Bow Fishing Musts
Just like in bowhunting, the proper gear depends on the quarry.
Giant targets such as big coastal rays or monster alligator gar require specialty equipment and approaches, but a basic bowfishing setup will be appropriate for the most popular targets such as carp and gar.
Many bowfishers use recurve bows, which are well suited for the instinctive snap shooting required in most bowfishing scenarios. Recurves are popular because they are simple, effective, and affordable.
It’s possible to put together a solid recurve bowfishing kit, including a reel, line, and a couple of arrows, for about $200. And it can be even less expensive. Many bowhunters have an old recurve or two lying around. Even if those bows will never see a deer stand again, they can be great for bowfishing. If you have an old recurve lying around, companies such as Bohning Archery offer basic bowfishing kits that include everything you need to get started for as little as $30.
But before you outfit an old recurve for bowfishing, consider the bow’s monetary or sentimental value. Bowfishing is tough on gear, and even one season can wreak havoc on a classic recurve.
Some shooters favor conventional compound bows, and there are a growing number of manufacturers making bowfishing-specific compounds with constant draw weights for snap shooting. An advantage of compounds is they are drilled and tapped for accessories. Also, most bowfishers will be familiar with the feel of compounds because they use them for hunting. Quality compounds optimized for bowfishing from makers such as AMS, Innerloc Broadheads, and even larger bow makers such as PSE can be had starting around $200.
A modest draw weight will work fine. Most fish won’t be more than a couple feet deep, and even a 25-35-pound bow will be able to punch a heavy bowfishing arrow to that depth. Bows with even lighter draws can reach fish near the surface, so even kids can get involved.
A bow in the 40-50-pound range offers all the performance an adult bowfisher needs without wearing out a shooter, who can take 200 or more shots in a day on the water.
Rigging Up
When it comes to reels, a bowfisher has three choices.
The most basic reel is a hand wrap type. Such reels are functional, durable, and very inexpensive, costing less than $20. But, because a shooter must manually wind the line onto the spool after each shot, they are not ideal in situations when lots of shots will be available.
Another option is to use a heavy-duty spincast fishing reel affixed to a special reel seat that screws into a bow’s stabilizer bushing. A spincast reel allows for quick arrow retrieval, and the reel’s drag can help with fighting fish.
A heavy-duty fishing reel can work fine, especially if it gets just moderate use. Another choice is a reel with internal gears beefed up to handle the rigors of bowfishing, such as Muzzy’s Xtreme Duty Bowfishing Reel.
Popular line choices include 200-pound Brownell Fast Flight or 150-pound BCY Spectra braid.
AMS Bowfishing’s Retriever reels are another option. The reels, which attach to the sight holes on a bow’s riser, use a unique system to stack heavy line inside an enclosed pod. Advantages include relatively quick line retrieval, drag-free shooting, and the ability to use heavier lines. But the reels aren’t designed for reeling in larger fish, so you’ll end up pulling those in by hand. Retriever reels can also be outfitted with detachable float rigs for tackling big game such as sharks, rays, gator gar, and alligators.
The cost for a retriever reel and a solid spincast reel, line, and reel seat are comparable–both around $80.
Arrows
Bowfishing arrows take a beating, so they must be durable. Most are fiberglass, but carbon arrows are also available, as are fiberglass/carbon hybrids such as Cajun Archery’s Yellow Jacket. Prices generally run $10-$30. They are heavy, usually weighing in at 1,200-1,400 grains, and come with a variety of options, such as the glow-in-the-dark Glow Max shaft from Innerloc Broadheads.
Many different bowfishing points are available. A basic carp point will work for most bowfishing needs. Some bowfishers like tips with larger barbs for additional holding power, such as the Muzzy Stingray, Cajun Archery Sting-A-Ree, or Bohning RuffNeck. Other good options include the expandable Grapple Point line from Innerloc and Steel Force’s fixed Carp and Gator heads.
Until recently, most bowfishers simply threaded their arrows directly to the string through a hole near the nock. But safety slides are now the norm. By keeping the line in front of the riser, the slides eliminate the chance of the arrow string becoming entangled with the bowstring or cables, which can cause dangerous arrow snap back.
Rests
Bowfishers also have several options for rests, which generally cost $10-$20. Roller rests such as the AMS Wave Rest and Cajun Roller Rest are popular and effective. Muzzy’s Fish Hook has a devoted following, while other shooters even use capture rests, such as Trophy Ridge’s bowfishing Whisker Biscuit. The key is to use a rest that is tunable and strong enough to hold a heavy bowfishing arrow.
Few bowfishers use releases. This is a finger-shooting game. Some veterans have fingers toughened by so many years of shooting they can shoot bare, though most will want some protection. Tabs, three-finger shooting gloves, or even full leather gloves are another choice, though they can get in the way and will quickly get mucked up from water and fish slime. A simple and effective alternative is to use rubber protectors on the string, such as Finger Slicks or No-Glovs.
Targets
Bowfishing targets range from small suckers to giant alligator gar. And we’ve all seen the videos of archers shooting at flying Asian carp, an invasive species that is drawing growing interest among bowfishers.
The most sought-after species is the common carp, undoubtedly due to the fact that it can be found in abundance just about everywhere. Carp are an invasive species imported as a food fish from Europe in the 1800s. They have since become so abundant that fisheries managers are usually eager to have bowfishers shoot them, especially since they receive virtually no catch-and-keep pressure from traditional anglers.
The Hard Part
The old saying, “If it were easy, everybody would be doing it,” certainly applies to bowfishing.
Getting outfitted is easy, and so is finding fish. It’s the hitting part that can be tricky, and not just because you’ll be shooting instinctively.
The culprit is refraction. Because of the way light rays are bent under water, the fish you’re shooting at isn’t where it appears to be. If you aim at the fish, you will miss. You must shoot low.
The question is, how low?
Refraction depends on several factors, including the distance to the fish, its depth, and even your height. Two of those elements are constantly changing.
The key is practice, and not just at fish. Shooting at items on the bottom can help. I suggest suspending a milk jug under water. A number of submersible bowfishing targets also are available, such as Innerloc’s 3-D Gar Target by Rinehart.
After the Shots
In a good night on a productive lake or river, an experienced bowfishing tandem can load a boat with several hundred pounds of fish. Even a novice can fill a tub on a good outing.
What now?
Some bowfishing targets make excellent, if non-traditional, table fare. Those include saltwater targets such as rays and sharks, catfish (where legal), and freshwater gar.
Even though they were imported to the U.S. as a food fish, carp are not known as great table fare, in part because they are extremely bony. Smoking and pressure cooking can help with the bones, but many bowfishers simply prefer not to eat carp.
Good luck, and shoot straight!