i want one. Of all the years of fishing never caught one. what geographical area of the U.S do they live in.
Bowfin
- Thread starter leviathon13
- Start date
There are scattered populations from New Jersey to Idaho, east to west, and from Quebec, Canada to Florida, north to south. they are fairly common in backwaters in the southern portion of that range such as Florida and Louisiana
BGG said:LOL! My friend's in Illinois too, so maybe you can avoid shipping costs.But, the 8" specimen is sold... I bought it.
where at in illinois is he... does he still have it............
thay are wild looking i think. Does anyone have pics they would like to share? I might consider getting one.
Actually, the Amiiformes (of which the bowfin is the only living representative of, there are a number of extinct species) are fairly closely related to the Semionotiformes, which include the gars, and slightly more distantly related to sturgeons, paddlefish, and bichirs, but they are still more closely related to the listed fish than any other fishes. They also share characteristics with some of the listed fish (i.e. gars), such as a partially cartilaginous skeleton. Also, as far as I know they aren't found west of Minnesota... where was the report of them being found in Idaho at? I'd be interested in seeing it. 
i "apologize" for my un-enlightened comments regarding bowfins... the photos adn descriptions you guys mention are cool! i was merely going on the experiences i have had here in michigan... believe me, the ones here are not all that exciting... most every fisherman i have talked to here does not hold them in any particular high regard... so, i guess to surmise... ifn you are going to get a bowfin... try to get one from a local not in michigan!!
Bowfins look great although i don't know much about them i think i'll look into them and do a little research.
But here's Some picture's.
But here's Some picture's.
I will look back through the sites I scanned, there were a bunch, I think that was from a distribution map on a Canadian site, I'll try to find it. As to being closer releated to the gars than to most other fish, yes, I just meant that as you stated, they are in a family all their own.BGG said:Actually, the Amiiformes (of which the bowfin is the only living representative of, there are a number of extinct species) are fairly closely related to the Semionotiformes, which include the gars, and slightly more distantly related to sturgeons, paddlefish, and bichirs, but they are still more closely related to the listed fish than any other fishes. They also share characteristics with some of the listed fish (i.e. gars), such as a partially cartilaginous skeleton. Also, as far as I know they aren't found west of Minnesota... where was the report of them being found in Idaho at? I'd be interested in seeing it.
