Coool prehistoric hard fighting fish. Only caught one in my life time and it was at Lake O' the Pines back in the late 60's. I know it as a Bowfin but commonly called Grinnell in East Texas.

i love bowfin. i caught a few when i was stationed in Georgia

I mentioned this somewhere before, but I saw an episode of 'The Worlds Greatest Fishing Show' with Mark Zona when he and a guide were fishing Lake Fork. The guide hooked a bowfin, about 8#, and was soooo excited, thinking it was a HUGE bass, until he saw it! Then it was 'oh, no, just a dogfish!'. :-)

Some people just don't know how to have fun!

I caught a big one at Sheldon Resevior in Houston in the early 80's..I would have sworn it was a world record bass until I saw it, I too was disappointed (then), I tried like hell to ketch one back in the spring of this year for the texasfishes.com contest & it was the first year in a long time I didn't at least accidentally catch one.

Bowfin ROCK. I've yet to catch one myself, but definitely want too!

I got one in 2007 (sight fishing with a fly), but I am DYING to catch another one...

Caught this one this year from the same place as Daves fish. I think. It also was sight fished. The year before I was unable to find them in shallow water and was catching them in deep water with large live bait suspended about 5 foot under a float.




They are really beautiful fish. Late this summer I did find a place in east Texas where my son and I caught several, but basically in a swamp with water like chocolate milk and no more than a foot deep. Smaller fish, but due to the conditions they fought well. My son wants to us to explore it more next year and see if we can find better fish. I get the impression that there is a rather large population in East Texas, but they inhabit a type of water that few would even think of fishing.

Seems to be lots of Bowfin at Ray Hubby. Caught quite a few while bottom fishing with cut bait the last few months. Caught 3 last Fri.

Great pics everyone, and congrats on your bowfin captures.

I noticed when holding the fish that they seemed very mushy, (for a lack of a better word). I was informed that the meat isn't firm at all and that in preparing them to eat it is customary to fix them like salmon patties.

Anyone ever had a bowfin patty?

Sweet Bowin Lou-a!

Yeah, Dave wants to beat my state fly rod record of 7.24#.

I've cleaned a few Fins' for Gator Gar bait, and yes, they are quite mushy.

Here is a pic of the biggest one I have caught. Caught him on 4 pound test, ultralight, 1 inch slider. Awesome fight.



Lived in GA for the past five years and have caught a bunch. One of my favorite predatory fish to catch. Ever seen one of these guys attack a fish. Used to have them try to inhale redbreast right at the boat in many of the GA black water rivers. You can actually here the snap of the water being sucked into their mouth ast they try to inhale the bream. And for those who asked. They are great eating. Like mentioned, the only negative would be the meat is a little soft, but actually holds batter better and fries up cruncier. The taste is similar to a catfish, but a little more mild. I'd ask those that catch them and toss them on the bank or whatever else to reconsider letting them go. They don't hurt bass populations. They've been living side by side with bass for centuries.

Awesome Bowfin, Kyle.