Bowfin are living relics, with primitive roots back 70 million years ago. Has a long, soft-rayed dorsal which arches in a bow over most of the length of its body.
Tail is rounded, with distinct black spot rimmed with orange on males; black spot on females faint or absent and no orange rim. Its back and sides are brownish green or olive green, with mottled sides fading to yellowish or white. During spawning, its underside turns a bright yellow-green. Has a cylindrical body and a wide flattened head, almost snake-like, with deep-set dark eyes.
Snout is rounded with short nasal barbels. Mouth is large and has conical-shaped teeth. Note: While the bowfin shares similar coloration and body shape with the northern snakehead recently introduced to the Potomac River , the anal fin of a bowfin is much shorter than that of the snakehead, and snakeheads will not have the spot found on bowfin. Lakes : Chickahominy, Little Creek and Diascund. They are strong, muscular fighters and strike viscously at all manner of live bait and many artificials.
Minnows and a variety of jigs are best baits. Use a good stiff rod with at least 15 lb test line. Food value is generally considered poor. Feed mainly on other fishes, sometimes on crayfish, crayfish, mollusks, and frogs. They are nocturnal, but most active at dawn and disk, and often go on a spree after rains have clouded the waters and washed food into rivers and lakes.
Usually found in dark, sluggish waters with muddy bottoms and dense vegetation as well as tannin-stained swamps, rivers and lakes.
