Just something different to add to the fishing thread. Pictures can be subjective (we all know that). The current Bowfin record is 12 lbs 9oz and 31-1/2".

I went fishing with one of my sons friends last night. First time together and he shared this pic of a big dog his sister caught while fishing the Minnesota River together in the Chaska area. Since he didnt have a scale, he wasn't going to bring it home. It is thick!! If you caught and knew you had a state record, bullhead exp, would you get it certified and mounted? I would. Take it has my 15 minutes of fame. ;)

I wouldn't mount it, but I'd graphite reproduce it in a sec. What was the fight like? Bowfin are so powerful!

Bowfin remind me of muskies in their fearlessness. I've stood right beside one, dangling a lure and then hooking it, as I have muskies.

In the case of a rough fish, a photo would do for me. I try awfully hard to not be snobbish in about all things, but the foot has to go down for me on this one!

I have a great deal of grudging admiration for Bowfin (we call them Dogfish in Michigan or Mudfish in Florida). I remember using 10' graphite "cane" poles with a length of 20lb line and a white jig while fishing with my Dad...........and we caught numerous big Mudfish that day here in Florida. They are super powerful. They smell rather badly however, as do Gar, and not a fish I would mount unless I had money to burn and a room already filled with numerous other mounts. Both species, Gar and Bowfin, seem prehistoric.

Nope. CPR the thing and get the picture blown up and put into a nice frame with an engraving with specifications at the bottom of the frame.

I hate it when I hook a rough fish. I certainly would not spend the money to mount it. Take a picture and tell the tale but that’s it.

Sure...and give it as a gift to an ex-friend.

Savage Voyageur: "I hate it when I hook a rough fish. "

Really?

I will admit to a certain amount of disappointment when I finally lay eyes on what I figured was a huge pike or massive walleye only to have it be a foul hooked 20lb carp or a big slob of a channel cat.........but then invariably we all smile and laugh and loudly boast of how great a fight it put up. I have caught a few big Carp in Lake St Clair and Saginaw Bay while trolling rapalas. Certainly the last fish you expect to see on a trolled plug is a big fat carp. Those fish, and how well they fought, are etched into my grey matter...... it was super fun regardless of the initial bummer.

And as kids we used to purposely target carp and I still have a soft spot for them although I usually destroy the ones I catch as they muscle their way onto other fishes spawning beds and vacuum up the eggs.

Bowfin delight

I seen on TV once people catching them down south for the caviar. Well each to his own?

Interesting question.

I have caught some big fish, and I've never been interested in mounting one....rough fish or not. Maybe if it was a record, but even then, I'd probably use the money for another canoe. :)

I caught one once, maybe 2/3 the size of that one. Thought I had a big walleye on at first, big disappointment when I got it to the boat. Good fight though.

The smile tells the story- That is an AWESOME fish!

I wouldn't mount any fish out-of-wedlock, but it would make for a great photo and story.

Who's to say what makes a 'game'fish and what makes a 'rough'fish?
The concept that some fish are somehow more desirable as wall mounts than others seems utterly absurd to me.
I understand the desirability of certain species on the dinner plate. I understand the desirability of certain species at the tag end of the line.
FWIW: I think bowfin are really interesting fish, and would welcome the opportunity to catch one of any size.

$0.02

Cool fish!
If ya have the $$ mount it.
We used to spear dogfish through the ice and put the frozen mounts on the roof of the spear house. A big Dogfish was noteworthy and some bragging with a chuckle always went along with the experience.
Fish and fishing are what you make them. Enjoy the experiences you have because some people are never happy no matter how many they catch or even with 10 lb walleyes and 20+ Lakers.

mvillasuso: "The smile tells the story- That is an AWESOME fish!


I wouldn't mount any fish out-of-wedlock, but it would make for a great photo and story.


Who's to say what makes a 'game'fish and what makes a 'rough'fish?
The concept that some fish are somehow more desirable as wall mounts than others seems utterly absurd to me.
I understand the desirability of certain species on the dinner plate. I understand the desirability of certain species at the tag end of the line.
FWIW: I think bowfin are really interesting fish, and would welcome the opportunity to catch one of any size.


$0.02"

Well stated. I have pretty much caught them all and I've enjoyed catching them all. One of my least favorite, and I've caught thousands, is the largemouth bass. They are certainly not a handsome fish, imho, they are pretty poor in the pan, they are good but not great fighters, they are one of the easier fish to catch, and yet someone decided to crown them the greatest of freshwater fishes. It's interesting.

There's GOT to be a local bar that would be thrilled to have that thing mounted and on their wall. Look for a place that sells more Leinies in bottles than micro-brews on tap. Maybe even a taxidermist who would like to advertise their service by mounting a record that would be on display.

Ate smoked bowfin once,kind of texture like tuna in a can and tasted like that. Maybe just a little muddy taste like bullhead thrown in.

mastertangler: "

Savage Voyageur: "I hate it when I hook a rough fish. "

Really?


I will admit to a certain amount of disappointment when I finally lay eyes on what I figured was a huge pike or massive walleye only to have it be a foul hooked 20lb carp or a big slob of a channel cat.........but then invariably we all smile and laugh and loudly boast of how great a fight it put up. I have caught a few big Carp in Lake St Clair and Saginaw Bay while trolling rapalas. Certainly the last fish you expect to see on a trolled plug is a big fat carp. Those fish, and how well they fought, are etched into my grey matter...... it was super fun regardless of the initial bummer.


And as kids we used to purposely target carp and I still have a soft spot for them although I usually destroy the ones I catch as they muscle their way onto other fishes spawning beds and vacuum up the eggs. "

I don't mount fish period.

But agree with MT on how fun rough fish can be. If I made a top 5 list for my own personal best catches, 3/5 are common carp, smallmouth buffy, and drum.

I wouldnt mount it. I would get good pictures and use these guys to make an accurate sized drawing.

https://www.facebook.com/fishprintshop/

Jaywalker: "There's GOT to be a local bar that would be thrilled to have that thing mounted and on their wall. Look for a place that sells more Leinies in bottles than micro-brews on tap. Maybe even a taxidermist who would like to advertise their service by mounting a record that would be on display. "

If I got free beer for life from my favorite bar for mounting a fish they could use for advertising, I'm all for it......LOL

I don’t have any mounted fish at my house so I would let it go. If I was in to that sort of thing I wouldn’t hesitate to put it on the wall.

They are a blast to catch. We went out for midnight opener years ago and I thought I had my personal best walleye on the line. Drag was screaming and it took a couple minutes to see it. I saw the white/brown flash under our headlamps and had trouble keeping my jaws together. When we finally got it in the net I uttered several words that cannot be repeated on a family website. 27 inches probably around 7 pounds. I would love to tangle with one that big again.

I wouldn't mount it, but would take the requisite photo.

When I was a kid we were fishing for brookies in Northeast Quebec, artificials mind you, and hooked what I thought was a 5 to 6 pounder, and brought up about a 5 pound White Sucker. To date, that is the only sucker I have ever caught, or heard of caught, on a Mepps spinner. I was disappointed nevertheless!

I would use it for good fertilizer for my garden.

F.Y.I. ,adding this about the dogfish pic , the lady holding it is over 5'10" and about 175lb and raises horses , not a petite lady , it very well could have been a state record . and was told it was one heck of a fight even breaking water a couple times.

Never give a ladies weight:)
That just means the fish would supply even more fertilizer for a garden:)

Zwater: "Never give a ladies weight:)
That just means the fish would supply even more fertilizer for a garden:)"

LOL , true that , all thou i dont think she's the kind of lady thats worried about that ;)
would you certifie and mount a #18 walleye ?

shock: "

Zwater: "Never give a ladies weight:)
That just means the fish would supply even more fertilizer for a garden:)"

LOL , true that , all thou i dont think she's the kind of lady thats worried about that ;)
would you certifie and mount a #18 walleye ?"

If I caught an 18# walleye I would first have to change my pants. I know the state record is 17.8#. I'm sure many people have caught larger bowfins in the state. But why keep them or mount them? Bottom feeder rough fish.
My buddy has a boat set up for bow fishing. Why can you shoot rough fish, but not bass, walleyes, or northerns. Because they are a game fish.
If you caught a 17 inch walleye or a 17 inch bowfin, what one would you eat first?

many people ? maybe, maybe not ?
whether it's a desirable species or not , still a trophy fish and fight in the bowfin world. and yes a nice framed 8X10 would be just as nice instead of a mount.
what fish would i eat ? that question even needs to asked ?

If you keep a record size fish and each to his own,but just to eat it would make no sense.

To each their own. Sorry for being "snarky" Shock:)

Sure, if a guy wanted to why not. Your money, your fish. I personally think it would be kind of neat. I've seen mounted eel pout, so why not... HYOH, CYOC, FYOF....

nmillette: "Sure, if a guy wanted to why not. Your money, your fish. I personally think it would be kind of neat. I've seen mounted eel pout, so why not... HYOH, CYOC, FYOF...."

I think big rough fish mounted are talking pieces.

Zwater: "To each their own. Sorry for being "snarky" Shock:)"

you like that comment LOL. You could always change your screen name to Mr.Snarky. ;)

Bowfin are not bottom feeders they are ferocious predators.

Chieflonewatie: "Bowfin are not bottom feeders they are ferocious predators. "

I saw that on wikipedia, too. Any fish that is called a mud pike, or mud fish, I'm not going to mount it. Just my opinion.

There one of a few fish that can actually breathe out of the water.

It is just like how we convinced one of our buddies who was new to duck hunting to mount a coot he shot. We told him that was the most prized duck to get. He even brought it in to the taxidermist, and they laughed at him. We still give him grief to this day about that:)