Bowfin

SPECIES INFORMATION

Amia Culva, Linnaeus, 1766
These are native species of North America and are found in large numbers in the eastern part of US. These are stocked in large numbers in the Scoville’s reservoir in Wolcott which is just 3.5 kilometers from Connecticut. Usually, people fly from New York, which is 125 Km away to Connecticut and take buses to reach this place. Often bubble float typed boats are used for fishing here.

Types of fish that can be found
Anglers can easily see these in twelve-mile creek lake in southwest Iowa. This lake is located 70 miles from Des Moines and can be reached in two hours while going by car.

Type of fishing that can be done at the location
Shoreline, as well as boat fishing, is allowed here. Generally, in areas where the waters are pristine, fly-fishing/trout fishing can be used easily to catch these.

SIZE

Normally bowfins grow up to 50cm and female fishes can even grow up to 65 cm. The maximum length can be around 65-70 cm for both the male and female adult fishes. They weight around 5 kg and the largest bowfin was reported to be 109 cm long with a weight of around 10kgs. The female fishes grow faster than males, and the young fish grows to 13-23 cm quickly within a year. These attain maturity within 2-3 years and can live around 15 years.

RANGE

This type is commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers of Kansas, Kentucky Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginal and Wisconsin. Typically huge stocks are maintained in freshwater lakes in all the above areas where bowfins thrive well. Bowfins naturally grow in rivers and drain regions in large numbers like Colorado river and San Jacinto.

HABITAT

These love to live in freshwater, and vegetated sloughs, lowland rivers, and lakes, backwater areas and swamps are their preferred habitats. Anglers can rarely spot these in brackish water. These have excellent camouflaging skills and grow in large numbers in waters with suitable vegetation. It is difficult to spot them in slow waters, and they like hiding behind roots and logs of trees which grow near the shores. These are mostly found in coral reefs, rain forests, swamplands and backwaters where they hatch eggs and multiply. These can be found in cold, warm, clear as well as muddy waters as they adapt quickly to any type of water. They nest above the grassy bottom of rivers where they can stay unharmed from predators

DIET

Bowfins are an ambush and stalking predators and they prefer to stay in shallow areas during nights to attack aquatic invertebrates and fishes like such as crawfish, mollusks, and aquatic insects. These like speckled perch, catfish and freshwater crayfish which are often used as baits. They feed heavily on sunfish and bass to the extent that they keep their population under check. Anglers opine that nightcrawlers, minnows, whitefish, roach and large green locusts lure them easily. Walleye, trout or bass is also used as baits equally when rods are used for fishing. Bowfins quickly feed on native species of fishes and lower their population.

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