Bowfin

Body Type & Identification: A living fossil — the sole surviving member of an ancient fish family that dates back 150 million years. Cylindrical, heavily built body with a long dorsal fin running nearly the entire back. Olive-green with darker mottling. Males have a distinctive orange-yellow eyespot ringed in black at the base of the tail. Can breathe air using a modified swim bladder — survives in water too stagnant for other fish. Also called "Mudfish," "Dogfish," or "Grindle."

Preferred Water Temperature: 65°F–80°F. A warm-water species that tolerates very low oxygen conditions. Most active in warm months — aggressive surface feeders. Spawn in spring — males build nests and aggressively guard eggs and young. Will actively attack lures near spawning nests.

Habitat: Swamps, backwaters, vegetated lakes, and slow rivers throughout the eastern US and Great Lakes region. Found in the most heavily vegetated, oxygen-poor water that kills other fish. Common in Southern cypress swamps, Midwest river backwaters, and Great Lakes marshes. An apex predator in swamp and backwater ecosystems.

Best Lures: Large swimbaits produce explosive strikes. Topwater lures at dawn produce spectacular surface attacks. Large spinnerbaits work near vegetation. Large weedless spoons produce in heavy cover. They strike aggressively and fight very hard — an underrated sport fish.

Best Baits: Large live shiners are excellent. Live large sunfish produce big fish. Live frogs are outstanding near vegetation. Live large minnows work well. Wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader is recommended — their teeth are sharp.

Top 5 Destinations: Atchafalaya Basin LA, Okefenokee Swamp GA/FL, Lake Champlain VT/NY, Great Lakes marshes MI/OH, Dismal Swamp VA/NC.

A living fossil — the sole surviving member of an ancient fish family that dates back 150 million years. Cylindrical, heavily built body with a long dorsal fin running nearly the entire back. Olive-green with darker mottling. Males have a distinctive orange-yellow eyespot ringed in black at the base of the tail. Can breathe air using a modified swim bladder — survives in water too stagnant for other fish. Also called "Mudfish," "Dogfish," or "Grindle."

Swamps, backwaters, vegetated lakes, and slow rivers throughout the eastern US and Great Lakes region. Found in the most heavily vegetated, oxygen-poor water that kills other fish. Common in Southern cypress swamps, Midwest river backwaters, and Great Lakes marshes. An apex predator in swamp and backwater ecosystems.

65°F–80°F. A warm-water species that tolerates very low oxygen conditions. Most active in warm months — aggressive surface feeders. Spawn in spring — males build nests and aggressively guard eggs and young. Will actively attack lures near spawning nests.

Best Lures: Large swimbaits produce explosive strikes. Topwater lures at dawn produce spectacular surface attacks. Large spinnerbaits work near vegetation. Large weedless spoons produce in heavy cover. They strike aggressively and fight very hard — an underrated sport fish. Best Baits: Large live shiners are excellent. Live large sunfish produce big fish. Live frogs are outstanding near vegetation. Live large minnows work well. Wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader is recommended — their teeth are sharp.

1 fishing location where you can catch Bowfin

1 official record on file for Bowfin