Jump to content

Recommended Posts

My daughter caught this off our dock. The fishes belly, and fins were neon green. Just curious if anyone knew why. We see them often this time of year, but this was the first time I had seen this.

post-141263-0-11982200-1467375017_thumb.jpg

Edited by mccoy13
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The kids are feeding them to many of those neon green night crawlers!! They have this bedding that turns night crawlers that fishes color, for real!! But I doubt that's the case. LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is your dock on Onondaga by any chance? Lol.

I caught my first bowfin last year in Florida, it put up a crazy fight, that must've been lots of fun for your daughter.

I'd like to start to target them but there isn't a ton of information (at least last time I checked) on targeting them. There's a small lake near my house that supposedly has a good population but I usually tend to go to otisco instead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is your dock on Onondaga by any chance? Lol.

I caught my first bowfin last year in Florida, it put up a crazy fight, that must've been lots of fun for your daughter.

I'd like to start to target them but there isn't a ton of information (at least last time I checked) on targeting them. There's a small lake near my house that supposedly has a good population but I usually tend to go to otisco instead.

go to Braddock bay and throw top water baits in the morning and evening and then spinner baits through the mid day. You will catch all you want. They do put up a crazy fight. They can easily jump 2 to 3 feet out of the water and often do
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're in a shallow bay on the St Lawrence river. From what I have seen they tend to lay low in the weeds during the day then come out during low light. We see them off the dock semi regularly, then it's a race to get a pole from the house. The kids love it. If you can put a jig or worm right in front of them they snap at it out of aggression. It pretty wild to see up close. Then they fight like crazy up close. Here is a pic from when I would still pick them up.1eae9372a5abb8d5e61d04afa691e57b.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

i used to get them in the spring that color.  I have caught them on lots of different rigs.  they are usually by catch when targeting other fish.  they are predators but are opportunistic.  if targeting them live bait is a good bet or any fish immitations.  rubber worms can work as well as real worms but I have gotten more on live bait or fish imitations.  

 

The few times I have targeted them have been in areas where you can see them surfacing or crusing looking for easy meals.  when i find an area like this everything else stops and I fish for these.  get some live bluegill in the 4 inch range larger or smaller depending on the size of the bowfin.  this works best off of docks or shore or outriggers.  put a steel leader on with a small trebil hook.  hook the bluegill in the back and set it so it dangles half in half out of the water.  set it on a release and leave your bail open.  the bowfin will come up to check it out and the blugill will splah around trying to get away.  the bowfin once it decides to eat will not give up untill it has its food.  you can often watch this play out and there is much splashing.  once the bait is taken grap the rod close the bail tighten and yank the crap out of it there mouths are hard.  the fight is spectacular and there is usually jumping.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

post-144635-0-47363500-1473292695_thumb.jpg

 

here is a 9lb one from the trip where I first trialed and fell in love with this technique.  my wife caught this one.  I was unable to get out on the boat much this week and these were feeding in the bay at the camp so as it turned out one of the best trips ever

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...