Bowfin fishing
Amia calva. Long, olive-green, nearly cylindrical body with a single long dorsal fin running from mid-back to near the tail.
Bowfin fishing uses a topwater frog or live minnow on 35 to 40 lb line, during the day and at night. Bowfin do not appear in any state's stocking data this site tracks.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 23, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Day and Night
- Line
- 35–40 lb
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 0 states
Identification
- Long, olive-green, nearly cylindrical body with a single long dorsal fin running from mid-back to near the tail.
- Often mistaken for the invasive snakehead: bowfin has a short anal fin (under half the dorsal fin's length) and a large, rounded head.
- Males show a black eyespot ringed in orange or yellow at the base of the tail.
- Scaleless, bony head contrasts with a body covered in smooth, overlapping scales.
- Most adults run 15 to 27 inches and 1 to 5 lbs, though bowfin can reach up to 19 lbs.
Sources: in.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , myfwc.com, accessed September 23, 2026
Top lures
Slow-rolled or jigged through thick weeds and grass lines as a search bait; Missouri DNR lists it as a proven producer.
Fished around woody cover and vegetation; also a proven bowfin producer per Missouri's Department of Conservation.
Sources: mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , boundless-pursuit.com, accessed September 23, 2026 , fishingbooker.com, accessed September 23, 2026
Top baits
Fished on bottom or under a bobber near woody cover or vegetation; bluegill heads, crayfish, and worms all work.
Sources: in.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , fishingbooker.com, accessed September 23, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 35–40 lb
- Rod power
Depth by season
Spring
Moves onto shallow, weedy flats as water reaches the low to mid 60s F to prepare for the spawn.
Summer
Holds along shallow grass margins in early and low light; larger females often shift to deeper, thicker weed beds by midday.
Fall
–
Sources: boundless-pursuit.com, accessed September 23, 2026
Stocked behavior
Bowfin do not appear in any state's stocking data this site tracks. Indiana's Division of Fish and Wildlife calls bowfin "a native, ancient fish" that is "not managed by the state," and Virginia's DWR likewise describes it as native to the state's coastal plain waters rather than a stocked species.
Sources: in.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 23, 2026
Common mistakes
- A sturdy rod is key to driving a strong hookset through the bony structure of a bowfin's mouth.
- Retrieving too fast; bowfin need a moment to react before striking, so a quick steady retrieve often pulls a lure past them.
- Bowfin have scores of sharp teeth and live in and around heavy vegetation and cover.
Where it's stocked
No stocking events recorded for Bowfin yet.
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 13 lb. 8 oz. | Chase Soptelean | Yanty Creek, Monroe Co. | 2021 |
| Virginia | 16 lbs. 8 oz. | John Plyler, Jr. | Lake Cahoon | 2004 |
| Wisconsin | 13 lbs. 1 oz. | – | Willow Flowage, Oneida County | 1980 |
Common questions
What lures work for Bowfin?
Topwater frog, a soft plastic. Chatterbait or spinnerbait, a spinner: Slow-rolled or jigged through thick weeds and grass lines as a search bait; Missouri DNR lists it as a proven producer. Crankbait, a crankbait: Fished around woody cover and vegetation; also a proven bowfin producer per Missouri's Department of Conservation. Soft plastic worm or craw, a soft plastic.
What bait works for Bowfin?
Live minnow, crayfish, or nightcrawler: Fished on bottom or under a bobber near woody cover or vegetation; bluegill heads, crayfish, and worms all work. Cut bait.
Where do Bowfin hold?
Spring: Moves onto shallow, weedy flats as water reaches the low to mid 60s F to prepare for the spawn. Summer: Holds along shallow grass margins in early and low light; larger females often shift to deeper, thicker weed beds by midday.
How big do Bowfin get?
The New York record is 13 lb. 8 oz. from Yanty Creek, Monroe Co. in 2021. The Virginia record is 16 lbs. 8 oz. from Lake Cahoon in 2004. The Wisconsin record is 13 lbs. 1 oz. from Willow Flowage, Oneida County in 1980.