Bowfin across Minnesota
Where bowfin live in Minnesota, with limits.
- No limitlimit
- 12 lb 9 ozrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not of a Minnesota water: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain
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bowfin in the state
In DNR terms, Bowfin is part of the bowfin family. Limit (inland waters (statewide)): No limit; season Continuous.
A 12 lb 9 oz fish from Mississippi River in 2012 holds the record. 807 lakes carry it on their DNR survey list, 940 with pages on this site. The highest gill net catch rate on a lake with a page here is 8 per net at Moose Lake near Solway, Beltrami County.
The DNR on bowfin
“A medium-sized, greenish fish, the bowfin can be found in clear lakes and slow streams through much of Minnesota. Bowfin survive in murky, oxygen-depleted water by rising to the surface and gulping air into their air bladders. They can also survive out of water for a considerable time. This primitive fish was around when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It is also known as a dogfish.”
“The bowfin is a tubular, olive-green fish with a scaleless head and two barbels on its face. Its dorsal fin stretches most of the length of its back. Males have a black spot circled in green at base of their tail.”
“A farmer once found a live bowfin in moist soil when he ploughed a field that had been flooded a few weeks before. In recent years, fish farmers have shown interest in making bowfin eggs into caviar.”
- The bowfin is a tubular, olive-green fish with a scaleless head and two barbels on its face.identification
- Its dorsal fin stretches most of the length of its back.identification
- A medium-sized, greenish fish, the bowfin can be found in clear lakes and slow streams through much of Minnesota.habitat
- A farmer once found a live bowfin in moist soil when he ploughed a field that had been flooded a few weeks before.habitat
- dogfishalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Minnesota limits for bowfin
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | No limit | Continuous |
| Inland waters | No limit | Early season March 1 – April 30 (south of Hwy 210, lakes and Minnesota/Mississippi/St. Croix rivers, from a bo |
| Inland waters | No limit | Spearing April 25, 2026 – Feb. 14, 2027; harpooning, dip net and seine May 1, 2026 – Feb. 14, 2027 (sunrise to |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Record bowfin from Minnesota
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 12 lb 9 oz | Mississippi River | Wabasha | 2012 |
| catch and release | 31.5 in | Mississippi River | Beltrami | 2026 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Lakes where DNR gill nets caught the most bowfin
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose Lake near Solway, Beltrami County | 8 | 0.5-1.5 | 4.15 | 2025 |
| Half Moon Lake, Crow Wing County | 5 | 0.5-1.8 | 5.2 | 1985 |
| Pickerel Lake, Aitkin County | 4.33 | 0.5-3.5 | 3.78 | 2008 |
| Third Guide Lake | 4 | 4.37 | 2025 | |
| Wassermann Lake | 3.83 | 0.2-0.8 | 2.24 | 2025 |
| Fawn Lake near Riverton, Crow Wing County | 3.5 | 0.3-1.3 | 3.43 | 1985 |
| French Lake, McLeod County | 3.5 | 0.3-1.5 | 3.14 | 2018 |
| Goose Lake, Wright County | 3.5 | 0.3-2.5 | 3.22 | 2013 |
| Lake Rebecca, Dakota County | 3.5 | 0.5-1.8 | 5.37 | 2018 |
| Arvilla Lake | 3.33 | 0.2-0.5 | 3.77 | 2018 |
| Carnelian Lake | 3.33 | 0.3-0.6 | 2.73 | 2016 |
| Lind Lake | 3.33 | 0.3-1.5 | 3.8 | 2024 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters holding bowfin
Lakes for bowfin
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Mille Lacs Lake128,250 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Lake Winnibigoshish56,471 acres
- Cass Lake15,958 acres
- Lake Minnetonka14,206 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Gull Lake, Cass County10,010 acres
- Bowstring Lake9,528 acres
- Pelican Lake, Crow Wing County8,367 acres
- Lake Minnewaska8,050 acres
- Whitefish Lake near Manhattan Beach, Crow Wing County7,714 acres
- Dead Lake, Otter Tail County7,546 acres
- Pokegama Lake, Itasca County6,721 acres
- Bemidji Lake (main lake)6,596 acres
- Lake Osakis6,389 acres
- North Long Lake, Crow Wing County6,190 acres
- Big Sandy Lake6,125 acres
- Lac qui Parle5,741 acres
- Miltona Lake5,731 acres
- West Battle Lake5,615 acres
- Green Lake, Kandiyohi County5,569 acres
- North Lida Lake5,523 acres
- Woman Lake5,520 acres
Creeks for bowfin
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
- Hay Creek, Goodhue CountyGoodhue
- Hay Creek, Pine CountyPine
- Hay Creek, Carlton CountyCarlton
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
More fish near bowfin on the list
- Walleyeperch family
- Saugerperch family
- Saugeyeperch family
- Yellow perchperch family
- Northern pikepike family
- Muskellungepike family
- Tiger muskellungepike family
- Largemouth basssunfish family
- Smallmouth basssunfish family
- Rock basssunfish family
- Black crappiesunfish family
- White crappiesunfish family
Lakes and rivers near Bowfin in photos
Photo: Appraiser at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Photo: Ben Franske ( BenFranske ) ( BenFranske at en.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: William Wesen ( Appraiser at en.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 3.0
bowfin questions with short answers
What is the daily Minnesota limit for bowfin?
No limit (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
How heavy is the record bowfin?
12 lb 9 oz from Mississippi River (2012).
Which lakes are best for bowfin?
Moose Lake near Solway, Beltrami County leads the DNR gill net catch at 8 per net; 945 waters on this site list it.
Are bowfin stocked in Minnesota?
No DNR stocking row covers it.
How can I tell a bowfin when I land one?
The bowfin is a tubular, olive-green fish with a scaleless head and two barbels on its face.
When is bowfin season in Minnesota?
Continuous
What does a license for bowfin cost?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Do outfitters target bowfin?
No listing names it.