<Back to Blog Homepage
Just finished shooting a challenging Bowfin TV show on Lake Simcoe, ON.
James Beaupre & I had a chance to finish off the Bowfin TV show we started shooting last Fri., on Lake Simcoe, ON. Again we had a tough time hooking and keeping trophy Bowfin on our lines. Their mouths are so hard and they roll in the line so fast that it’s hard to keep the hooks in them. We ended up landing two fish out of five, by trying to net them as fast as we could and even than, both fish dropped the hooks once they were in the net. Man, are they tough to land on artificials!! They are definitely one of the toughest fish to sight in thick weeds, to make a gentle presentation in front of them, and to set the hook hard enough to drive the barb through their bony mouth, and than you have to keep them on while they go wild underwater trying to get off. Trying to see them is half the challenge. They move slowly and make very little movement, often settling into the thick weeds with only a few inches of their tail or head showing. Than you have to figure out where toss your lure and gently jig it in front of them without spooking them. We found that 4 & 5 inch
TriggerX soft-plastics (especially the crawfish patterns), worked well using a XXStrong 5/0 worm hook and 3/16 oz. bullet sinker all rigged Texas-rig with the hook exposed. As far as rods and reels go, we used some of the heaviest baitcasting and spinning outfits loaded with 50 lb. braid. The name of the game to hook these bony-mouthed fish is stiff rod, no stretch line, sharp XX-strong hooks and the hardest hook set you can muster! If you are up to the challenge, you should definitely look for them in the shallows and try your luck at landing one….it will be well worth it.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 7:55 pm and is filed under Italo's Blog.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
James Beaupre & I had a chance to finish off the Bowfin TV show we started shooting last Fri., on Lake Simcoe, ON. Again we had a tough time hooking and keeping trophy Bowfin on our lines. Their mouths are so hard and they roll in the line so fast that it’s hard to keep the hooks in them. We ended up landing two fish out of five, by trying to net them as fast as we could and even than, both fish dropped the hooks once they were in the net. Man, are they tough to land on artificials!! They are definitely one of the toughest fish to sight in thick weeds, to make a gentle presentation in front of them, and to set the hook hard enough to drive the barb through their bony mouth, and than you have to keep them on while they go wild underwater trying to get off. Trying to see them is half the challenge. They move slowly and make very little movement, often settling into the thick weeds with only a few inches of their tail or head showing. Than you have to figure out where toss your lure and gently jig it in front of them without spooking them. We found that 4 & 5 inch TriggerX soft-plastics (especially the crawfish patterns), worked well using a XXStrong 5/0 worm hook and 3/16 oz. bullet sinker all rigged Texas-rig with the hook exposed. As far as rods and reels go, we used some of the heaviest baitcasting and spinning outfits loaded with 50 lb. braid. The name of the game to hook these bony-mouthed fish is stiff rod, no stretch line, sharp XX-strong hooks and the hardest hook set you can muster! If you are up to the challenge, you should definitely look for them in the shallows and try your luck at landing one….it will be well worth it.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Not a bad size for Bowfins…
Had my sister and brother-in-law down from the East Coast about a month ago and we were doing a C&R fishing day in the town of Gananaque, ON.
We were about to call it a day after catching a few 4 lb LrgMouth Bass’ and few pikes when my sisters rod began to do a 180° dive. We had thought this was the mother of all bass, but after a 10 minute battle we tore through the weeds the fish had buried itself into and to our eyes was a 27″ 9lb 11oz Bowfin.
A really interesting fish and some really call it a rare catch if you do not hunt for them. Was a great treat to end her vacation to Ontario from the East Coast.
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:07 am
Hi Michael…Sounds like it was a highlight of your fishing. Up until we did the Bowfin TV show I had only caught them incidentally fishing for other fish, especially largemouth bass & in bass tournaments. We would think the same thing, rod would bend, we would set the hook and think we had the big-bass of the tournament only to be disappointed shortly afterward and realizing it was a Bowfin. Sight-casting to them was very challenging and fun. Have a great summer….God bless you, Italo
August 1st, 2010 at 12:12 am
Thanks for doing a show on my favourite freshwater fish the bowfin.
Great fighters…they remember the smell and look of the bait or lure you caught them on..once
fooled they are never caught on the same bait twice…the ones i have caught visit me as i fish for other fish like bass or pike…often just sitting and watching…you target them and they swim off…they learn the game and do not forget. In 2010 i have landed 18 on 10 lb powerpro
line and 3 on 8 lb seager flourocarbon line. This year I have had 126 bowfin on line and only landed 22. I sight fish from shore and get out 1 day a week.
I fish the Toronto Islands exclusively. Next year …April, May and June i would be happy if you would like to join me for a day of bowfin fishing…i’ll cover your island ferry costs and bring lunch as i hear bowfin do not make a good shore lunch. email me if your interested.
August 1st, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Hi David…You are welcome. I agree with you that they are an awesome fish to hunt down and try and catch. I would be very interested in fishing bowfin with you in the Toronto Islands. When we get closer, please email me at, webmaster@canadian-sportfishing.com , to my attention….God bless you, Italo