Occasionally, a snake will eat a dead catfish on the bank, but if it returns to the water with the fish in its mouth it may be in for a surprise: an angry Bowfin with a two-for-one sale coupon in its teeth. Nesting adults and nervous baitfish, each with its own survival in mind, try to avoid these mercenary predators. But in the impoundments, as in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, there is only one conclusion: the Bowfin have won.

Far-fetched? Yes, maybe. It might be more accurate to repeat the exact words of Kurosawa's last samurai: "The villagers have won." We, after all, are the biggest threat, to Bowfin, and also to other anglers. But I do not subscribe to the theory that anglers should frown upon their colleagues who divulge local "secrets" to the general public; at least I don't subscribe to it in most cases. Some locals may resent the disclosure of the following information, but so many anglers enjoy the Jordan Lake impoundments of the Durham area that I hardly think they are a secret any longer. This is not to say they are over-fished (it is rare to find anglers at them during the coldest six months or seven months of the year), only that they are well-known to local anglers. You can locate them on any map and find people of all ages enjoying their sport in the summer months. I wasn't the first one to post about them on this site, and I am sure I won't be the last.

As in Kurosawa's Rashomon, I have my own motives for telling my story. Bowfin anglers should fish these impoundments because they teach us something about the species, but also because they are unique places to fish for Bowfin. The impoundments contain elements of ponds, lakes, and creeks as well as topography consistent with swamps and backwaters. In addition to their unusual topography, they are also thoroughfares for migratory species, such as hybrid stripers, that live in Jordan Lake. While they are not always large, the impoundments are dynamic and unpredictable; you never know what you are going to catch with each cast, and a prepared Bowfin angler might take a 10 or 15 pound fish from an impoundment that, at first glance, might seem to hold no more than a few small b@$$ or catfish. Their bio-diversity, unique forms, and general proximity, combine to make excellent and sometimes challenging locations for any angler to fish. When it comes to catching Bowfin, they rank with the best fisheries in North Carolina.

Durham Fisheries

Durham, North Carolina is both a city and a county, and everything in between. It is also rich with wild and diverse fisheries. At its north end, Durham borders Falls Lake, while the scenic Eno River and historic Eno River State Park enter Durham from the west. The forests and tributaries that comprise the northernmost edge of Jordan Lake State Park form a natural barrier between developed and undeveloped land on Durham's south end. The impoundments are located along the Jordan Lake tributaries on this southern edge of Durham.

The Tributaries of Jordan Lake State Park

These tributaries consist of three major creeks and several minor ones. The major creeks, moving from East to West, are the New Hope Creek, Upper Little Creek, and Morgan Creek. New Hope Creek, which begins the western side of Orange County, flows east into Durham County and through Duke Forest, then turns south and follows a forest corridor that runs south along the eastern side of Durham. Upper Little Creek begins in eastern Chapel Hill where Bolin Creek and Booker Creek converge to the east of Rt. 15-501, then it crosses a country club and enters the State Forest System. Finally, the south branch of Morgan Creek begins at the spillway under the dam at University Lake in Carrboro, N.C. All three tributary creeks or the smaller creeks that form them begin in the least developed areas in Western Orange County, then course through Chapel Hill, Durham, and Carrboro, before reaching Jordan Lake State Park.

The Tributary Impoundments

The majority of the water on these creeks in the Jordan Lake State Forest is inaccessible from the bank, but each is several miles in length and offers limited access points. The best of these access points are the impoundments built by the state along their course. These structures flood sections of local forest above each impoundment, and the flooded sections attract and provide sanctuary for a rich diversity of waterfowl and woodland birds (they also attract birdwatchers and hunters, so anglers should wear bright colors during hunting season). While the flooded sections are difficult to navigate in anything but a kayak (and some are impossible to navigate at all), the impoundments themselves offer ample space for fishing from the bank. Each of these creeks hosts strong populations of catfish, b@$$ (hybrids and largemouth), carp, crappie, and assorted panfish; most importantly, local anglers can access a remarkable Bowfin fishery from the concrete impoundment dams and the paths that encircle them.

Structure of the Impoundments

Each of the three impoundment creeks runs through a gate. At certain times of the year, the state drops boards into the gate. These planks create backwaters that flood the forests above the impoundments. The main channel of each creek flows over or through the gate, where to the west of every creek channel the state excavated large shallow pools. The pools range from less than acre in size to several acres in size. The largest of these is the impoundment on New Hope Creek at Stagecoach Road; the smallest is the southernmost impoundment on the Upper Little Creek.

Concrete walls hold the northern end of each impoundment, but earthen ridges, paths, and bridges offer other access points to the creeks around every impoundment, as well as parking (a cautionary note: if the gates to the impoundment are closed, do not park in front of them, or you will receive a parking ticket). The access points and fishing space increase dramatically when foliage drops in the fall, opening long paths and casting lanes that are otherwise inaccessible during the spring and summer months.

Individual Impoundments

These are arranged moving east to west on a map of south Durham. While there are other impoundments in the Durham area, the ones listed below are those that are most commonly fished, and they have a proven record of producing large Bowfin. My personal best - an NCARP certificate Bowfin of 11+ lbs - came from one of them (for more on NCARP, see below).

1. New Hope Creek

New Hope Creek hosts the two largest Durham impoundments. The first is located on Route 54, east of I-40. The second is located on Stagecoach Road, about one mile from the Upper Little Creek impoundment on Farrington Road and one half mile from Route 751 (there is a third impoundment on the south side of I-40, and it is visible from the highway, but I do not know of an access road).

The Stagecoach Road impoundment has two large parking lots, each of which is about 100 yards from the water. Two creeks converge above the dam, and Bowfin can be found in the pool where they meet. The large pool below the dam also contains Bowfin, and they can be found around the channel, the bridge, and also in the deep holes in the large pond on the western shore. There is also a long path that runs along the creek through the woods on the eastern shore. It begins past the bridge; I have followed it for one mile without reaching its end. Casting lures is difficult, but not impossible, along this stretch, and I would recommend using flipping lures such as jigs or plastic baits, as well as spinners. Fishing with live bait is less difficult, but there are many fallen trees in the creek, and snags are common.

The parking entry gates to the Route 54 impoundment have been locked since April of 2007, and it is dangerous to park on the side of the road on Route 54. It is nonetheless a large impoundment with good shore access along its eastern and western banks down to the Route 54 bridge (about a quarter mile south of the dam).

2. Upper Little Creek

Of the three creeks, the Upper Little Creek runs through the most intensely developed area, and it has greater problems with run-off pollution than do the other two creeks. This is complicated by highways, malls, and developments - as well as a golf course - that border its flow in Chapel Hill. The creek hosts two small impoundments. The first one is off Route 54 on King George Road; the second is downstream on Farrington Road. The northernmost impoundment sits below a large, open swamp (the walk from the entrance to the dam is about 100 yards). The various waterways that course through that swamp deliver forage into the impoundment, and it is common to find schools of crappie near the gate. When water is low, Bowfin generally haunt the structure along the edge of the main channel; when it is high, and they can also be found in the center of the main pool. Bank access is limited in summer, but in winter it is possible to reach the Route 54 bridge by walking the western bank.

The southernmost Upper Little Creek impoundment is the smallest of the most accessible and commonly fished impoundments. Unlike its northern neighbor, it flows out of a forest, and its pond is perhaps only a few hundred square yards in size. The Farrington Road bridge is very close, and the walk from its parking lot to the water is the shortest at this impoundment.

3. Morgan Creek.

This is the least accessible of the creeks, and to my knowledge there is not a single impoundment along its course. It begins below the dam at University Lake, and it runs southeast through the least developed border areas of Chapel Hill. There is some shore access near the Botanical Gardens, but I have never seen anyone fishing along its course in that area. The best access to this creek is by canoe or small boat from the public Jordan Lake boat launch area on Farrington Point Road. Morgan Creek enters the lake at a cove that is north-east of that launch, on the other side of the Farrington Point Road bridge. I have not heard much about Bowfin in Lake Jordan. The lake is renowned for its crappie, striped b@$$, and largemouth b@$$ fisheries, but Bowfin also must inhabit its waters given the species' presence in the tributary creeks and impoundments. But where Bowfin dominate the creeks, they must compete with other large predatory fish in Lake Jordan. These include stripers, largemouth b@$$, and catfish. Since the Bowfin is ideally suited to survive in waters with low-oxygen levels, I would imagine that recent fish kills that resulted from low oxygen levels during droughts have not affected the Bowfin population in the lake as they have other species. However, Bowfin anglers will also have to contend with the presence of other anglers who target those species, as well as jet skis, water skis, swimmers, and boaters. Nonetheless, the mouth of Morgan Creek on Jordan Lake is probably a good bet for Bowfin.

There are alternative points of access to Morgan Creek in addition to its final destination in Jordan Lake. Morgan Creek enters and leaves University Lake, which hosts an excellent Bowfin fishery.

4. Other Impoundments.

Game land maps of Jordan Lake State Forest and local maps of Durham show other possible impoundment locations (seven, to be exact). For example, maps suggest there may be impoundments on Third Fork Creek where it runs under Route 54 in Durham and also where it runs under I-40 shortly before it joins with New Hope Creek. Maps suggested similar structures on Morgan Creek at Farrington Mill Road, but no impoundment was built at that intersection. Jordan Lake State Forest is immense, and while it is worth exploring, it is best to do so with caution by observing private property boundaries, taking precautions during hunting season so as to avoid disturbing hunters (or becoming their accidental targets), and venturing into the deep woods with a good compass and, if possible, another angler.

Local Fishing Resources

While limited live bait and tackle supplies are available at the local, national retail chains that are located along Route 15-501 in Durham, I would recommend a local business - Johnny's Sporting Goods in Carrboro. Johnny's is located in the back of a small store on West Main Street, just east of Route 54, which is close to University Lake and within a short drive of the impoundments. Johnny's offers live bait for sale, and, as the sign outside famously reads: "Minnows, Crickets, and Old Farts, too." Park in the back (the front entrance is a grocery store).

A trophy Bowfin could earn you a North Carolina Angler Recognition Program (NCARP) certificate. These certificates are very popular in the state, and this is due in part to the high quality of the certificates. The minimum size requirements for Bowfin are by weight (10 lbs) or length (22"). The application is easy to complete, the fee is small ($5), and the reward is a beautiful certificate that features your name and a painting of a Bowfin.

Gear

Last, but not least, the gear. While techniques vary, there are some basic rules and advice you might follow.

Lures: I fish for Bowfin with artificial lures (anything that imitates a crayfish of wounded baitfish works well). The most important factor with crankbait selection is not size or color but "wobble." Walleye fisherman know that a lure should "flash" as its wobbles - that is to say, the lure should wobble in a manner that makes the top of the lure swing from side to side in such a way that catches light and reflects it. While water conditions in the impoundments will affect the visibility of that flash, I find it to be a critical element: a lure that flashes is a lure with the right vibration in its wobble. Furthermore, I prefer crank baits that dive deep. While sinking lures are okay, fat-lipped lures are best because they serve a dual purpose. If a Bowfin takes the lure anywhere but on the bottom, they think it's a wounded baitfish. If they take it on the bottom, they think it's a crayfish. In this way, certain crank baits imitate the Bowfin's two primary food sources.

The majority of local fisherman use live or cut bait. This technique is effective because it allows you to drift bait into inaccessible areas along the bank, under logs, etc. For more thorough commentary, I recommend reading the "Tips" section of this site.

Line: The impoundment creeks and pools all have the characteristic "tea" colored water typical of the Piedmont. This may affect your decisions about line. I primarily use braided "smoke" colored line, which is nearly invisible below two feet. I prefer braided line because it has little stretch and guarantees a strong hook-set. It is also resistant to wear from Bowfin teeth and impoundments rocks and snags.

Tackle: Light tackle can be both versatile and fun when you are fishing the impoundments. I often target crappie and both largemouth and hybrid striped b@$$ in the early spring with medium-light St. Croix rods and reels rigged with 8-10 lb test monofilament, but light tackle complicates things when you hook a Bowfin. To prevent line breakage, I use a short leader of braided line on these light rigs, but a stronger monofilament leader will do the job (catfish anglers often use such leaders in the area). This will increase your odds of landing a monster Bowfin when you hook one on light tackle. When fishing specifically for Bowfin, I use medium action 6.6' to 7' rods (Tsunami or St. Croix) with spinning reels. If I use a bait casting reel, I choose one with a high gear ratio because it maintains the speed of the retrieve on the medium-to-fast pace (an important but overlooked factor when fishing for Bowfin with crank baits).

Handling Your Catch: It's a good idea to use a gripping device instead of a landing net. Bowfin roll like crazy, and with hooks in their mouths they can trash a good net and also hurt themselves more than necessary. I use one of the fish grips that are on the market to land any Bowfin 5 lbs or above (a common size in the impoundments). Because I lost a fight to remove a hook from a Northern Pike several years ago (and almost lost a finger, too), I also use hook-proof gloves when removing hooks and handling Bowfin. Never try to "lip" a Bowfin like a b@$$; even a small Bowfin can drive a treble hook through your hand with one whip of its tail. I use the gloves when removing hooks and returning fish to the water (remember - you should always wet the gloves first to prevent removing slime from the fish). I know it seems like a lot, but I learned from experience that it's better to be safe than sorry - after all, where would you rather be: fishing or sitting in the emergency room?

Clothing and safety gear: Wading is strongly discouraged in the impoundment creeks and ponds. They may look shallow, but the holes are deep and current can be swift. Strong, comfortable boots with good soles and high ankle support are your best bet for shore angling on the slippery rocks (I avoid lighter footwear because of the many snakes that live in the impoundments - a snake/spider/wasp bite kit is also a good idea, just in case). Spray for bugs and wear light colors - deer ticks are common along the trails. Bright colors during hunting season are essential.

Maps and Directions: A gameland map of Jordan Lake State Park is a good investment, but because the impoundments are mostly located on or near major roads any map of the Durham area should suffice. All of the Bowfin fisheries I discussed above are within a few miles of another. If you are visiting from out of state, you might stay at any of the hotels along Route 54 in Durham or Chapel Hill. And while you are in the area, you might visit the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh to observe the live Bowfin and gar on display in their tanks on the second floor.