Author Topic: Bowfin through the ice (Read 6052 times)

{RPF}Rapala Pike Fisherman · « **on:** Nov 29, 2005, 08:20 PM »

Has anyone ever caught one of these fish before, they look really cool, kinda like an eelpout, what about through the ice?

big big rdg · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 08:43 PM »

I think i read that they were illegal to target in MA but im not sure if it was bowfin. I will have to look into it.

worm_waster · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 08:44 PM »

I've caught them in NWPA in open water in decent numbers, but never through the ice. From what I understand, they do not taste like an eelpout.w_w.

big big rdg · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 08:47 PM »

Here is some info on them:

http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/bowfin.html

{RPF}Rapala Pike Fisherman · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 08:52 PM »

Quote from: big big rdg on Nov 29, 2005, 08:43 PM

I think i read that they were illegal to target in MA but im not sure if it was bowfin. I will have to look into it.

I doubt that they are illegal, but they are considered junk fish

I personal think they are a really cool looking fish, and have heard they fight like carp or catfish.

Waubay Fisher · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 09:05 PM »

They do indeed look like eelpout, although I've never had an eelpout - I do know that bowfin (dogfish) are supposed to taste like crap! Bowfin put up a HUUUUGEE fight. This summer I tied into a couple at Rush lake fishing for crappie (light action tackle) and it took me almost 6-7 mins just to get it to the surface to see what it was. It made a TON of good runs.. LOTS of fun to catch - but extremely toothy and stinky! I usually tie into a couple each year on the openwater... never have caught one through the ice.

-WF.

ChenBassHead · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 09:19 PM »

I went fishing with Pikie, and he was showing me some pictures of Bowfin he got through the ice. I've thought about going down to the Batten Kill and fishing for them. Maybe this year while on break.

-Zach

big big rdg · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 10:05 PM »

Quote from: {RPF}Rapala Pike Fisherman on Nov 29, 2005, 08:52 PM

I doubt that they are illegal, but they are considered junk fish I personal think they are a really cool looking fish, and have heard they fight like carp or catfish.

I wasnt sure if they are or not i remembered reading something to that extend but cant find where i read it $:-\$

Duckslayer · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 29, 2005, 11:23 PM »

I shoot bowfin all the time during the summer, but I've never caught one when Icefishing. Those dirty buggers go after my bass spinners all the time. Good fight but ugly as hell. You ever hear 'em croak when they're out of water for awhile? Scared the crap out of me the first time I shot one and had it in my barrel. Couple minutes later I thought I could hear a dog barkin just to find out it was the fish...crazy

killitandgrillit · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 04:58 AM »

I catch them all the time on a slough off the Menominee river. Garbage fish, wouldnt even try eating them. They fight like hell though.

Bob_D · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 06:20 AM »

Yup...Great fighting fish, but not good for eating. BTW....There is no such thing as a "junk fish". They all have a place in the system.

ChenBassHead · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 08:14 AM »

Quote from: Bob_D on Nov 30, 2005, 06:20 AM

BTW....There is no such thing as a "junk fish". They all have a place in the system.

Very well put Bob, I really hate to hear people refer to certain fish and "junk fish". From a sporting aspect, a perch would be a junk fish, while carp, gar, and bowfin would be up there with smallies, steelhead and salmon...But like Bob said, every fish has it's place in the system.

-Zach

pikie · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 08:21 AM »

Yeah ChenBassHead, I did catch a bunch of them one day.....never caught one through the ice before or after that day. They gave a great fight, and didn't mess around at all with the minnow. Another thing I remember was what they did to the minnows, instead of slicing them up like a pike, they absolutely crushed the minnows.

northdease · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 08:23 AM »

here is another picture we call them dogfish, never caught them through the ice but catch them all the time in the summer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/craigweiss/fishing2003006.jpg

northdease · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 08:26 AM »

i havent posted a pic in a while so i'll try again.

northdease · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 08:29 AM »

here is a biiger pic. sorry for the confusion.

bear · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 09:46 AM »

I have caught several bowfin in backwater off of the Mississippi River. They fight very good but I have never heard of anyone around here eating them. bear

FishDaddy09 · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 11:09 AM »

In my neck of the woods it's not uncommon to catch dogfish through the ice. I've seen people battle them for 20 min on 1# test thinking the had someting nice on then up through the hole come one of these ugly suckers. I have a buddy that set out tip-ups one night with the omni lights on them he had a ton of hits and caught about a dozen dogfish. NOT what he was after, but a lot of fun!

Water Wolf · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 01:19 PM »

I don't have them in my area but they look like they would be fun to catch, where are they found in Canada?

WW

{RPF}Rapala Pike Fisherman · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 03:33 PM »

I don't think these fish are "junk" or "ugly" at all, i think they are cool looking. Did you know that they can actually live 24 hours out of the water, and they come to the surfice every couple of minutes to breath in air!

{RPF}Rapala Pike Fisherman · « **Reply #20 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 03:35 PM »

Quote from: Water Wolf on Nov 30, 2005, 01:19 PM

I don't have them in my area but they look like they would be fun to catch, where are they found in Canada?

WW

They are found all over southern canada, if you want to learn more about bowfin check this site out. http://www.bowfinanglers.com/

cc · « **Reply #21 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 06:01 PM »

Quote from: Water Wolf on Nov 30, 2005, 01:19 PM

I don't have them in my area but they look like they would be fun to catch, where are they found in Canada?

WW

I have caught them by accident in the Quinte Bay, Trenton area. If memory serves correct they tend to stay in the real thick weedy water.

BrianF · « **Reply #22 on:** Nov 30, 2005, 08:08 PM »

I have caught a few of those on accident on Champlain. No pics as I could not wait to get rid of them when I caught them (they can make a real mess of the boat deck quick if you can get hold of them). One of them had to push 10 pounds (caught pitching a jig+pig in the shallows of a weedy sandy bay). They are ugly but I'll give them this, they fight like bulls! So doesn't a sheepshead up there fouled hooked on a favorite lure that you don't want to loose (that was even more of a trip).

Bob D, if you targeted those through the ice what depths would you be searching as well as structure? are they active in the winter?

Pasquatch · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 03, 2005, 07:43 PM »

Only fish I've ever have break a high quality thick gauge Gamakatsu hook.....freaking scary.

Best fighting fish I've encountered, over Salmon, Pike, and Carp. I would like to target them through the ice...

Zach, I may be game for a trip to the Batten Kill sometime next summer....these fish are worth the trek...

FishDaddy09 · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 04, 2005, 11:06 AM »

I have caught a lot of dogfish right after ice out on dead minnows if you want to target them you might try that.

rayfish · « **Reply #25 on:** Dec 04, 2005, 01:11 PM »

I've caught numerous Bow's in upstate ny, Sandy pond region, and they are pound for pound the best fighting fish! We would get them on live bait fishing for northerns in the summer at dusk. Great fish but really ugly

wyogator · « **Reply #26 on:** Dec 05, 2005, 02:57 PM »

Down in Florida, they are called mudfish. They are fun to catch, just make sure you don't mistake it for a burbot and eat it.

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Author Topic: Bowfin through the ice (Read 6052 times)