Bowfin/Smallmouth

[TUnamas]

Yesterday was Day 2 of the heat wave. I started the morning n the office. At Noon I shifted to the Charlotte marina My plan was to catch some panfish for Bowfin bait and just hang out on the docks. It was weird. I couldn't find bait under the docks. Using a small rubber jig, I caught 4 smallmouth bass between 2.5 and 4 pounds in the next hour, but no perch. I couldn't cut the bass for bait, so I kept fishing. Finally I caught a yellow perch that was about 11 inches. I chunked it, and the bowfin are on the feed. The bigger females are in the shallows, but even the smaller males still hold their turquoise spawning colors. For 2 hours it was almost a fish a cast. Biggest was 13l.5 on my Boga, and all were over 9. Sweaty afternoon. I don't know why the perch were so difficult and why the smallmouth are still around. Water temps?

[Reelax]

Oh that sounds Like such a blast. The slashes, splashes and teeth flailing all over musta been a fun afternoon.

[SteelyJoe]

TUnamas

If you don't mind sharing, what's your set up when targeting Bowfin? Would 20-30lb leader, 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook, 2"x2"ish cut bait on a bobber be in the ball park?

[TUnamas]

Bingo! I use braid as a mainline to my leader. I use 3 -4 feet of 25 lb Seaguar fluoro as a leader, and I put the float at the connection. I've struggled with hook choice. Sometimes I will opt for a treble, but its weedy so this doesn't usually go well. A 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook is great. I can hide it in the chunk bait, with a good hook up. Often I'll add a split shot to help get the bait down. White perch seems to work better than yellows, but yellows are what I've been catching for bait lately. Tails work best, but chunks work well too. When they are in the shallows, like they are now, it seems they'll hit everything. Its a great way to spend time mucking around heh marina docks with friends while catching big fish!

[Crayfish]

What a great way to spend a summer afternoon! Watching bobbers and catching big, toothy fish!

My son and I found a swamp off Champlain that we could just barely pole my 14' boat into when the water was high enough. It was a bluegill breeding ground, but the best part was the bowfin hanging around in there. I would slowly push the boat around with an oar while my son stood in the bow and watched for the wiggling fins of a bowfin. Sometimes it was hard to figure out which end was which, but when he found their face he'd dangle that jig in front of their nose and hang on! It was amazing to watch how fast they could strike and how much power they had when they found out they were hooked. We caught quite a few doing that, including some beasts, but haven't been back in quite a few years now. I miss my fishing partner! (he's out in Oregon)

[SteelyJoe]

Good info, thanks.

[The River Rat]

Yeah that sounds like a blast Scott, can't wait to fish for them with you one of these days! Look forward to the next tour up but this is when I start scouting for this year's bucks to chase, already getting excited for the NH archery opener in Sept. Till we ride again keep on em Scotty

[TUnamas]

River Rat - Wolverine - Yes, sometimes i slumlord for big warm water fish! As much as I love chasing salmon. dock time is also good and there's nothing like watching a bobber go down with big toothy critters!

[The River Rat]

Love it, slum beasts!

[striper192001]

LOVE..................bobber fishn