Bowfin

[20lbSloughShark]

I'd really like to put a new species to me on the ice. I love bowfin for the same reasons I love pike. I've caught a few in the open water, in all different ways, but never through the ice. The problem is there is almost zero information on where these guys hang out other than "shallow". Its clear I probably wont accidentally get one through the ice. There is a bay about 3 acres big on a 1000 acre lake that I think might hold them. It has a channel about 5' deep, but most of it is about 2' and weedy. I'm thinking nightcrawlers might be the best legal bait I can use, but I have caught them on suckers while going after pike. To those that have looked at them close, do they have spear-like teeth like a walleye, or razor teeth like a pike? The other spot I'm thinking of is a very sharp drop off that goes from 0'-50' fast. On shore its is very weedy, and there are still Lilly pad stalks. I know they relate to shallow and weeds, but do they like sharp drops, bays, points? Thanks for the help, I just want to catch one to say I have.

[expl]

Bowfin are an exciting fish to catch and actually taste quite good despite their looks.I have never caught one in winter.I did have one stick his nose up my hole two weeks ago,I was fishing shallow about 8 feet deep,arou d weeds in a bay, so I would say you have the right idea.Have fun,and fry one up you wont be dissappointed.

[Early Riser]

In some parts the country they do eat them occasionally.

Personally, I think they are better left in the lake to help control stunted panfish as an apex predator. They are cool, prehistoric fish that are good to have in the lake.

About 5 winters ago I speared three big bowfin one day. I brought them home and filleted them. The meat was orange like a salmon and looked pretty darn good. I cooked up a tail piece along with some pike that evening. They were bland and too soft - no good for frying.

I had all the rest of the bowfin meat left so I cut it up and soaked it in a brine thinking I could pickle them - wrong….the meat literally disintegrated and fell apart. They were too soft. I even tried brining some in the round to smoked them and they were not good compared to the carp, pike and bass I smoked alongside them.

I will never kill another one again. They are cool to see in the spear hole and will often be seen checking on the decoy, or just swimming through. I have seen two so far this season.

[20lbSloughShark]

Thanks for your input early riser, how about smoking or baking them like a salmon? I plan on releasing any fish, I have enough frozen and pickled fish for now. Obviously the lakes aren't over populated, or I would catch more. So shallow, are we talking 6', 2', inches? My guess would be 4' and less, because that's where I see them in the summer. For all I know, they head 50' down in the cold winter. I usually fish shallower than most, and prefer less than 10' for pike. It makes me wonder why I never get dog fish. Maybe they aren't willing to chase a live sucker? I'm definitely leaning to putting a glob of worms down, even though everyone who sees me will think I'm a nut case.

[hillbilly...]

Bowfin are an exciting fish to catch and actually taste quite good despite their looks.I have never caught one in winter.I did have one stick his nose up my hole two weeks ago,I was fishing shallow about 8 feet deep,arou d weeds in a bay, so I would say you have the right idea.Have fun,and fry one up you wont be dissappointed.

How did you cook yours ive shoot hundreds of them and have always thought about trying one.

[JacobG]

I have had several encounters with these guys in the spring but have never been able to land one on my light crappie gear. Its a fish that has eluded me for years in my attempt to land one

[Early Riser]

I have come to realize that they are an important fish in a lake's ecosystem as they are an apex predator, likely helping in the prevention of stunting. I have noticed that the lakes where bowfin sightings are fairly common in the spear house also tend to have nicer sized pike and panfish.

Sloughshark, I do not think that baking them would have helped to make them any more palatable. They should be C&R only and probably taken off of the list of fish that can be shot with a bow or speared. But that is something for the fisheries biologists to determine.

[gunner55]

I usually catch at least 2 or 3 every year.Most from along the weededge but a couple off a sharp drop in 20+ fow.Usually rigging leeches,4-6# fish I would guess & do they fight.A good test of your drag along with your knots & always released.6 lb test,St. Criox med action rod,& Pflueger Pres reel.

[LPCrowRiverFisherman]

Chances of catching them in the winter are next to none. Most of the time they are just roaming aimlessly. They are a warm water fish that only seem to become active once the spring panfish spawn starts. They seem to be most aggressive when the water gets to its high temp in the summer. I have never actually heard of anyone catching one in the winter. Shallow would be the way to go, 6 foot and less, and probably with dead bait under a tip up.

[hillbilly...]

well I will contuine to shoot them till then. but I heard some guys make balls outa them and deep fry.

[Early Riser]

You are correct LPC, the decoy seems to attract them in the winter, but they seem pretty lethargic and have never grabbed on or chased.

Hillbilly, I suppose a guy could grind them up with some saltines, egg, onion, a chunk of salt pork, pepper, fry them up, and end up with some OK fish cakes or balls. Never thought of than one. On the other hand, I think I would opt for pike or some other whitefish for that.

[bobbymalone]

crawler as bait?

I think a dead sucker sounds like a better bet. Almost all the bowfin I've caught have been in open water ripping a spinnerbait. I'd fish them like I would northern, but I think they probably aren't very active in the winter. Good luck.

They are pretty cool fish. Spawning males get a pretty blue color on their undersides and fins.

[hillbilly...]

Ive never seen a blue dog fish.. ive seen them turn bright green during the spawn ive also seen a couple that had 2 spots

[expl]

Yeah you have to grind them up and make a fish patty,or burger I guess and then pan fry them,something I do is grind in some bacon and chedder cheese,this helps hold the patty together better.If anyone thinks its the bowfin keeping panfish poulations in check your crazy,while I am sure the do help in the matter its your Large Pike and Bass that help the most in that aspect.Throw some of these larger fish back,along with the larger panfish.Everyone wants bigger fish but no one seems willing to throw back the good sized ones,it wipes lakes out pretty quickly when everyone keeps Big and no other sizes.Try not keeping fish in your freezer they wont grow in there,if I want a fresh meal of fish I go catch one,and if I dont catch them oh well.Good luck on the bowfin,they are fun to catch.

[hillbilly...]

if you want a fun lake I have one for you I got over 100 In 3 days has some good eyes in it northern haven't seen any thing over 20" verly clearn early gets dirty when it starts to get hot and plenty of shallow with weed line to run.

[icefishing999]

I caught one ice fishing this winter on cannon lake while fishing for eyes. I caught it on a live forage minnow in 10fow. Dumb luck I think.

[DrJuice1980]

well I will contuine to shoot them till then. but I heard some guys make balls outa them and deep fry.

They are a native fish that bring a lot of value, shooting to kill is extremely moronic. Its guys like you with no brain, that think they can play god without knowing anything, that create an imbalance in the lakes natural ecosystem. You certainly fit your profile name.

What is the point of your killing? The only logical explanation I can come up with is youre holding a small pair.

[Slab_Supper]

I caught one ice fishing this winter on cannon lake while fishing for eyes. I caught it on a live forage minnow in 10fow. Dumb luck I think.

That is not dumb luck... During the first 2 weeks of February the last 2 years myself and another guy have caught several bowfin out there. Seems like they become active during that time of year.

[Slimdart]

We tried eating them once. Not for me and will not be doing that again. The cat would not even eat it. Maybe I should not have told the cat it was a dogfish

[Biggerfish]

Dr Juice,

I have caught a few over the years and always released. I have been out with friends and some of them give it a belly ach? My question is there a point at which they could over populate a lake and damage it? That was the answer I got when I asked as to why kill it?

[Stick500]

My question; is there a point at which they could over populate a lake and damage it? That was the answer I got when I asked as to why kill it?

I've heard that from other fishermen as well. However, I have never seen one report from the DNR stating that a lake is overpopulated with bowfin and is damaging the fishery. Never have seen any sort of bowfin eradication program either. Since they are a native species, it's hard to believe any given lake ecosystem could be turned upside down by bowfin, but I suppose with just the right conditions it's possible.

My take on this is that it's just another myth about a roughfish, and unfortunately causes them to be killed for no reason.

Me? I love catching dogfish and would love to get into a bunch of them someday. I think they're a pretty cool fish and wish I ran into them more than I do.

[Cthulhu]

IF a lake EVER becomes "over-populated" with Bowfin, then the lake has bigger problems - most likely pollution or low oxygen as Bowfin can survive poor water conditions. It would be particularly unlikely for Bowfin to over-populate a lake in MN, conditions up here are far from ideal for them. They are WAY more common in many lakes in the southern states, and those same lakes have better/bigger Bass and Panfish than we have up here.

[MN BassFisher]

I've always wanted to catch one through the ice too, one day I suppose! I catch my fair share in the spring/summer months. I will actually target them around dusk at my cabin. Slow rolling hollow frogs through the pads and wait for the explosion. Or swimming a jig on the outside of lilly pads.