Bowfin / Dog Fish

[Bass Slayer 72]

While fishing with my son, we noticed this weird fish that at first we thought was a snakehead. It’s dorsal fin was connected all the way around the back end to the bottom and it moved like a eel. I could see a mark on the back top of its fin that looked like a bull’s-eye. My son was flipin’ a worm and he became obsessed with this big fish that didn’t seem to mind us being so close, he kept flipping the bait close to him and the without any warning the fish took the worm, he fought the fish for 5 mins or so and when we got him in the boat I still didn’t know what the heck it was. While loading up the boat at the dock, some other anglers told us it was a dog fish. I had never really seen one, but was told as a child that a dog fish could eat me if I went out to far. The guys at the boat launch said they kill ducks and baby swans.

My son wants to catch more of these weird fish, my questions is does anyone have any tips or info on these? Is there a better way than the worm? Thanks in advance for the info, I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

[NoBassPro]

I think livebait, pike sized minnows in particular, might be more effective. I know I've caught a few on bass lures and quite a few on pike minnows, anyway. Beyond that, they've all come out of slow deep holes in rivers or weedy areas of lakes if that helps.

[Dwight Hottle]

I can tell you they love spinner baits. Just ask any of the florida guys.

[irnwrkr]

We use to fish for em with worms, leeches, or chicken livers. They eat about the same stuff as a catfish. I used 50 lb braid, with a med. heavy rod. A lot of fun to catch. Make sure you take pliers, they will get ya!

[MT2]

We get alot of them localy Ive caught most of mine off rooster tails and 3 hook twist worm ala bass assasins, we have a local guy here that make them so turn so tight its just sick. Biggest one I caught was about well over 10# on a flipping jig.

[clayton86]

I haven't caught one in probably 10 years but last ones I caught came on crawfish I had caught they have blue tongues at lest the ones I was catching did I got Polaroids of it some where or my mom does.

[mr.mallard]

colorado bladed spinnerbaits in firetiger. i know from experience. not that i intended to catch these things :mad10:

[Lund Explorer]

Nice Dog!

If that kid wants to catch dogs, just fish shallow weedy areas. The channels on the Martiny Chain are absolutely polluted with those things. The coves on Lake Mitchell in Cadillac and Upper Hamlin in Ludington are great places to look for them too. Gawdy spinnerbaits and big soft plastics seem to catch the most for me (not like I target them), but if you aren't fishing heavy line expect a lot of bite offs. Have you seen all the teeth those things have?

[00 mod]

We catch them regularly on white colorado blade spinner baits. More than we want to catch. We call the Grennel in the south.

Jeff

[Gatorbassman]

I catch them on cut bait. Much like how you fish for catfish. I use bluegill, shad or shiner.

[LgMouthGambler]

We call those mudfish. Catch some bream and cut them up. Put them on a hook with a sinker for the bottom.

[Bass Slayer 72]

Thanks for the advice and info, I'll pass it on to him. He only had 8 lbs test on his pole when he caught that, and yes I've seen the teeth in that thing, that's why he had that glove on and held it through the gills.... I've only seen these things on McLaren Lake north of Hesperia so that's where I'll take him if he wants to try for more. The other day a guy was getting into the water with a full SCUBA suit and tank on he had a spear gun and said he was going to hunt Bowfins.. I never knew they got that big...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Bowfin remain active in the dog days of August when bass fishing can be tough. They have loyal followers just as carp and other lesser talked about species. http://www.bowfinanglers.com/index.html