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caught my first Bowfin on German sunday, fight is pretty amazing. wasn't sure what I had until looked it up. Thought at first it might be a northern snakehead but found info and the yellow spot on the tail and different color (and smaller teeth)

Are there a lot of these around?

Bitz

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ya they're pretty common, usually i find them in the shallow dense slop veg. they are an angry fun fish to catch. they do have a tendency to mangle stuff though lol

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I shot one with my bow here while shoot buffalo about a month ago... it was on the big jeff side of the channel though...

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They are elusive fish. I've fished this area hard the last 4 years and i have only caught 1, 3or4 years ago. I believe it was 28" and caught on george lake, in shallow slop. There are people on these forums that target them and catch quite a few each year though. Personally, i like these prehistorice fish.

full-26433-21729-7.8.09008.jpg

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They are native and good for the fishery. I have had some great battles with them. I never tried eating one and don't have any plans to. Please return them to the lake.

edit: I only mention this because I have heard too many people say they are good for nothing and throw them on the bank to rot.

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Where's Comit or KTapper? grin

Lots of bowfin in some lakes, they can be a hoot on light tackle. Best time to target them is in the spring during the spawn, but anytime is a good time to fish, right?

Interesting life history and evolution, a fish to be respected for sure.

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i have found a few of them while walleye fishing but only one this year so far on Mazaska. to me they are like sheephead....... put up a fun fight but once you see that its not a walleye you hope it comes off the hook before you have to bring it in the boat.

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bitz I wouldn't say they have smaller teeth than a snakehead. They actually pack a pretty good mouth full of teeth. Google bowfin images and there is one that shows a bowfin skull. Some pretty nasty looking teeth actually! That being said I have caught several of them just this spring on a couple different lakes while searching for eye's. I've caught them both on live bait and crankbaits. They put up a good fight and I always return them unharmed to the water. I agree with an earlier post that they are good for the fishery as they help thin out overpopulated stunted sunfish, bullheads, etc.

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