Is a Grinnel a Bowfin

One of my absolute favorite fishing holes is a privately owned pond in the river bottoms of the Wabash. Originally, it was strip pit, and whenever the river floods the pond is replentished with bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, carp, and gar. Another fish I've been hooking into more and more lately is what the owner called a grinnel cat. They always seem to hit on crankbaits and are some the hardest fighting fish I've ever hooked into. At times they'll fight like a bass and then start rolling like a catfish. I've been told that a grinnel is the same as a bowfin.



This is a pic of a bowfin. The grinnels I've been catching fit the description. Does anyone know if this is the same fish, or a completely different species? I realize we are in Indiana, and us Hoosiers have different names for everything. Any help???