Fly Fishing for Bowfin

Among the odd targets and new obsessions that can take fly fishers beyond tradition these days are bowfin, a primitive fish that survives from the Jurassic period. Karl Weixlmann, a fishing guide and author of Great Lakes Steelhead Salmon & Trout, describes the fish and the strategies for catching them: “The best fly rod targets are the cruisers that can be spotted along the edges of weed beds, reeds and lily pads. Like largemouths, they are frequently found back in heavy cover and underneath matted weeds, making flipping flies with a weighted head one of the most productive techniques.” In the Erie Times News.