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bowfin at fork
#7427862
04/18/12 04:29 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 296
ChumBag
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 296 |
I know a lot of you guys run into these grennel/bowfin at fork. I am normally a bass fisherman but would like to catch one of these. Of you guys that accidentally catch these are they normally in shallow brackish water? I think I am going to drive down there and pick up some shiners and see if I can snag one.
Thanks and the only reason I posted this in bass is because I am always in this section and see you guys post that you hooked one by accident.
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7427913
04/18/12 04:40 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,665
scott01
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,665 |
I've caught quite a few over the years at various lakes, Fork, Bob Sandlin, Palestine to name a few. I can't say I've actually targeted them but I've caught them on plastics (worms, lizards and flukes), topwaters, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits. Can't say that I've caught any on crankbaits but I might have and forgotten, lol. Anyway, they hit most normal bass baits as they are very aggressive and feed on other fish. Oddly enough, I don't think I've ever caught a small one, under 5 lbs. Almost all have been in the 5-9 lb range. Hmmmm
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7427979
04/18/12 04:59 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,306
G3Runner
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,306 |
I've have caught them during this spawn off docks using minners. If you do catch one make sure you dont't try and lip that fish because they have a mouth full of teeth and they are very agressive. This time of year their fins and lips turn bright green. I think its neat the the fact that they can survive out of the water.
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428079
04/18/12 05:30 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 296
ChumBag
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 296 |
Near docks huh? I read that they tend to be in shallow water even in the summer. I figure I will pick one of the creeks and just keep heading north until I find some good looking water.
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428092
04/18/12 05:33 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,488
Randy Harrell
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,488 |
In lakes like Fork, they are a little more hard to target as they are spread out more. It is better to fish for them in creeks. I used to fish for them all the time in Sandy Creek, (about 15 miles East of Lake Fork on Hwy 154). The will bite a variety of bait, but cut perch and shad have always been the best for me. They will also bite shrimp but the perch is better. I used to use 65 lb. braid on a 7'6" heavy rod. Tie on a 5/0 hook, no weight and put a peice of cut bait about the size of a half dollar on. Pitch it out there and just let it sit. The bite is slow, unlike catfish. They will not try to take the rod away from you like a big channel cat. They will usually just bite it and start easing off pretty slow. It is best to give them a little time to get the hook down good. If you set it right away, most times the hook will stick in the hard part of the mouth and you will almost never get them in before they throw the hook. Give them several seconds, set the hook hard and hang on for WW III.
A good day for me on the creek was usually 8-10 fish in 3-4 hrs.
One more thing, the hotter it gets in the summer, the better the fishing gets.
Set the hook first, ask questions later!!!
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428125
04/18/12 05:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,488
Randy Harrell
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,488 |
Oh, BTW, I can I have a good recipe for them too. 
Set the hook first, ask questions later!!!
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: Randy Harrell]
#7428126
04/18/12 05:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 296
ChumBag
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 296 |
In lakes like Fork, they are a little more hard to target as they are spread out more. It is better to fish for them in creeks. I used to fish for them all the time in Sandy Creek, (about 15 miles East of Lake Fork on Hwy 154). The will bite a variety of bait, but cut perch and shad have always been the best for me. They will also bite shrimp but the perch is better. I used to use 65 lb. braid on a 7'6" heavy rod. Tie on a 5/0 hook, no weight and put a peice of cut bait about the size of a half dollar on. Pitch it out there and just let it sit. The bite is slow, unlike catfish. They will not try to take the rod away from you like a big channel cat. They will usually just bite it and start easing off pretty slow. It is best to give them a little time to get the hook down good. If you set it right away, most times the hook will stick in the hard part of the mouth and you will almost never get them in before they throw the hook. Give them several seconds, set the hook hard and hang on for WW III.
A good day for me on the creek was usually 8-10 fish in 3-4 hrs.
One more thing, the hotter it gets in the summer, the better the fishing gets. Thanks this was exactly the kind of info I was looking for. So do you think it would be beter to wait for summer or at least a month for it to get a bit hotter? I can catch some perch on my ultra light and try the cut bait you speak of as well. Thanks again.
_________________________
1999 Javalin 150 evenrude _________________________
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428178
04/18/12 05:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,266
BMCD
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,266 |
We caught a dozen of them on the Basin down in La.
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428192
04/18/12 05:58 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 394
Weltonio
Angler
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Angler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 394 |
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428220
04/18/12 06:03 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 73
DEADi
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 73 |
Evertime i fish a big bass tour there i catch one, thinking i have a big bass, and iturns out to be that [censored].
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428306
04/18/12 06:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,488
Randy Harrell
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,488 |
In lakes like Fork, they are a little more hard to target as they are spread out more. It is better to fish for them in creeks. I used to fish for them all the time in Sandy Creek, (about 15 miles East of Lake Fork on Hwy 154). The will bite a variety of bait, but cut perch and shad have always been the best for me. They will also bite shrimp but the perch is better. I used to use 65 lb. braid on a 7'6" heavy rod. Tie on a 5/0 hook, no weight and put a peice of cut bait about the size of a half dollar on. Pitch it out there and just let it sit. The bite is slow, unlike catfish. They will not try to take the rod away from you like a big channel cat. They will usually just bite it and start easing off pretty slow. It is best to give them a little time to get the hook down good. If you set it right away, most times the hook will stick in the hard part of the mouth and you will almost never get them in before they throw the hook. Give them several seconds, set the hook hard and hang on for WW III.
A good day for me on the creek was usually 8-10 fish in 3-4 hrs.
One more thing, the hotter it gets in the summer, the better the fishing gets. Thanks this was exactly the kind of info I was looking for. So do you think it would be beter to wait for summer or at least a month for it to get a bit hotter? I can catch some perch on my ultra light and try the cut bait you speak of as well. Thanks again. You can definitely catch some now, but Summer is where it's at. You've got it on the perch. 
Set the hook first, ask questions later!!!
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428377
04/18/12 06:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 182
slotfish70
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 182 |
You might try the river in Ray Hubbard. It's full of them.
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428393
04/18/12 06:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 809
Bass N Beer
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 809 |
When you hook one, you will think you have the lake record bass on. They are a REAL good fight. Disappointing when fishing a tournament though.
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428512
04/18/12 07:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 411
BassAg
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 411 |
I caught a giant bowfin on Fork during the summer on the edge of lilly pads using a fluke at the mouth of a slough/small cove
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Re: bowfin at fork
[Re: ChumBag]
#7428881
04/18/12 08:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,220
adam_p
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,220 |
Caught one that weighed 15 1/2 in little caney several years back in about 2ft of water on a senko. About this time of year, give or take a week or so.
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