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Bowfin?
Jul 29, 2009 18:33:26 GMT -5
Post by mab555 on Jul 29, 2009 18:33:26 GMT -5
Has anyone seen any schools of Bowfin flopping around anywhere. Got company coming to visit soon and thought it would be fun to take them fishing for them. They seem pretty easy to catch and pound for pound fight as hard as anything i've caught before. Had seen some around the creek mouth off of swanton beach, but that was during the LCI. Any help would be appreciated in steering me to them, as I haven't fished since the LCI (what a sin!!)
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Bowfin?
Jul 29, 2009 19:05:42 GMT -5
Post by fishfarmer on Jul 29, 2009 19:05:42 GMT -5
Are you going to be in a boat or canoe?
I've been targeting them with the fly rod my last few trips, putting in at "South Slang" Little Otter WMA off of Hawkins Rd in Ferrisburg. I've been canoing out of South Slang and getting up into East Slang of Little Otter, found a pile of them in a lily pad choked side channel. They are all up and down these creeks, but you may have to get deep in the weeds and fish the pockets to find them. Easier with a canoe or kayak. I have also found them just north of Lewis Creek in Town Farm Bay, where you could sight fish for them with a bigger boat.
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Bowfin?
Jul 29, 2009 19:36:10 GMT -5
Post by fishinmachine on Jul 29, 2009 19:36:10 GMT -5
they like chunks of lake trout innards and skin
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Bowfin?
Jul 29, 2009 19:44:56 GMT -5
Post by salmoneye on Jul 29, 2009 19:44:56 GMT -5
they like chunks of lake trout innards and skin Yeah they do! Or big 'Pike Bait' (from a legal bait dealer of course)...Keep your receipt!...Cut them in half, and suspend them on a 2/0 hook a foot below a kid's balloon for a 'bobber'... ;D
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Bowfin?
Jul 29, 2009 22:51:04 GMT -5
Post by mab555 on Jul 29, 2009 22:51:04 GMT -5
i'll be in my boat, probably on champlain in st. albans/swanton and as far as sandbar. Thanks for ideas on bait
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 5:20:39 GMT -5
Post by Raz on Jul 31, 2009 5:20:39 GMT -5
I talked to some folks fishing for bowfin yesterday. They were fishing from the right hand launch at Mallets Bay. They said they fish there often, fish pretty much only for Bowfin and are quite successful. Casting cut-bait, suspended under bobbers. Casting and fishing near the lilly pads. I hung around for a while but they didn't land any while I was there. Good luck.
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 6:45:52 GMT -5
Post by salmoneye on Jul 31, 2009 6:45:52 GMT -5
The daughter of the owner of the camp where I keep the boat usually has a rod out on the dock when she is there...We can all see the balloon, so it is 'attended'...She has brought in maybe a half dozen bowfin that I have seen in the last month...
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 8:06:53 GMT -5
Post by mab555 on Jul 31, 2009 8:06:53 GMT -5
malletts bay, now thats a thought. Never fished there before. I love to fish but my range is limited due to the fact that growing up we pretty much never left st. albans bay. Also, when I get a chance to fish, I don't usually have long due to my young busy family and my self employment ( who in the world told me this would bring me more freedom; oh that's right, me!) If I could pull it off though, I'd be out there probably every day. Thanks for the tip! Looks like it is going to be a beautiful day saturday. The last time I got out was a week ago for like 1 hr. on fairfield pond (close to home). Only a couple of small 20" or so northerns. Good fishing on that body of water though. Launch area is terrible though. But, I guess that keeps the non-local boaters away, and keeps the area more private. Can't blame 'em. I'll stop rambling now.
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 12:58:42 GMT -5
Post by Dinosaur454 (Dennis) on Jul 31, 2009 12:58:42 GMT -5
Mississquoi Bay should have bowfin. Its shallow and weedy just like they like it.
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 17:41:51 GMT -5
Post by mab555 on Jul 31, 2009 17:41:51 GMT -5
That was where I caught my first Bowfin a couple of years ago, while pike fishing. Totally wrecked a white spinnerbait. Started sightfishing for them once we saw them rolling They were everywhere at the mouth of the creek washout into the bay. It seemed like every time we threw shad or nightcrawlers near them we had one on. What a blast, but we ran out of bait. Biggest was seven pounds, but lost a couple much bigger ones and even had hooks bent straight. Then went to fairfield pond that eve with my brother and after little success and an hour till dark, bagged four bass and two northerns in about 15 min. at our last spot. Bass were all LM with a total weight of about 12lb. incl. one 5+ pounder.
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 18:43:29 GMT -5
Post by Raz on Jul 31, 2009 18:43:29 GMT -5
Where ever you decide, let us know how you do. If you can do photo's, we love them too!
Best of luck, have fun, and be safe.
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 20:58:18 GMT -5
Post by An Bradon Charters on Jul 31, 2009 20:58:18 GMT -5
Mabb, Coming from St Albans Just before the Sand bar Park there is a creek that comes out there. That place is is bow fin heaven. Sometimes you have to search a bit but they are there. I use pumpkinseed if fishing live bait. I also use anything WHITE. Jigs white on white spinner baits white etc. I have even nailed them on top water white Zara spooks. Problem with that was the big boys would literally crush my plastic lure and it became expensive ;D. Good luck. Capt. Tony www.anbradoncharters.com
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Bowfin?
Jul 31, 2009 21:27:40 GMT -5
Post by bassdude on Jul 31, 2009 21:27:40 GMT -5
I've caught a few in mill river. Any place there are bluegill, etc there will be Bowfin. The end of the river is were I have seen/caught most of them. You can walk up through a get a decent look around most of the river Try chatterbaits and buzzbaits. I always put on a trailer hook and a steel leader if I know I'm going to run into a few. bring your long nosed pliers and good luck!
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Post by mab555 on Aug 1, 2009 8:16:43 GMT -5
thanks for the info guys. someone else last night told me bluegill also. will learn how to post pics if i can.
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Bowfin?
Aug 1, 2009 15:12:43 GMT -5
Post by Raz on Aug 1, 2009 15:12:43 GMT -5
Looking forward to your report.
Again, good luck.
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