Bowfin in Ohio
Limits, the record and stocking for bowfin.
- see bookletlimit
- 11.69 lbrecord
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A Buckeye profile of bowfin
The Division of Wildlife lists bowfin in no separate table for 2026-27.
The Ohio record weighed 11.69 lb, caught by Christopher A. Boling on Nettle Lake in 1987.
Ohio record bowfin
| Division | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rod and reel | 11.69 lb | 33-1/4" | Christopher A. Boling | Nettle Lake | 1987 |
| bowfishing | 9.20 lb | 31" | Tim Makowski | Mogadore Reservoir | 2016 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish page, retrieved October 26, 2026; ODNR biologists confirm the species of a new record.
Buckeye lakes and creeks holding bowfin
Lake pages naming bowfin
- Mogadore Reservoir1,105 acres
- Nettle Lake115 acres
ODNR hot-spot maps, ODNR stocking records, the 2026 trout releases, the steelhead and walleye-run programs and state records; largest waters first.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Photo stops on the water near Bowfin
Photo: Eric Marshall, CC BY 3.0
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Andrew C, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
bowfin across Ohio, question and answer
Which length rule applies to Ohio bowfin?
No Ohio limit row covers it.
Who holds the Ohio bowfin record?
11.69 lb from Nettle Lake, caught by Christopher A. Boling in 1987.
Which Ohio pages name bowfin?
2 water pages here list it, led by Mogadore Reservoir and Nettle Lake.
Do the ODNR records show bowfin stocking?
The ODNR stocking file has no rows for it.
Is bowfin regulated on Lake Erie?
Lake Erie prints nothing separate for it.
When can I fish for bowfin in Ohio?
No dates are printed for it.
How much does an Ohio license for bowfin cost?
Anglers 16 and older need an Ohio fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $76.96 for nonresidents and $10.00 for residents 65 and older.
How does the Ohio River treat bowfin?
The river units set nothing separate for it.