Bowfin

[Beamer2]

Was fishing Saturday afternoon on Oneida lake in NY. It was about 730 and I was fishing real shallow water, about 2 to 3 feet. I was fishing some lily pads and reed grass with a SPRO frog. had a couple hits but nothing to write home about. On one cast as I was just about to reel it into the boat I see a shadow under it. So I left it for a minute and then twitched it a few times. I was getting closer and I first just thought it was an average size LM or SM. When it got closer the mouth looked different and the profile looked different as well, but I couldn't get a good look. Then it got a little spooked and I got a good look at it and sure enough it was a bowfin. I got pretty excited and screamed to my wife, that was a bowfin, she could care less however, lol. I have only seen them in pictures, and at aquariums and read about them in school (studied fisheries in college), but never caught one. So I was pretty excited and didn't realize that Oneida had a bowfin population. Just wish I caught it so I could have had a really good look. Anyways pretty cool little story that I wanted to share with you guys. Not a bass but neat none the less.