Post Your Catch

Submitted: August 11th, 2010 by Jacalyn K. Barbour

Dear Bill, Their's a new angerler in town, I have been watching your show's as my partner loves' to fish and I found a fishing pole in my garage that's been their over 20 yr's a Zebco 33, we decided to go fishing and rented a pontoon at Hamilton Lk., in Ludington Mi. My partner put on a new 12 lb Triline Test line, and a rooster (neon) for bate. It was a beautiful warm summer day and the water was so clear. It was Monday Aug. 2, 2010, early evening, we were catching, perch, bass, bluegill and even a pike. I have only fished less than a dozen times in my life, and was really enjoying it. I cast my line and this huge bowfin snatched my bate immediatly, and this bad boy put up a fight. My reel was very squeeky and so loud it echoed, and I thought this fish was going snap the pole or pull the reel right off the pole, he was fighting so hard the reel wasn't catching, and the only way I could hang on was let him get tired and when he did I would reel him in inch by inch only when he wasn't fighting. Another boater passing by could tell I had a big fish, my pole was bent as far as it could go and I was as arched back, holding on as far as I could go. After several minutes' I got him to the surface and close to the boat, I could see this long dorsel fin and had no idea what kind of fish it was, the boater passing by ask if we had a net, and I said no, I wasn't planning on catching anything, he came up next to our boat, and handed us a net and I pulled this big boy out of the water and still didn't know what I caught, I have never seen a fish like this, the other boater suggested it was a prehistoric fish, called a "bowfin", and I forgot my camera, left it in the front seat of the truck but this kind boater had a camera and took this picture for us and e-mailed it to me. Unfortunatly, we did not get the wt. or length, but measured it's length against me and it's probably 35 to 36 inches long, and weighted alot. Is there a way to tell the size by a picture? I would love to know, I had so much fun it look's like I'm gonna need a new fishing pole, my reel took a beating, but it was so old I'm suprised it held up. I did look it up on the internet and at one site the record was 21 lb's 8 oz's, and it is from the jurassic period. Is this true? I would love to hear from you. I can't wait to go fishing again. I felt like I was on a TV show, called "Monster Fish In Michigan", what a great experience, it would of been a good show and I can't wait to go fishing again, only this time with a net, tape measure and camera. Thank's for all the enjoyable, informative, fishing TV program's. A fan and now a fishing gal. Jacalyn K. Barbour

Read/Submit Comments

back to photos

Please comment on the above photo. All comments are reviewed and subject to approval before they are posted.

*Required fields.

Contact Information