Big Bowfin Barry Wins His 1st MBC Grand Championship Title

Barry Mowers caught his 26" bowfin on Leech Lake on Memorial Day on a brown River2Sea Yabbie to win this years title.

The only other person to register a doggy this year was Chuck Steinbauer with a 24.5".  I think he told me he got it on Platte Lake.

Next year the tournament is going to run from ice out through the full month of June.

Sport Smith With a Hefty Barker

Sport was fishing in a bass tournament when he got this fin on a wacky rigged worm.  No measurement so it doesn't count for the Derby.

Speaking of the Grand Championship Tournament.  Today is the last day to catch a bowfin.  I am putting off the notification deadline until Friday.  Get your catches into me ASAP at basspastor@hotmail.com.

President's First Landed Fin of the Year

24.5" Custom Jigs & Spin Glow Demon with a minnow

I had one on about the same size as this the night before, but the hook came out before I could land it.  Seeing as how I got it with live bait it doesn't count as an entry for the Grand Championship.

It didn't quite wreck my Demon

They have been biting pretty good on Platte Lake the last couple of days.

Here is beauty that the guy wouldn't throw back because he believes it is against the law to do so.  It's against the law to throw back a dead bowfin.  Releasing them alive is just fine.  I tried to tell the guy that, but he started to argue with me.  So I backed off on trying to get him to release it.

Sorry, But This Dogfish Doesn't Count

MBC Grand Championship Tournament Rules

ELIGIBILITY- Anyone catching a Bowfin in the State of Minnesota including Border Waters.

SPECIES - Only Bowfin (Dogfish) caught in Minnesota waters are used for determining the season's Grand Champion.

TOURNAMENT HOURS/SEASON - All hours from ice-out through June 15 each year are open for competition.

TOURNAMENT WATERS- All MN bodies of water with a population of bowfin are eligible from their individual date of ice out.

LIVE RELEASE - All fish must be returned to the water alive and unharmed after measuring.

FISHING METHOD - Only artificial lures may be used to take fish.

OTHER SPECIES - Any other fish caught, which is not in season, must be returned to the water immediately. It is expected that MBC members and tournament participants will within reason try to minimize the odds of catching fish that are not yet in their open season.

MEASURING FISH - Fish must be measured with the mouth (closed) to the tip of the tail.

REGISTRATION - Send your name, the length of the fish, the date caught, and the lure used to basspastor@hotmail.com
Optional: Include body of water caught from.

Registration must be in before midnight on June 15th of each year.

GRAND CHAMPION - The longest fish reported before June 16th determines the overall Grand Champion.

LEADING FISH- In an effort to encourage reporting of bowfin catches the length of the leading fish will NOT be communicated until the tournament is over.

Past MBC Grand Champions with winning fish length since Club founding in 1999:

1999 Ken Fields 25"
2000 Chuck Fields 23.75"
2001 Guy Henkensiefken 23"
2002 Dean Sauer & Tom Swanson (tie) 26.5"
2003 Dan Quinn 31"
2004 Dave Maas 30"
2005 Alan Steinbauer 28.5"
2006 Dave Maas 30"
2007 Chuck Steinbauer 26.5"
2008 Dennis Lothspeich 26"
2009 Scot Zeidler 26.5"
2010 Chuck Fields 28"
2011 Dennis Lothspeich 27.75"
2012 Nick Jacob 25"
2013 Adam Henkensiefken 24.5"
2014 Joe Torbert 30"
2015 Chuck Steinbauer 26"

2015 Grand Champion is Chuck Steinbauer

Congratulations Chuck Steinbauer 
2015 Grand Champion!

Chuck with a 27 incher from 2011

Chuck Steinbauer caught a 26 inch fish on Bay Lake on a bladed jig while pre-fishing for the Bass Snatcher tournament on Bay Lake in late May.  That fish was good enough to take the Grand Championship this year and that makes Chuck our fourth two time Grand Champion. Chuck previously won the Grand Championship in 2007.

For the second year in a row two time Grand Champion Chuck Fields came in 2nd place.  This year it was with a 24 1/2" fish from the Whitefish Chain caught on a tube on June 1st.

And for the second year in a row two time Grand Champion Dave Maas came in 3rd Place.  His fish was a  23 incher caught from Bulldog Lake on a Lunkerhunt Lunker Frog in the"Croaker" color.

2015 Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship Registration Deadline Extended

Get your catches in to me by email at basspastor@hotmail.com , or by leaving a message or comment at the Minnesota Bowfin Club Facebook Page by midnight June 17th and they will count for this years contest.  Fish must be caught by June 15th at the latest.

Remember the Bowfin must be caught in MN on an artificial lure and be released alive.

Please let me know the fishes length, what lure it was caught on, and if you want to share the lake it came from that would be appreciated too.  If you have a picture of the fish please send that as well.

Thanks
Dave Maas
Minnesota Bowfin Club President

5th Fish For Me

23" Lunkerhunt Lunker Frog color Croaker

I got my 5th fin of the year on May 28th at Bulldog Lake.  I know 23" isn't big enough as Chuck Steinbauer has one that is bigger.

4th Fin Of the Year for Me

20" Stanley Phantom topwater lure

Just a little guy and my first ever out of Bulldog Lake.  1st one that counts for the Grand Championship this year.  I don't think 20 inches is gonna hold.

Andrew Osowski With A Nice Little Fin

 About 14" on a hair jig.

I believe Andrew Osowski of Team Yukon Outdoors got this fish on May 5th.  Get out there the fish are active.