Bowfin locations/techniques?

[mainbutter]

So I think this year I'd really like to catch my first bowfin. I got completely skunked last year, but I didn't have much a my disposal besides throwing cranks at only a handful of locations.

Are these fish actually numerous in places to be able to be actually targeted, or are they more just a by-catch that people run into on occasion?

Should I concentrate on lakes or rivers?

Shorefishing or using my canoe to cover more water?

I'd love any suggestions for how to go about targeting these prehistoric predators!

[JBMasterAngler]

Just go pike/bass fishing at places where there happens to be lot's of bowfin. Chisago Lake is full of them, vermillion and cannon rivers are good places too. I don't know that there is a specific way to target them, it's basically a right place at the right time (or wrong place at the wrong time depending on your view of dogfish) deal. I've caught them throwing spinners, bobber fishing with minnows, and with nightcrawlers on the bottom...so they're definitely not picky

[HuskerBen]

I have been working on bowfins over the last year or two. They can be a challenge to catch consistently. I have focused on lakes, but I know some guys who target them in backwaters and do very well. I generally fish from shore, and look for spots with cover and access to forage. They can thrive in poorly oxygenated water, so shallow weedy marshes are good spots to look. If you are seeing carp and small panfish, you might be in a decent spot.

I sight fish them in thick weedbeds. Look for the holes and pockets in the weeds, and you can sometimes see them coming up to gulp air. This is more common as it gets hotter. I rig up a chunk of cutbait onto a #1 to 1/0 octopus hook (though you can certainly go bigger). And that's about it... just the hook. No weight. I was using a steel leader for a while, and I probably would again if I were using mono. But I am spooled with 20# power pro, which is plenty tooth-resistant, so I haven't needed the leader. But some sort of bite guard could save some frustration. Chuck the bait out, drag it across the top of the weeds and drop it into a hole.

Sometimes, in shallow water, I'll clip on a float to act as a strike indicator. Usually, though, I just leave the line slack and watch it for any movement. If it tightens at all, I pick it up and check it. I don't like to let them have the bait for too long. Sometimes, though, they'll take the bait and just sit there, so don't be afraid to check it frequently.

Bring pliers. Gloves probably aren't a bad idea, either. And bring extra tackle, because they will destroy it.

[ducksnbucks]

Most of my "success" has come sight fishing for them in 1-5ft. They can't seem to resist a plastic worm falling in front of their face or a senko rigged wacky style. I often let it fall right to the bottom if they don't hit it on the way down and just wiggle it there, they then slurp it up!!! Use some heavier stuff though!!!

[bobbymalone]

earlier in the spring, they come out of Minnehaha/Mississippi confluence with some regularity. I have caught two of them there in the spring, and seen probably a dozen more.

[Jmnhunter]

go to the Peltier dam with some sucker minnows

[carpmanjake]

im probably one of the biggest finner's on this board.

over the last few years i have learned a whole bunch of tricks to find and catch bowfin, consistantly, through out the seasons (except during hard water (i have been working on that though))

in essense, look for shallow weedy bays in lakes, lagoons work too (lagoons have the most sucessful for me). I sight fish for bowfin.

just walk the shorelines. you will see them.

pitch a jig to it. tip it with anything (litterally) crawlers, minnows, gulp, twister tails, tubes, etc. the best lengths are under 3" long. (my favorite is a jig tipped with a 3" gulp alive minnow)

pitch past the fish, then bring the jig right in front of its face. and hold on! a bowfin will instinctively strike at your lure. set the hook HARD. bowfin have bony mouths, so a good hook set is needed.

if the bowfin doesnt strike right away, jiggle it.

usually they will strike.

but there are always some bowfin who wont take anything you throw it em. pass those fish up, and come back to them later.

night fish in the same areas with either floats, or bottom fishing. hook a shiner or cutbait, and have the bait so its only a couple inches off the bottom. and wait

a tip for locating bowfin, take a spot light to a likely looking spot at night, and shine in the water. if you see bowfin, go back the next day and fish! the spot light will usually spook the fish. but sometimes it doesnt.

[buddha]

I've also had luck lindy rigging off docks, like river fishing, just letting the bait lay on or close to the bottom. I've also had them hit a jig and bobber this last weekend a few feet off the bottom. Excellent fish to catch on 4lb test. Gotta love the FINS!

[Comit 2]

Bowfin can gulp air off the surface of the water! So, This time of year look for warm water in areas that hold young fish. Small streams, large shallow flats and such. Bowfin will chase fish up into warm (>80degree) water that is low in oxygen. On calm days you will see them gulping air. It is a dead give away they are in the area.

[HuskerBen]

Bowfin can gulp air off the surface of the water! So, This time of year look for warm water in areas that hold young fish. Small streams, large shallow flats and such. Bowfin will chase fish up into warm (>80degree) water that is low in oxygen. On calm days you will see them gulping air. It is a dead give away they are in the area.

I've got a couple spots just like this. It seems that, this time of year and later into the summer, they get deep into the weeds and sit tight. They'll gulp air, and eat whatever happens to get too close, but otherwise they are in lounging mode. I'll sit and watch for one to pop the top, and cast a chunk of cutbait as close as I can to where I saw it. Usually the strike happens pretty quickly, though it can be very subtle, since they don't seem to move a whole lot.

[carpmanjake]

I've got a couple spots just like this. It seems that, this time of year and later into the summer, they get deep into the weeds and sit tight. They'll gulp air, and eat whatever happens to get too close, but otherwise they are in lounging mode. I'll sit and watch for one to pop the top, and cast a chunk of cutbait as close as I can to where I saw it. Usually the strike happens pretty quickly, though it can be very subtle, since they don't seem to move a whole lot.

not many bowfin actively hunt during the day, they are ambush predators. they dont chase food down very often. they will sit and wait for something to swim by. which is why sight fishing is the way to go to catch them. at night, its the prey fish that dont move. they are much safer (or so they think) staying in one spot, and waiting until morning. thats when the bowfin are actively hunting. they have a huge advantage over their prey being they are so stealthy.

during the night, take a spotlight, and shine into the water and look for fins. if you see them, turn the light off. and wait a while. then cast out a bobber and shiner. (or cut bait) i prefer live bait, because bowfin can key in on them alot faster because its alive. it takes quite a bit longer for bowfin to find bait if they are just going on scent.