Bowfin Through the Ice?

[EC1]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone has attempted to fish for bowfin during the ice season? If not, in what type of water are you incidentally catching these fish?

 

Care to share what type of baits you were using when you got them too?

 

Google wasn't too much of my friend for this..So I hope someone here has more experience. Was hoping to see if they are worth targetting in case other game fish refuse to cooperate.

 

Thanks in Advance!

 

BTW, here's one that attacked my spinnerbait while fishing for bass earlier this year!

Edited December 14, 2010 by EC1

[MCTFisher9120]

Call me Mike the Bowfin catcher lol. I caught one through the ice in 4ft of water last season on a minnow, not sure how to target them boy these fish are fighters frozen water or open water.

 

Heres a pic

 

Edited December 14, 2010 by MikeTheBassFisher

[uglyfish]

Lol we get them from time to time in dunnville through the ice. But not catching them... They have a tendency to pop up through the hole just to have a peak at what's goin on.

 

Fishmaster has had it happen a few times, landed a big one by hand when it popped up the hole

[Rod Caster]

Lol we get them from time to time in dunnville through the ice. But not catching them... They have a tendency to pop up through the hole just to have a peak at what's goin on.

 

Fishmaster has had it happen a few times, landed a big one by hand when it popped up the hole

 

 

Are you kidding?

[Nipfisher]

Mike the Bass Fisher,

Must be the camo.

[MCTFisher9120]

Mike the Bass Fisher,

Must be the camo.

 

 

Haha if I had the $$ i would get the matching pants for this season I'll splurge on a proper suit one year...for now the $30 coleman pants are good enough

[Curtis]

He isn't kidding about them coming up through the hole I have never seen it happen but have been told stories by numours anglers while ice fishing

[dave524]

He isn't kidding about them coming up through the hole I have never seen it happen but have been told stories by numours anglers while ice fishing

 

If I am not mistaken they have the ability to gulp air to breathe, that's why they can be found in some pretty low oxygen level areas, maybe they are just getting a gulp of air.

[aplumma]

If I am not mistaken they have the ability to gulp air to breathe, that's why they can be found in some pretty low oxygen level areas, maybe they are just getting a gulp of air.

 

 

DING DING DING we have a winner!!! They indeed have a primitive lung.

 

 

Art

[Terry]

they are fun to catch, till they puke on you boats carpet...nasty...I cut the line now a days

 

I guess getting them through the ice would be fun too, they sure do fight

[johnnyb]

Ok...now I gotta go hit the ice in bowfin territory!! Just to see them poppin' out of the holes...and catching them would be fun too...those things fight like mad! I actually ate one a couple years ago...deeeeeeelicious! Honest!

 

 

[Terry]

Ok...now I gotta go hit the ice in bowfin territory!! Just to see them poppin' out of the holes...and catching them would be fun too...those things fight like mad! I actually ate one a couple years ago...deeeeeeelicious! Honest!

 

 

 

yeah

I will take your word on it

 

but will not try

[EC1]

That'd be pretty amazing to watch a bowfin just jump out of the hole!

 

And Mike, in 4FOW that's really shallow for ice fishing!

 

JohnnyB I'll agree to you saying that they are tasty...We took one home before and made soup out of it. Surprisingly good!

[frozen-fire]

Somehow I knew it was you who started this thread hahaha!

[MCTFisher9120]

That'd be pretty amazing to watch a bowfin just jump out of the hole!

 

And Mike, in 4FOW that's really shallow for ice fishing!

 

JohnnyB I'll agree to you saying that they are tasty...We took one home before and made soup out of it. Surprisingly good!

 

The bay I fish is shallow, the perch last year were in 4-5ft of water on weeds, i honestly caught 4 12"+ perch in the same hole the bowfin came out of last season.

[EC1]

Somehow I knew it was you who started this thread hahaha!

 

Hey, that lake has potential to be my favorite lake when not out hunting lakers!

[johnnyb]

yeah

I will take your word on it

 

but will not try

 

My buddy cleaned it up...said it had brutally tough meat....had it frozen for a few months before we got together to try it...not sure if that helped. But we cubed it up and deep fried it in wontons....blew me away! The closest thing I could relate it to was a smoked pork roast...firm and meaty, but not rubbery at all.