Learn The Secrets Of How To Catch Bowfin
Are you planning to catch Bowfin during your next fishing trip?
Bowfins are known to be active fighters as well as a fantastic fish. But this fish species is not as popular as trout, walleye or bass.
Bowfins have strong jaws, and most anglers lose their lures in their jaws. This could be regarded as one of the reasons for their less popularity.
The fish might not be the first choice of anglers, but they are known to offer daunting opponent in water and could even sustain in water that contains lesser oxygen.
Since bowfins are very challenging and stronger fishes, you would have to know about them clearly along with the proper technique to catch them.
To help you out in it, we have brought up a list of how to catch Bowfin along with much-related information. So just hold on your interest and continue to read.
Places to Catch Bowfins
Bowfins are inhabitants of eastern North America and are commonly found in the southeast of Canada and east of US.
Being prodigious and piscivorous hunters, these fishes prefer to live in slow-moving, clear, medium streams and canals. However, you would even find them in lakes and weedy swampy waters.
Shallows and riverbanks are usually the places where Bowfins hunt their game.
The anatomy of this fish species is known to be little bit distinct, and this could be one of the reasons for preferring shallows by them. Bowfin uses the swim bladder in a different way, that is, as a primeval lung.
- They come to the surfaces sometimes to quaff the air and for regulating their strength. This is the reason that they stay near to the surfaces and could sustain in waters where there is little oxygen.
- However, you would be able to catch Bowfins all the year long. Moreover, ice fishing for these fishes could be a productive option for you.
- These fishes usually feed anything which catches their interests at any time. Therefore, you would be able to find Bowfins in the morning, afternoon as well as the evening in warm or cold temperatures and muddy or clean waters.
What You Will Need
Fishing Rod
You would be able to employ the same tackle that you use for trout, bass or walleye.
Light or medium light fishing rod would be a good option to use for bowfins. The length of the rod would be 6” to 9’6”.
These are some product that could be considered for catching bowfins:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Quantum Telescoping ML Spin Rod 6' | 13 Reviews | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
|
South Bend Black Beauty 8-Feet 6-Inch Casting Rod, Medium/Heavy | 12 Reviews | from $49.38 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2018-02-27 PST - Details
Fishing Reel
In the case of reels to catch bowfins, light to medium light ones would be better to pair with the fishing rod.
These products could work best as reels for your fishing rod:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels Spinning Fishing Reel 9 +1 BB Light... | 397 Reviews | $39.99 from $19.98 | Buy on Amazon |
|
Okuma Ceymar Lightweight Spinning Reel- C-30 | 175 Reviews | $49.99 $37.14 | Buy on Amazon |
|
Okuma ABF-40 Avenger Baitfeeder Spinning Reel (10lb/290yd) | 822 Reviews | $54.99 $50.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2018-02-27 PST - Details
Fishing Line
The line for catching bowfins would have to be about 15 to 20 pounds test braided. This is because you would be probably be catching the fish in rough waters.
Well, these products could be good options to consider for this fish:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Piscifun PE Braided Fishing Line 150Yd White 25lb Braid Line | 420 Reviews | $10.98 $8.98 | Buy on Amazon |
|
KastKing SuperPower Braid Fishing Line 327Yds 547Yds 1094Yds Advanced Superline | 1458 Reviews | $18.98 $14.98 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2018-02-27 PST - Details
Fishing Hook
Bowfins possess largemouth, and they won’t shy away from bigger baits. Hence, larger hooks would be better options for this fish.
Likewise, you would also be able to prevent the bait from being swallowed by the fish completely. Bowfins are even muscular and have powerful jaws, so they could even straighten your hook.
Hence, it would be better to use thicker hooks. Barbless hook would be a good option for catching and releasing the fish.
However, if you use leeches, long fish strips, night crawlers or any longer baits, medium shank hooks would work best in fixing the bait entirely.
One hook or two hook bean sinker rig will be a great option if you are using live or dead baits for catching bowfins.
- You could have a swivel that would act as a stopper for the sinker. Bowfins have sharp teeth, so a super braid leader of 20 to 30 pounds test could be the one you need.
- Bowfins could not be spooked easily, and they are known to have excellent eyesight. Hence, it could be a good idea to employ brown or green color leader to make it look like a weed or plant root.
Baits & Lures
- Fishing Bait
Crayfish & night crawlers would be the two best baits to employ for bowfins. These baits would work best particularly during stalking or still fish.
However, you could use any kind of smaller fishes, dead or alive for catching bowfins.
- Fishing Lures
In the case of lures, you could use Vibrax Minnow Spins, Mepps spinners, crawfish or shrimp mimic crankbaits.
Minnow jigs would even be a productive option. However, it would be better to use metallic lures for bowfins as their strong jaws could easily ruin wooden, rubber or plastic lures.
Step-By-Step Instructions: How To Catch Bowfins
Step 1: Winding The Reel With Line
To catch Bowfins, you would have to at first start winding your fishing reel with fishing line. The line could be of 25 to 40 pounds test.
You would require such added strength for fighting a Bowfin without breaking the fishing line.
Step 2: Using Fresh Bait
You would now have to set the hook with the baits. Well, it would be better to use fresh baits wherever it will be possible.
Crawfish, bluegills, minnows and worms would work perfectly for it. Bowfins are generally found under thick covers like underwater vegetation as well as rocky bottoms.
Hence, you would have to look for such places to catch the fish in great amounts.
Step 3: Dropping The Line
Now, you would have to drop the fishing line in the water thereby trolling the bait across the bottom of the water.
Step 4: Landing The Catch
At this stage, you would have to jerk your wrist for setting the hook in the mouth of the fish as soon as you feel the bite.
And after that, you would have to be patient. Now, start reeling in slowly and steadily and let the fish wear out itself.
If you try early to fight this strong, challenging fish, the tension would possibly break the line. Well, your catch Bowfin would be right in front of you like this way.
Conclusion
Well, this was our list that included various significant information related to picking Bowfins successfully.
These are quite strong as well as challenging fishes and their behavior of swallowing the lure most of the time with their strong jaws makes them a less popular choice among the anglers.
But bowfins could make out a great meal due to their beautiful white flesh, just like maximum predator fishes.
Since the powerful jaws and the sharp teeth of bowfins could bestow a strong challenge to its opposition; you would have to apprehend the perfect technique of catching them.
We hope that our list as mentioned above of how to catch Bowfins would provide much information that you might want to know about the fish. Well, if you have any queries or suggestion related to this article, please let us know in the comments below.
