RE: newbie questions
Geeze Grizzly, you have any idea what you're getting yourself into? Most of us on here use to fish with a rod and reel .....before bowfishing. It's an addiction, no doubt about it. Once you hit a decent one and it runs, you're done. It's all you're going to want to do. You've been warned!
Now, all you need to be legal is a fishing license.
A good arrow, in my opinion, is any fiberglass arrow with a safety slide or cable (they both do the same thing). I like the cheap white ones because, well, they're cheap, and because they shoot well out of my bow. Bowfishing arrows are very stiff and these are the lightest-spined-ones, so they fly a little better. When you get better and start aiming for deeper fish, then get a heavier/tougher arrow.
Muzzy is a good head, and Shure Shots are pretty popular too from what I hear. Me and most people I know shoot Muzzys. Either gar tips or carp tips. I haven't noticed a difference one from the other personally.
Next, you have to have some sort of reel, and if you're going for Asian carp, I would tell you to get a reel-seat and a spincast or two. I like the Shakespeare Synergys. You can find them for under $20.00 if you look. I don't know how a Retriever would work with them, but I heard the Asian carprun pretty deep. But get a good seat. An all-metal one. I think they're between $20-$30 bucks.
The line I use is either 120-lb or 130lb fastflight. It works great in the spincasts. Nothing too big tho. Some guys like the Power Pro. I haven't used it, so I don't know what pound test to recommend.
A decent pair of gloves, like those Mechanic's gloves are great. You don't need a glove/tab, and it helps keep you from getting cut-up on the line and gar-teeth and to get a good grip on slippery fish.
And last, a good pair of polarized glasses, and a hat, to shade your eyes from the sun. You'll see everything in the water. I like the amber-lenses, but on bright days, the smoked are great.
Oh, and I use my fish for fertilizer, and to feed the local wildlife on private land I have permission to dump them on. I hear gar and Asian-carp are very good eating, so you might want to give it a try. Someone on here will tell you where to get recipes and directions for cleaning them.
I think that's it. Good luck and take tons of pictures.
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