Mike Thompson With October Fin

Mike Thompson proves he knows where to find a late season dogfish. He got this monster on 2lb test while fishing for big sunfish.

Bowfin In the Fall

So where do they go?

I can only recall catching bowfin once in September. It was mid to late September and they were in the maidencaine on Boy Lake West of Remer MN. Got them pitching jigs.

Don's Dock Dogfish

Last night I was over fishing off a friends dock when he caught this nice dogfish.


He got the fish on a little spinner with some cut bait.

2010 MBC Grand Champion IS Chuck Fields!!!

On May 28th on Round Lake North of Brainerd former Minnesota Bowfin Club President Chuck Fields caught the Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship winning 28 inch bowfin on a jig. This makes Chuck a two-time Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Champion. His previous championship was 10 years ago in the year 2000.

Congratulations Chuck!!!

Chuck was the only person to submit an entry this year. It could very well be that rumor spread of Chuck's 28" fish, so no one bothered entering a smaller fish. His 28" fish is the 5th biggest Grand Championship winner in the 12 years of the MBC Grand Championship competition.

Deadline

Grand Championship Entry Submissions are due before midnight today.

Don't Forget to Submit!!!

Less than 10 days until the close of the Grand Championship Tournament for 2010.

I have been informed, although not officially yet, about a couple of fins being caught.

So get out there, stick a pig and submit it!!!

Dogger Sighting

Last night, I spotted my first bowfin of the year but circumstances were such that I wasn't in a position to fish for it before I spooked it.

I would say it was 23" or 24", so it wasn't a big one.

Minnesota Fishing Challenge will have award for the biggest bowfin.

The 2010 Minnesota Fishing Challenge is taking shape. Set for Gull Lake north of Brainerd on Saturday, June 5, the multi-species tournament headed by Al Lindner, is open for all ages and all skill levels. It is also a fund-raiser for one of Al's favorite causes -- Minnesota Teen Challenge -- one of the very best alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs in the state.

Two-person teams enter all divisions with their $100 entry fee, and may register fish in the pike, walleye, bass, panfish or mixed-bag categories. Prizes of MinnKota trolling motors, Frabill ice fishing shelters, guide trips by the best, rods and reels used by the top pro anglers, fishing tackle leaders and TV hosts in the country, and much more are up for grabs. There are also awards for carp, dogfish, eelpout, sucker and bullhead.

The key behind this tournament is FUN, while raising funds for Teen Challenge. After the $100 entry fee, teams will have until the tournament to raise 100-percent tax deductible donations to Teen Challenge in the amount of $500 (for the team). This was a relatively simple chore last year as each team averaged about $1,000.

There is still time to enter. To do so, register online at mntc.org/fishingchallenge or complete an entry. Call Jim Kalkofen at 651-356-5676 or Melissa Varriano at 612-238-6184. With the early spring followed by a lengthy cold snap, many anglers have waited to make a commitment. With the nice warm-up this weekend, think about the Fishing Challenge, and enter this week.

Missed Opportunity???

Tonight I think I missed a good one. Was throwing a Berkley Frenzy Popper in some weeds (OK not the smartest thing to do) when I had a large fish charge and annhilate the lure but it didn't hook up. It was either a pike or dogfish because bass generally don't strike like this fish did.

Club News

The Minnesota Bowfin Club is now officially a Chapter with the Bowfin Anglers Group. The Bowfin Anglers Group is the premier Internet Website for bowfin fishing. I encourage all Minnesota Bowfin Club members to check out their website and sign up to become a member there as well.

Takahiro Omori Dogfish Story

That was one expensive bowfin encounter

Minnesota Bowfin State Record

Hey Hey Ho Ho the Bowfin Record was broken in 2008. The previous record was 10lbs 15ozs. The record now is 11-4 and was caught out of the St. Criox River in Washington County on October 7th.

You can read an article on the catch here(PDF)...

MBC Grand Championship Tournament Update

As of the end of April 2010 we have no bowfin submitted. I am guessing things will pick up in May, especially with this warm Spring we have been having.

My boat will be ready soon, so those dogfish better look out.

Bowfin Pictures

This 25.5" fish was taken from under a dock in Wahkon bay on Mille Lacs Lake in June of 2005. It was caught with a jig.

This 28.5 inch fish would have won the 2009 Minnesota Bowfin Club Championship had it been caught one day sooner. It was caught on Platte Lake June 16th 2009. It was caught on a black/red Monsoor Swim Jig with black/red fleck Zoom Speed Craw on the edge of some maidencaine in about 3 feet of water.

This pretty 22" was caught June 19th 2009 on Platte Lake also with a black/red Monsoor Swim Jig with black/red fleck Zoom Speed Craw. It was in 3 to 4 feet of water.

If you have a Bowfin picture please email it to us at basspastor@hotmail.com

Please...

If you see anything on the site that you think needs to be changed, please let us know.

Thanks

Welcome to the Minnesota Bowfin Club Website/Blog

This is the official launch of the Minnesota Bowfin Club's all New Website and Blog.

We have an official club message board.

And our old club website can be viewed here...

MBC Coming Soon to Facebook!!!