Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 43

Some people confuse Bowfins with the invasive
Northern Snakehead, which has scales on the top of its
head and an extended anal fin, or the native Burbot,
which has small scales on a flattened head, two dorsal fins
and an extended anal fin. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission (PFBC) posts an identification poster at
prime Bowfin waterways.

Expanding range and
increasing population

Today sites known for good numbers of Bowfin include
Geneva Marsh and Sugar Lake, Crawford County; and
LeBoeuf Lake, Edinboro Lake and Presque Isle Bay, Erie
County. These fish prefer vegetated sloughs, lowland
rivers and lakes, swamps, and backwater areas. Frequently
caught throughout the French Creek watershed in
northwestern Pennsylvania, Bowfins have, in recent
years, also shown up in Pymatuning Reservoir, Crawford
County, Shenango River and Shenango River Lake.
Bowfins have also been documented in the Allegheny,
Monongahela and Ohio rivers.

Until 2016, Pennsylvania classified Bowfins as a
"Candidate Species," meaning that its numbers were
below levels to assure continued natural reproduction in
watersheds. Doug Fischer, PFBC's Nongame Fisheries
Biologist, describes the new Pennsylvania classification of
Bowfins as panfish. "It is no longer treated as threatened or
even a candidate species. We delisted them due to apparent
population security in the Commonwealth. Like sunfish,
carp and other panfish, Bowfins can be legally harvested
now, with no minimum length required. Bowfins are
voracious piscivores, so these fish will eat almost any kind
of other fish." Besides fish, Bowfins eat crayfish, frogs,
mollusks and aquatic insects.
Unfortunately, some people have a mistaken belief that
Bowfins impair other fish species. "Sometimes people
unnecessarily kill Bowfins. Bowfins have a reputation
of eating Walleye fry, but really, these are mainly good
scavengers that prefer already dead meat. People should
treat it like other fish-release it promptly if you do
not want to harvest it. Bowfins bite well and fight well
and should be respected more," said Tim Wilson, PFBC
Fisheries Biologist.

photo-Tim Wilson

Tips for anglers

Freeman Johns with a Bowfin caught at Geneva Marsh,
Crawford County.
www.fishandboat.com 		

How large do Bowfins grow in Pennsylvania? The PFBC
biologists using trap nets captured live specimens as long
as 28 inches from Conneaut Lake, Crawford County, in
2008 and 31 inches from Presque Isle Bay in 2012. The
current world record Bowfin was caught in 1980 in South
Carolina, weighing 211/2 pounds.
When Darl Black or I catch Bowfins, those catches are
incidental catches in shallow water. We have caught these
fish on jigs, flukes and other soft plastics.
Wilson also pursues Bowfins as a recreational angler
in Pennsylvania and New York. "I feel the best technique
is sight-fishing. Bowfins like to burrow into weeds. Use
your electric motor to move your boat slowly along the
emergent weeds. Watch for moving weeds. Bowfins do not
move far, so cast to the jiggling weeds," said Wilson. He
continues, "Use the same types of lures as you would for
bass such as soft stick worms. Drop it in, and a Bowfin will
pick it up almost every time. Your hooks must be sharp.
Even then, you may only land about half, because Bowfins
have tough mouths. I personally avoid using treble hooks,
because Bowfins roll when in a net. My second favorite
technique for Bowfin fishing is to use recently dead bait
such as a piece of Bluegill or a whole dead shiner. Cast it,
let it settle to the bottom and wait," said Wilson.
Use a net when landing these toothy fish. Pliers are
recommended for unhooking fish. Wilson uses an
inexpensive plastic jaw clamp, which he indicates makes
it easier and safer to unhook, photograph and release a
Bowfin, while also being best for the fish. If attempting to
handle a Bowfin without such tools, squeeze this tough,
lively fish behind its head.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2019

43
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019
