papajoe222 Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 So I visit this small deep lake in Indiana to target these ugly things because of their fight/size. They remind me of smallmouth when it comes to the fight they give you compared to the size and the ones in this particular lake average 10lb. The general size of bass and crappie is on the generous side vs. their length. My largest bass there was only 19in., but weighed just under five pounds. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else targets these prehistoric things or if anyone believes that they will cross stretches of land to reach habitable water? Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted March 2, 2015 Super User Posted March 2, 2015 Down south they are called mud fish. They fight great at the beginning making you think you have a quality largemouth until you see them boat side and then they start their death roll similar to a catfish. I personally hate all trash fish that imitate gamefish until you find otherwise. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted March 2, 2015 Global Moderator Posted March 2, 2015 Never caught one, mainly because they don't live anywhere in KS. Quote
dave Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 Bowfin, Mudfish, Grinnel... We target them in the Dragon Run Swamp in southern VA. We and our customers are from Maryland and can catch bass anytime. They want bowfin bad. I have never had many do the the death roll. Ours fight all the way then, flop (and bleed) around the boat while we try to get a hold of them. I don't think there is anything not to like about a fish that is not afraid of you or your bait. We've had them follow to the boat and just sit at the boat. Dangle the spinnerbait in front and BAM!. On a good day, we can catch them on spinnerbaits, jigs, flukes, poppers, just name it. All on the same stretch of cover/shore. Again, what's not to like. 2 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted March 2, 2015 Super User Posted March 2, 2015 I dont target them but catch them occasionally . Jig and pig and plastic worms mainly , never have caught one on a top water . Heres one I caught while smallmouth fishing. 1 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted March 2, 2015 Super User Posted March 2, 2015 When targeting LMB in Florida w/ golden shiners, the mud fish & Gator gars would make me wanna file for bankruptcy!, but hey, if you enjoy catching them, that's all that matters! 1 Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted March 3, 2015 Super User Posted March 3, 2015 I love targeting them! Never seen them sprout legs and walk but they will travel through VERY shallow water. Small ones get stuck in the dirt road ditches around here all the time when it gets a little flooded. Even big ones will sit in a foot of water. 2 Quote
Blaker87 Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 Papajoe, what lake were you fishing in indiana? I'm from east central Indiana and have never come across these fish or heard of them being caught here. I'd like to check them out. Anything on the end of my line makes me happy. Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted March 3, 2015 Super User Posted March 3, 2015 They taste great too. Seriously? Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted March 4, 2015 Super User Posted March 4, 2015 Seriously? People eat them around here too, supposedly their eggs are good... Quote
Thornback Posted March 4, 2015 Posted March 4, 2015 I sometimes catch a mudfish here in Florida. I get 'em up to the boat and kill 'em. Then I remove the hook and check my line for nicks. I understand they have sharp teeth and sometimes they cut my line. I hear they will eat small bass and bass eggs which is not allowed around here. 1 Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted March 4, 2015 Super User Posted March 4, 2015 I get 'em up to the boat and kill 'em. That's a shame... 3 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 4, 2015 Super User Posted March 4, 2015 Big bass eat small bass - you kill those two? 3 Quote
0119 Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Killing mudfish and gar is very common in Fl. Sad really, I've always gotten a better fight from them than bass. I know a few cracker boys who shoot every cormorant they see as it's traditionally thought they along with gar kill bass fry and eggs.I haven't come across it in awhile but there was a forum all about catching gar mudfish and buffalo. I think it was called the gar forum. 2 Quote
atcoha Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I catch them pretty often in Alabama, in the creeks/runoffs from the rivers. They are fun to catch, I throw them back...if they don't break me off first. Quote
John G Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 My first top water fish was a Mudfish. Heck, I haven't caught a Mudfish since I caught this one and that sucks because they are fun to catch AND release. 2 Quote
blackmax135 Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 If anyone wants to catch some of these bad boys in huge numbers let me know. They have taken over just about every creek and lake around here. I don't eat them but I give them to neady family's I never throw them back. When it gets to the point you go fishing in your local waters to catch some bream, catfish, and bass and all you can do is pull in mudfish something needs to change. If it's rare to catch one in your area then yea throw it back. They are like wild hogs once they take over, everything else starts to just disappear it seams like. Quote
John G Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 If anyone wants to catch some of these bad boys in huge numbers let me know. They have taken over just about every creek and lake around here. I don't eat them but I give them to neady family's I never throw them back. When it gets to the point you go fishing in your local waters to catch some bream, catfish, and bass and all you can do is pull in mudfish something needs to change. If it's rare to catch one in your area then yea throw it back. They are like wild hogs once they take over, everything else starts to just disappear it seams like. Where are you located? Quote
blackmax135 Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Lowcountry of south carolina Where are you located? Quote
John G Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Lowcountry of south carolina A little bit too far for me to travel with my schedule. LOL Quote
blackmax135 Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 A little bit too far for me to travel with my schedule. LOL Yea florida is a good driver. Quote
BannedForSpamming-1234555 Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 I have a hard time getting a good hookset on these guys because their skull is all bone. 2 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted March 9, 2015 Super User Posted March 9, 2015 I love catching them and am itching to get one on a fly rod. Around here they are not prevalent so it isn't an everyday occurrence but i catch 3-5 a year when fishing for bass. My last one i caught completely destroyed a wake bait too. They are awesome fish and should be enjoyed for the prehistoric fish that they are and not destroyed. 4 Quote
murphy13 Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 I never understood why people kill these fish thinking that they "take over" or "kill off bass fry and eggs." They have been part of the ecosystem way longer than bass have in most places(especially the swamps)! 3 Quote
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