Bowfin!
Bowfin were on my “bucket list” for many years. I finally caught a baby one (@ 4") on my fly rod earlier this year. a week ago, I visited a new spot, and saw many bowfin surfacing. Water was really muddy. I didn’t catch any. When water is muddy, bowfin rely on their sense of smell. So, I bought some lure scent to add to my flies if that became necessary.
I fished the same place this weekend. I caught the first bowfin on an unscented fly. After that, I added scent to see if it helped. It certainly didn’t hurt. I ended up catching a total of 3 bowfin, and lost at least 5 others that shook free. Pretty awesome!
How many varieties now Dave, including the Bowfin. That critter has some weird little whiskers or nostrils (whatever they are). Nice size one Dave – good catch.
Thanks, fellas!
Yes, they have little extended nostrils…excellent sense of smell, apparently.
I’ve caught 37 species so far this year, 44 in just Missouri since moving here in mid-2020, and 75 species all-time on the fly rod. Not that I’m keeping track, or anything. Wait…yes, yes I am. :rolleyes:
If you go a little further south you will find those referred to as grinnell in Mississippi and Choupique (sounds like sho peck) in Louisiana. The right people can probably give you a recipe, I think they run it through the sausage mill and make fish ball like they do with gar.
That’s true! I’ve heard people use both of those terms.
Most folks do not eat them. I’ve read that their meat turns soft and mushy very quickly. I do not plan to eat any. I just want to enjoy catching them, and maybe catching them again when they are bigger.
