SNAKEHEAD!!!!!
Juuust kiddin. (that's what everyone panics and believe they have, when they see one of those). Def a Bowfin AKA dogfish.

 

That's a dogfish or more commonly known as a bowfin. Kill that thing. They are no good for the system. And be careful you don't get bit/scraped by it cuz they cause a pretty bad infection.
I've seen those fish left on shore and watched them walk back into the water. Seriously. At least 15 yards.

Ditto. And I like the pic with the sideways hat! Gangsta!

 

That pic is priceless. I would of loved to have been in the boat to see your reaction to that one!

 

Matt when he hit under pier and the intial look at fish i thought i hooked the biggest bass in Geneva

 

Matt when he hit under pier and the intial look at fish i thought i hooked the biggest bass in Geneva

Those things fight!! I think they're really cool, prehistoric.

 

I thought that the last ice age killed them off...or asteroids...or the cheddar blight of 1924. Regardless, they look evil, and should be scorned.

 

Definitely a bowfin, but killing them is terrible advice. Bowfin are a native species to many Wisconsin waters and have been around longer than almost any other species there. They, like all other native species, are a crucial component to the eco system on that lake and killing them just to kill them is a pretty ignorant move. Besides, as you discovered, they are an amazing fighting fish that will readily hit lures like any prized game fish. They are a blast on top water.

There is a ton of information out there on the web about bowfin and other native Wisconsin species. Here is an article from the WDNR about some native species of fish with declining numbers and the challenge that poses to the eco system.

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2 ... /shore.htm

 

Definitely a bowfin, but killing them is terrible advice. Bowfin are a native species to many Wisconsin waters and have been around longer than almost any other species there. They, like all other native species, are a crucial component to the eco system on that lake and killing them just to kill them is a pretty ignorant move. Besides, as you discovered, they are an amazing fighting fish that will readily hit lures like any prized game fish. They are a blast on top water.

There is a ton of information out there on the web about bowfin and other native Wisconsin species. Here is an article from the WDNR about some native species of fish with declining numbers and the challenge that poses to the eco system.

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2 ... /shore.htm

:clap: agreed

 

Definitely a bowfin, but killing them is terrible advice. Bowfin are a native species to many Wisconsin waters and have been around longer than almost any other species there. They, like all other native species, are a crucial component to the eco system on that lake and killing them just to kill them is a pretty ignorant move. Besides, as you discovered, they are an amazing fighting fish that will readily hit lures like any prized game fish. They are a blast on top water.

There is a ton of information out there on the web about bowfin and other native Wisconsin species. Here is an article from the WDNR about some native species of fish with declining numbers and the challenge that poses to the eco system.

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2 ... /shore.htm

:clap: agreed

x3

Bowfin have been here longer then most other things and do just fine in a balanced ecosystem. I know a pond that is mostly bowfin and larger than average largemouth bass, they do fine together.

 

I have only caught a few up at Lauderdale Lakes, but loved the fight. The first one I caught cut the heck out of my finger, but luckily I lived 8)

 

He did give quite a fight Larry and i thought we were on that river monster show for a minute Honest to good 8or9 years ago i was fishing on lake Elizabeth in twin lakes and a guy caught a 2 foot alligator........truth.

 

Definitely a bowfin, but killing them is terrible advice. Bowfin are a native species to many Wisconsin waters and have been around longer than almost any other species there. They, like all other native species, are a crucial component to the eco system on that lake and killing them just to kill them is a pretty ignorant move. Besides, as you discovered, they are an amazing fighting fish that will readily hit lures like any prized game fish. They are a blast on top water.

There is a ton of information out there on the web about bowfin and other native Wisconsin species. Here is an article from the WDNR about some native species of fish with declining numbers and the challenge that poses to the eco system.

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2 ... /shore.htm

x4

Get the facts before you sentence a productive member of the ecosystem to death by idiocy.

 

Definitely a bowfin, but killing them is terrible advice. Bowfin are a native species to many Wisconsin waters and have been around longer than almost any other species there. They, like all other native species, are a crucial component to the eco system on that lake and killing them just to kill them is a pretty ignorant move. Besides, as you discovered, they are an amazing fighting fish that will readily hit lures like any prized game fish. They are a blast on top water.

There is a ton of information out there on the web about bowfin and other native Wisconsin species. Here is an article from the WDNR about some native species of fish with declining numbers and the challenge that poses to the eco system.

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2 ... /shore.htm

X4

I've actually been on the hunt for one. Would love to catch one

 

they are a cool looking fish - still have yet to catch one, someday soon.

 

I always liked the ocelus spot on their tails. Similar to oscars or peacock bass in that regard.

Through the LL threads I remember the mention of a few being caught over the years on G. Same thing with the white bass.

 

Here are is some support for the position that they are an important part of the balanced ecosystem. 30 to 40 years ago, the opinions of these fish was that they competed with the ever popular bass and that they should be eliminated so that bass fishing would be better, but so what? At one point in time it was considered a good idea to go out and destroy alligator gar and paddle fish but that attitude has changed now that those species were decimated. Eventually, smart human beings realized that previous thoughts were wrong about things and figured out that the species needs to be protected. As a matter of fact, in the early 1990's, biologists realized that the decimation of this species was not a good idea and they began to be appreciated for their value and balance to the ecosystem.

Also, the assumption myth that they are crazy fish that eat absolutely everything in sight was an incorrect statement. They eat very little, if any, vegetation and instead eat crayfish, frogs, and other forage species. Here are a link showing the results of dietary studies of the bowfin
http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tbonner/txfishes/amia calva.htm - look in the biology section for the food intakes

Here is a link that talks about diet as well as the importance of the bowfin to stop other species from stunted growth
http://edocs.dlis.state.fl.us/fldocs/fwcc/fisheries/cityfisher/CITFSH6.pdf

Here is a link that mentions that bowfin, contrary to the arguments made in this thread, do not have a negative impact on other fish in that particular ecosystem
http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/ifr/ifrlibra/Status/waterbody/00-14.htm

http://www.cnrhome.uidaho.edu/docum...chia and Wahl Fifty years fish mgmt Iowa Little Wall Lake.pdf?pid=103297&doc=1 - page 13 talks about the value of bowfin and a balanced system vs a game fish focus like many people seem to have.

While it may be hard to understand for some, people do learn as time goes on. Old prejudices need to be put aside and people need to keep up to date on things since things do change. Heck, at one time, it was "a known fact" that witches were among us and that they needed to be burned at the stake!! That attitude was obviously quite wrong and we need to not have that attitude about a fish that was here long before us. Trying to play god in an ecosystem for the sake of making a prime sport fishery is very unethical - especially on a body of water that was made by nature and not man. If a person, or group of people, want to do that on a man made lake, then that's their prerogative.

 

For anyone insterested, there is a group of bowfin enthusiasts who have website called http://www.bowfinanglers.com. If you got to http://www.bowfinanglers.com/myths.html you will find a list of common myths about these fish.

 

...and I encourage everyone to do their own research and draw conclusions from there as I am confident that most who do will be rewarded with a better knowledge of these fish and a new appreciation for them.

I generally find that critical thinking and research is a much better way to learn about something than listening to some guy on an internet forum. Posting a link to the bowfin site isn't narrow minded - it's simply another possible source for others.

 

nicee bowfin. lucky, i want to catch one :mrgreen:

 

Oh, and if it helps, here is a link from the Wisconsin DNR that specifically talks about a massive reduction in native species on Lake Geneva. It discusses how the primary source of this destruction is man...not other native species like the bowfin. The bowfin is one of only 17 surviving native species compared to 29 species that was around in the 70's.

I think the end of the article wraps it up rather well..."Future generations are being robbed of a really interesting feature of lakes - their biodiversity."

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2005/feb05/shore.htm

 

If i get another 1 of these creatures i will not post a pic, dint mean to start a war between anyone,hope you guys can let it go.

 

Not a war...just two different opinions about this fish

 

They eat everything. Plants, crayfish, bass, walleye, panfish, frogs, small birds, insects and even their own young. I've opened up enough of them to know.
Other species will take over if these creatures are ever eradicated. Musky and catfish keep stunting in balance just as well.
Region specific articles would better argue your point. Dietary needs and behavior vary from region to region.
It's my right to gut every one of these fish I catch and I will continue to do so and encourage others to do the same until the law tells me otherwise. I've seen and experienced the devastation a booming population of these things can have and to me and it's not worth it.

Posting those bowfin websites is pretty narrow minded. Might as well hyperlink PETA too.

Do you know anything about Evolution? The fish is here for a reason, it evolved here, it has a place in our watersheds and lakes. The common carp is more of a threat to your fisheries than the Bowfin. You wanna know what else eats everything as well? BASS, yet they live side by side. Funny thing is you find Bowfin in Wisconsin waters everywhere and they're lakes and rivers are in a much better state of health than ours, and they do alot more in depth species studies and everything. Your assumptions and statements are based on nothing more than mere sport fishing mythology. There is no such thing as a "trash fish" The only "trash fish" that need to be removed from waters are invasive species.

 

Bass eat ducks, birds, mice, bluegill, frogs, Northern Pike fry, minnows and even other bass...
Just saying...

 

Here's the thing, nature was in complete balance until man came along and fucked things up, and you sir are a prime example of that.