by Joe Martino
As Scott eased the Stratos bass boat around the corner with the trolling motor, we were both in a state of anticipation as we approached the "fishing hole". Once we reached the hole, we could see several fish cruising around. I was the first one to get my line in the water. Thwack! My arrow bounced off a rock. Yes I did say arrow, but we were not after bass on this day; we were bowfishing for carp!
While it may look and sound a little odd shooting at fish with a bow and arrow, this creative pastime is full of excitement. A few years ago I got to experience the excitement first hand, as I was invited on a bowfishing adventure with good friend and local bowfishing expert Scott Leisure, whom I call "the carp guide".
It was early June when Scott guided me on what was to be the first of our many bowfishing trips together. He took me to a favorite spot of his on the Mississinewa Reservoir near Peru, Indiana. He affectionately referred to one of his honey holes as "carp cove" as it always held a lot of carp.
Yes, I know, this is a good time of year to be fishing. Well, that is true, but bowfishing is sure a good way to take a break for awhile when the fishing slows down, or just to try something different.
It was hard for me to fit my Browning Mirage with a bowfishing reel. I belly ached to him that I was unsure about equipping my treasured deer hunting bow for the purpose of shooting rough fish. He finally convinced me by reminding me how much fun it would be, so I attached the reel and the transformation was complete.
Speaking of equipment, there is no need to buy a separate bow for bowfishing. It does not take much at all to turn your bow hunting setup into a bowfishing setup. There are various types of reels on the market ranging from a manual winding round "wheel" type of reel offered by Bohning and Game Tracker to spincast reels made by Zebco and Shakespeare, all the way to the high tech retriever reels offered by the AMS Bowfishing Co. Some of these reels can even be quickly taken from the bow and fitted onto heavy fishing tackle if needed while fighting large game such as alligator and alligator gar. Any of these will suffice. They are simple to install by either screwing directly into the stabilizer hole of your bow or easily mounting onto the riser section, depending on the type of reel you choose, and that's it. Equip one of these reels with some bow fishing line and your reel is ready to go.
As far as arrow rests go, it would not hurt to install a roller type of arrow rest to your set up. These rests are designed specifically for bowfishing and they do not collapse or give under the heavy weight of a bowfishing arrow.
As for arrows, all you need is a few bowfishing arrows, which can be obtained through most tackle shops. These arrows can be made from aluminum, fiberglass, or an aluminum and fiberglass composition. They are then equipped with a line of heavy-duty wire leader or heavy monofilament fishing line running the length of the shaft. This leader is where the bow fishing line is attached.
A pair of polarized sunglasses is also a big help. They can be just the ticket and make the difference between spotting your prey or not.
I was amazed at how easy and inexpensive it was to get into the sport. What's more, it is also relatively easy to find good spots to partake in this leisurely activity. Many of our nation's waterways offer excellent opportunities to arrow rough fish. Whether you are prowling the waters of a lake in a boat, or stalking the riverbanks on foot, good bowfishing action is out there!
Carp, for instance, are a non-native species to the United States and have become overrun in some areas, making it ecologically sound to control their numbers. It is possible to accomplish this, have fun, and get in some unique archery practice at the same time.
I was also shocked to find out how easily I could consistently miss fish at distances of just a few feet. This is due to a phenomenon known as the light defraction factor. Due to this factor, the arrow will actually enter the water at a different angle than the human eye perceives. This makes it necessary to aim low on fish, generally anywhere from 6-12 inches low, depending on how far away your target is.
The action heats up when the lakes or rivers are low and clear, and the first hot days have arrived. This usually brings the carp and gar up to spawn. Good action can be had through summer also, especially at night.
Bowfisherman are not limited to shooting carp only. Most areas offer plenty of good "fishing" action for carp, gar, buffalo, and even catfish in some states. If you really feel adventurous, you could even go after alligators, or the behemoth alligator gar in some of our southern states. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the state laws and regulations before you embark on your bowfishing journeys.
The next time you find yourself wanting to try something different, or if you are out on the lake and the fishing slows up, you might want to consider dusting the bow off for a different type of hunting adventure. If the carp are visible near the surface, you could end up with a more varied catch than you expected!
As Scott eased the Stratos bass boat around the corner with the trolling motor, we were both in a state of anticipation as we approached the "fishing hole". Once we reached the hole, we could see several fish cruising around. I was the first one to get my line in the water. Thwack! My arrow bounced off a rock. Yes I did say arrow, but we were not after bass on this day; we were bowfishing for carp!
While it may look and sound a little odd shooting at fish with a bow and arrow, this creative pastime is full of excitement. A few years ago I got to experience the excitement first hand, as I was invited on a bowfishing adventure with good friend and local bowfishing expert Scott Leisure, whom I call "the carp guide".
It was early June when Scott guided me on what was to be the first of our many bowfishing trips together. He took me to a favorite spot of his on the Mississinewa Reservoir near Peru, Indiana. He affectionately referred to one of his honey holes as "carp cove" as it always held a lot of carp.
Yes, I know, this is a good time of year to be fishing. Well, that is true, but bowfishing is sure a good way to take a break for awhile when the fishing slows down, or just to try something different.
It was hard for me to fit my Browning Mirage with a bowfishing reel. I belly ached to him that I was unsure about equipping my treasured deer hunting bow for the purpose of shooting rough fish. He finally convinced me by reminding me how much fun it would be, so I attached the reel and the transformation was complete.
Speaking of equipment, there is no need to buy a separate bow for bowfishing. It does not take much at all to turn your bow hunting setup into a bowfishing setup. There are various types of reels on the market ranging from a manual winding round "wheel" type of reel offered by Bohning and Game Tracker to spincast reels made by Zebco and Shakespeare, all the way to the high tech retriever reels offered by the AMS Bowfishing Co. Some of these reels can even be quickly taken from the bow and fitted onto heavy fishing tackle if needed while fighting large game such as alligator and alligator gar. Any of these will suffice. They are simple to install by either screwing directly into the stabilizer hole of your bow or easily mounting onto the riser section, depending on the type of reel you choose, and that's it. Equip one of these reels with some bow fishing line and your reel is ready to go.
As far as arrow rests go, it would not hurt to install a roller type of arrow rest to your set up. These rests are designed specifically for bowfishing and they do not collapse or give under the heavy weight of a bowfishing arrow.
As for arrows, all you need is a few bowfishing arrows, which can be obtained through most tackle shops. These arrows can be made from aluminum, fiberglass, or an aluminum and fiberglass composition. They are then equipped with a line of heavy-duty wire leader or heavy monofilament fishing line running the length of the shaft. This leader is where the bow fishing line is attached.
A pair of polarized sunglasses is also a big help. They can be just the ticket and make the difference between spotting your prey or not.
I was amazed at how easy and inexpensive it was to get into the sport. What's more, it is also relatively easy to find good spots to partake in this leisurely activity. Many of our nation's waterways offer excellent opportunities to arrow rough fish. Whether you are prowling the waters of a lake in a boat, or stalking the riverbanks on foot, good bowfishing action is out there!
Carp, for instance, are a non-native species to the United States and have become overrun in some areas, making it ecologically sound to control their numbers. It is possible to accomplish this, have fun, and get in some unique archery practice at the same time.
I was also shocked to find out how easily I could consistently miss fish at distances of just a few feet. This is due to a phenomenon known as the light defraction factor. Due to this factor, the arrow will actually enter the water at a different angle than the human eye perceives. This makes it necessary to aim low on fish, generally anywhere from 6-12 inches low, depending on how far away your target is.
The action heats up when the lakes or rivers are low and clear, and the first hot days have arrived. This usually brings the carp and gar up to spawn. Good action can be had through summer also, especially at night.
Bowfisherman are not limited to shooting carp only. Most areas offer plenty of good "fishing" action for carp, gar, buffalo, and even catfish in some states. If you really feel adventurous, you could even go after alligators, or the behemoth alligator gar in some of our southern states. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the state laws and regulations before you embark on your bowfishing journeys.
The next time you find yourself wanting to try something different, or if you are out on the lake and the fishing slows up, you might want to consider dusting the bow off for a different type of hunting adventure. If the carp are visible near the surface, you could end up with a more varied catch than you expected!