. You can 1) use traditional chum like pieces of bluegill, dead minnows, etc 2) Let the electric or big motor drag bottom to stir up the silt or 3) Take you oar and slap it on the water as loud as you can two or 3 times. The third one seems most time to be the best technique but often we'll do all three. Never eaten a Bowfin but if any of you reading this take this advice and decide to eat one please post what they taste like. Any ??

[Bodeen]

I never found them to be that strong of a fighter. Of course my biggest was only 9 pounds. You sure know a lot about drawing in the dogs. We never fshed for them, they just screwed with us when we were live bait fishing pike. I have had them hit cranks and spinners. I will have to find that blog about them again and post some recipes Ewwww

[nathenpd]

Think now would be any good for bowfin fishing?

[Bodeen]

Yes I think it would be a good time to fish for them. Water levels should be lower and food scarcer.

[nathenpd]

What should I use as bait/ lure

[Bodeen]

Cranks, spinners, live minnows, crawlers. I have caught them all on those baits.