best bet is to try in april, may, and june
sight fish for the bowfin in the shallows from shore or boat
use polarized glasses....look for bowfin lying on the bottom like logs...like pike do
or watch for their unmistakable cruising...they use the fin on top and it has a wave move through it that is "s" shaped.
if you find one throw a worm or a crayfish in front of it....no more than 4 feet away from its mouth
wait....and wait.....the bowfin will smell the bait and swim to it...inhale the bait....and you better set the hook well...bone for a jaw
then good luck...you are now in for the fight of your life....land the fish....and do not offer it your fingers as it will remove them.
you need to find an area near london in which they inhabit....try the bowfin sight on the internet....they have a section called maps
in this section is an area called canada....you will find red dots on a map of ontario....with stories of the fish caught there....
some of these fish were caught around orrila and georgian bay....north of collingwood....thses may be easier spots to find bowfin.
check the mnr listings for fish contained in the lakes around you ...if bowfin are listed...then try the shallows in the spring.
start here and i will answer your questions as you learn more from the sites like the bowfin site.
just google bowfin for some sites.
