Stopped on my way home from work at a little spot I go to sometimes...

Tried some new big bites shakey heads and brownish colored trick worms. Got a little nibble, missed him. Nothing for awhile after that, tried some craws on shakey head and swinghead jig, nothing.

Just about to head home and put on a senko trig 2/0 vmc hook. Had a huge bowfin on, he was pullin' drag on my penn battle2 3000...

then he flopped and turned and was gone. Got off...wth? After several more casts, and several more fish coming undone, I was done. Wondered why they kept coming off, brand new pack of hooks, checked them out...felt sharp, but nothing landed. Oh well, have always had good luck with vmc hooks, but these couldn't hook a wet paper bag. Ever have those days? I had fun anyway.

I'll be back Monday, and find that other bowfin that has my jig stuck in his mouth from a few weeks ago....

Oh yes, had PLENTY of those days. In fact I can guarsntee I have had far more of those type days than good days.

Bowfins have soft mouths.

The hook probably pulled out in the fight.

Bowfins don't have soft mouths??? Bowfins mouths are tough as mess! I need some of your luck, went bowfin fishing today and couldn't get the slightest nibble...

I love fishing for em'!

My guess is you never really had the hook in his mouth good because its tough.... I'll set the hook on a bowfin so solid it seems perfect and they still somehow come unbuttoned....

ya, they are kinda tough. I think I'll stay away from the light wire hooks when I know the bowfin are there. The vmc hooks I ended up using this time are pretty flimsy. They are always at this spot. It's funny, they swim around, pop their heads out of the water, like they are looking around above the water. 

They are most likely gulping air, they do it all the time where I fish, makes you think they are active sometimes but its just them coming up for air...