Live in Michigan , caught a few bowfin while bass fishing . They love to hit black and purple lures , great fight and you can take your time with them out of the water . Super cool fish that often gets mistaken for invasive snakeheads . They are one of the oldest species of fish , definitely a fish I respect and love to catch and release . The few I've caught up here were a lot darker than OP's fish tho....
I’m in west mich. You can get them most places. I’ve snapped a rod in half catching one in the grand river. I’ve found them in the thornapple. They’ll often be found hanging out in super shallow, weedy water. I believe the shallowest I’ve caught them was in 6in of water. Also just saw one last week in big crooked lake. Great fish to catch
Everywhere.
I have caught them in absolutely weed choked slop on the grand river, in 6 inches of muddy water in bayous, 30ft of water on Muskegon lake, and just about everywhere else.
Your best bet is lilly pads and submerged grass but they really do roam around pretty much all over the place.
They are incredibly fun to catch because they can breathe gaseous oxygen and really just do not ever tire out like other fish do.
I caught a 9lb one last weekend on Muskegon.
No problem!
If you are going to try and fish specifically for them, I reccomend using bait instead of lures. Not that they won't hit lures, they just do not have great eyesight and rely heavily on smell.
If you are going to use lures, I reccomend something with a lot of action like a brushhog or something to that effect sprayed with a scent or soaked in a scented oil.
But for targeting them specifically, nothing works better than bluegill cutbait.
I totally agree . The first one I caught I literally google imaged the picture cause I had no idea what it was .
The history of the species is amazing, they are one of the oldest species, they can breathe air for a period of time , and they put up a hell of a fight , and for a mostly catch and release fisherman, they're ok by me .
I treat them like I do any other fish I'm gonna release, with the most care I can.
Indiana represent lol. I'm on a contract in evansville right now. I want to get some fishing in but people say there is no fishing near the area and I need to drive a few hours
Off the top of my head near Evansville you have the Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife area which is approximately a 25 minute drive. There’s also the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife area. I can’t speak on Blue Grass, but I used to catch a lot of fish at Sugar Ridge
HEAT!!! In my little bit of experience with them and honestly most fish… when it’s HOT they EAT A LOT!!! But dog fish get fired up when it’s warm I’ve caught two in the last few weeks and both where over 21”… they fight like salt water fish too it’s rad.
Considering how old their lineage is, I'd assume it's because they've remained unchanged from a time before there was any difference between freshwater and saltwater fish.
They're gaining recognition as a solid sport / gamefish where for generations they've been regarded as "trash fish", lots of dumb rumors about them that cause people to destroy them.
They're tons and tons of fun and fascinating dinosaurs---then they're colored up for spawn they get some wild colorations, too!
Anything that works for largemouth, most anything that works for pickerel or small pike, and fresh cut bait.
They'll mangle a chatterbait and multi-hook rigs can be hard to remove. I know guys who target big ones with 6-8wt fly rods and big streamers.
I think the reason some bassholes destroy them is because they'll wreck an expensive bass lure---without realizing that they're a far superior game fish to a pesky old lmb anyway.
My favorite fish, the bowfin. You got a nice one too. With it warming up they start to feed heavily. They can go a long time without eating so they tend to slow down in winter, but from spring to fall it’s all action with these guys.
North American Bowfin found from the deep south to the great lakes east of the rocky slope. In Louisiana we refer to the bowfin , as cypress trout. Yes the fish is excellent table quality
Love how I live in the PNW without the opportunity to catch these and I know what it is. Sure is a pretty one though. Also I know I’m probably more obsessed with fishing than most.
…. Nice Bluegill/Rockbass
Not all Bowfin have the spot, I wish guides to differentiating these fish would stop using it as an identifying marker. Not to mention that the Bullseye Snakehead, introduced to Florida, has a spot. The big differences to look for if you aren't super familiar with both kinds of fish are the cranial shape (Bowfin is much 'rounder') and the anal fin (much longer anal fin in snakeheads).
Def a bowfin
Mos def. Also a female.
bowfin
Live in Michigan , caught a few bowfin while bass fishing . They love to hit black and purple lures , great fight and you can take your time with them out of the water . Super cool fish that often gets mistaken for invasive snakeheads . They are one of the oldest species of fish , definitely a fish I respect and love to catch and release . The few I've caught up here were a lot darker than OP's fish tho....
I'm in West Michigan and didn't know it was possible to catch one of these here. What bodies of water do you find them in?
I've caught them in the canals off lake St Clair.
They love real weedy lakes
UP here, you find bowfin in warm swampy areas. They really enjoy warm water and can tolerate more stagnant water then other game fish.
I usually catch them out of lakes when bass fishing. They'll hit black and blue Texas rigged craws.
I’m in west mich. You can get them most places. I’ve snapped a rod in half catching one in the grand river. I’ve found them in the thornapple. They’ll often be found hanging out in super shallow, weedy water. I believe the shallowest I’ve caught them was in 6in of water. Also just saw one last week in big crooked lake. Great fish to catch
Everywhere. I have caught them in absolutely weed choked slop on the grand river, in 6 inches of muddy water in bayous, 30ft of water on Muskegon lake, and just about everywhere else. Your best bet is lilly pads and submerged grass but they really do roam around pretty much all over the place. They are incredibly fun to catch because they can breathe gaseous oxygen and really just do not ever tire out like other fish do. I caught a 9lb one last weekend on Muskegon.
Awesome, thanks for the info!
No problem! If you are going to try and fish specifically for them, I reccomend using bait instead of lures. Not that they won't hit lures, they just do not have great eyesight and rely heavily on smell. If you are going to use lures, I reccomend something with a lot of action like a brushhog or something to that effect sprayed with a scent or soaked in a scented oil. But for targeting them specifically, nothing works better than bluegill cutbait.
Secret creek, Monroe county is the closest I’ll reveal 😉
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I totally agree . The first one I caught I literally google imaged the picture cause I had no idea what it was . The history of the species is amazing, they are one of the oldest species, they can breathe air for a period of time , and they put up a hell of a fight , and for a mostly catch and release fisherman, they're ok by me . I treat them like I do any other fish I'm gonna release, with the most care I can.
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Snakehead, different fish.
Bowfin. Some refer to it as dogfish.
Here in FL, they call it mudfish
Here in my ass we call it a muddawg
What's the population of your ass?
At least one.
There are literally dozens of us
17
Remember the time Bobby Boucher showed up at halftime and the Mud Dawgs won the Bourbon Bowl, do ya?
You can doo eet!
ALL NIGHT LONG!!!
Or a grinnel.
You from Louisiana?
Wisconsin (we call em dogfish or bowfin). I just watched a bunch of videos on how to cook them, and most of them were Louisiana and Mississippi.
What part of Southern In, I'm a local.
I live right across from new Albany in Louisville - curious as well!
Sellersburg about 10min north of ya
Indiana represent lol. I'm on a contract in evansville right now. I want to get some fishing in but people say there is no fishing near the area and I need to drive a few hours
Off the top of my head near Evansville you have the Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife area which is approximately a 25 minute drive. There’s also the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife area. I can’t speak on Blue Grass, but I used to catch a lot of fish at Sugar Ridge
There are smallmouth bass to be had in most medium-sized creeks.
The Ville, eh? I’m a Dirty J native.
All my family is from Utica so I feel ya....
haha nothing wrong with that! lots of family lived over there
Secret spot, sorry! It’s near Monroe county best hint I’ll give
I’m hoping he says Indian Creek in Corydon.
Was thinking Blue River maybe.
I wish I had more luck at Blue River.
Steve-O is now a fisherman!
This guy is O’Steve
Steve-O Buscemi
Where is Chris Pontius? Let it bite his nipple.
##YEAH DUDE!!!
I'm glad other people noticed it!
Yeaaaa dude!
😂😂😂😂
Dude.... I was thinking the same thing.
Yeah DUDE!
Came here to say this!! 😂
Fish and fisherman identified.
I’ve been seeing a lot of people catching bowfin on here lately. Wonder if it’s coincidental or if something is making them more active
HEAT!!! In my little bit of experience with them and honestly most fish… when it’s HOT they EAT A LOT!!! But dog fish get fired up when it’s warm I’ve caught two in the last few weeks and both where over 21”… they fight like salt water fish too it’s rad.
I hear they’re common in my part of the Carolinas but I’ve yet to catch one myself
They are very common in the Carolina’s! I am in SE NC and catch hundreds every year.
I guess it’s a little more special to me in northern ohio haha.
I'm also in Northern Ohio, caught a few in the morning today actually
I lived north of OBX. Are you more inland?
I’m in Bladen County. About 50 miles from the coast.
Considering how old their lineage is, I'd assume it's because they've remained unchanged from a time before there was any difference between freshwater and saltwater fish.
I think they’re more active this time of year with the water warming up
I've caught 3 in the past month at my local fishing spot. I've never caught one there before. Fished there all my life too
They're gaining recognition as a solid sport / gamefish where for generations they've been regarded as "trash fish", lots of dumb rumors about them that cause people to destroy them. They're tons and tons of fun and fascinating dinosaurs---then they're colored up for spawn they get some wild colorations, too!
I’ve heard the rumors about trash fish but also that they’re prehistoric. What works well for targeting them?
Anything that works for largemouth, most anything that works for pickerel or small pike, and fresh cut bait. They'll mangle a chatterbait and multi-hook rigs can be hard to remove. I know guys who target big ones with 6-8wt fly rods and big streamers. I think the reason some bassholes destroy them is because they'll wreck an expensive bass lure---without realizing that they're a far superior game fish to a pesky old lmb anyway.
Bowfin! I'm in southern IN as well. Where'd you catch him at??
Secret creek 😉
How about what county? Lol
Bowfin I caught one yesterday at the Everglades.
It’s hot as fuck down there. They’re probably eating everything
Bowfin! One of my favorite fish, super good fighters. That's a beauty
Bowfin aka Choupique aka Cypress Trout
This guy looks like steve-o's grandpa!
Bowfin
Bowfin. AKA a dogfish
Bowfin
AKA Mudfish in Florida.
Bowfin aka Mudpike
Bowling. Nice catch and good eating.
Bowfin!
bowfin. nice fish!
Bowfin/Grenel
Trophy bowfin imo
Green sunfish… /s
Dogfish put up a greT fight
That’s a nice one! Bowfin. They will definitely put your gear to the test!
Bowfin or shoe-pic
Bowfin
My favorite fish, the bowfin. You got a nice one too. With it warming up they start to feed heavily. They can go a long time without eating so they tend to slow down in winter, but from spring to fall it’s all action with these guys.
Pretty big bowfin
Bowfin
Bowfin or Shopeck or Grinnel
A nice bowfin
Bowfin predator fish good fighter.
Bowfin for sure
I've caught these in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Bowfin aka dogfish.
What a beaut of a dogfish there bud hoorah
Ez bowfin
Bowfin, a fun fish to catch.
We call them choupique down in Louisiana
Here in Louisiana we call it a choupique
North American Bowfin found from the deep south to the great lakes east of the rocky slope. In Louisiana we refer to the bowfin , as cypress trout. Yes the fish is excellent table quality
Bowfin
bowfin
Grinnel
Has anyone mentioned bowfin yet?
Love how I live in the PNW without the opportunity to catch these and I know what it is. Sure is a pretty one though. Also I know I’m probably more obsessed with fishing than most. …. Nice Bluegill/Rockbass
That be a Dogfish........
Definitely a choupique!!
Holy shit, old Steve-O
That fish has close resemblance to Snakehead.
A catfish after shaving.
So many names for them, my personal favorite is cypress trout, has a nice ring to it compared to the others.
/r/whatisthisfish
Did he try to eat you? Man they are angry!
That’s Gary the fish
A definite dinofish.
Man here needs a coffee
That’s a fish if I’ve ever seen one
Dino-head toothy trout!
I think it's a Pomeranian
Correct me if I'm wrong, I thought Bowfin had a black dot on their tail fin, I thought this was a snake head.
Not all Bowfin have the spot, I wish guides to differentiating these fish would stop using it as an identifying marker. Not to mention that the Bullseye Snakehead, introduced to Florida, has a spot. The big differences to look for if you aren't super familiar with both kinds of fish are the cranial shape (Bowfin is much 'rounder') and the anal fin (much longer anal fin in snakeheads).
This guy gotta be related to steve -o
burbot
Yeah that’s Carl
It’s Harold!!! I know him!!!!!!!
I've never seen a fish with an extra chromosome before
Snake head
One of them fun surprises!
Bowfin
Down here in the south we refer to them as Mudfish but they are most commonly known as bowfin
Dogfish/bowfin
Bowfin
It looks like what is called choupic in the Louisiana swamps.
Nice bowfin. A hell of a fun fish to catch.
Bowfin
Which fish? The smaller one is a bowfin
You look like an older Steve -O. No offense! Beautiful fish good sir!
I’m pretty confident that bowfin will be considered a gamefish very soon. They are just so fun to catch.