Bowfin in Michigan
bowfin under the 2026 Michigan digest.
- No possession limitlimit
- 14 lbrecord
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A Michigan profile of bowfin
Bowfin (Amia calva) is filed by the Michigan DNR as other species, found in great lakes and inland. statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered carries No possession limit under the 2026 rules, season open all year.
The MDNR record table lists 14 lb from Crooked Lake in 1981 (hook and line). Fish Atlas records from 1970 on show it in 4 lakes with pages.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered) | No possession limit | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR; rules run April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Michigan record bowfin
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 14 lb | 35 in | Crooked Lake | Livingston | 1981 |
MDNR State Record Fish table, retrieved October 22, 2026; the table prints the year only and no angler names.
Fish Atlas lakes for bowfin
| Lake | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Barton Pond | Washtenaw | 192 |
| Bass Lake, Livingston County | Livingston | 177 |
| Mill Lake, Washtenaw County | Washtenaw | 131 |
| Bessey Lake | Jackson | 57 |
MDNR Fish Atlas collection records from 1970 on and Family Friendly Fishing lists; largest lakes first.
Finding bowfin on Michigan water
Biggest lakes with bowfin
- Barton Pond192 acres
- Bass Lake, Livingston County177 acres
- Mill Lake, Washtenaw County131 acres
- Bessey Lake57 acres
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, fishing site lists, trout stream layer, stocking and records; largest waters first.
Other fish near bowfin in the digest
- Black Bullheadother species
- Brown Bullheadother species
- Yellow Bullheadother species
- Common Carpother species
- Freshwater Drumother species
- Longnose Garother species
- White Perchother species
- Bigmouth Buffaloother species
- Black Buffaloother species
- American Eelother species
- Quillbackother species
- White Suckerother species
Camera views of water by Bowfin
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
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Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Michigan bowfin, the questions that come up
How many bowfin may I keep in Michigan?
No possession limit on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered; season open all year. Other waters carry their own rows.
Does the MDNR list a record bowfin?
14 lb from Crooked Lake, Livingston County, in 1981 (hook and line).
Which waters name bowfin?
4 water pages on this site name it, starting with Barton Pond, Bass Lake, Livingston County and Mill Lake, Washtenaw County.
Do Michigan hatcheries raise bowfin?
The MDNR table lists no plants of it.
How does the MDNR classify bowfin?
Amia calva; other species in great lakes and inland.
Are bowfin open to fishing all year in Michigan?
Open all year on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered.
Which Michigan license covers bowfin?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Do outfitters list bowfin?
None of the listed charters name it.
Choose a lake for bowfin
Pick a water above, then read its limits.