What do I need to start?
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Steubenville, Ohio
Posts: 306

Hi there I'm new to this site and love it
. i have been thinking about bow fishin and have a few questions. # can I use a longbow? or is a recurve better? what kind or reel, or a tape on spool. i have seen them in the 3 rivers cat. what else do you need to start with? I would appreciateany help. Thank you for reading and helping out a new future bowfisherman


#3

Welcome!!
A longbow works fine, it's just, well, long.
Recurves are awesome for bowfishing, particularly ones that aren't real long or very heavy (actual weight, not pull).
Tape on spools are good to start with.They're the cheapestand fastest way to start. However, if you do much bowfishing, you may find it too slow and troublesome after awhile.
If you get the right gadget adapters you can use a spincast reel or a retreiver reel. (some people also make their own out of bicycle innertubes and wood)

A longbow works fine, it's just, well, long.

Recurves are awesome for bowfishing, particularly ones that aren't real long or very heavy (actual weight, not pull).
Tape on spools are good to start with.They're the cheapestand fastest way to start. However, if you do much bowfishing, you may find it too slow and troublesome after awhile.
If you get the right gadget adapters you can use a spincast reel or a retreiver reel. (some people also make their own out of bicycle innertubes and wood)

#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Steubenville, Ohio
Posts: 306

Thanks to all! How about the PSE kingfisher comb to start? would that be a good idea it looks like you get everything you need to start for 139. I live about 40 minutes from the Wheeling WV Cabela's and i'm just dying of a new excuse to tell my wife why I have to go back there

#7

Check out the AMS Fish hawk comboalso. We have a link to their site at www.Illinoisbowfishers.com
If you want to stick with a long bow you can use the Great Northern gadget adapter. I'm pretty sure 3-rivers sells them.
Good luck!
If you want to stick with a long bow you can use the Great Northern gadget adapter. I'm pretty sure 3-rivers sells them.
Good luck!
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Steubenville, Ohio
Posts: 306

Thank you for the website Christine!I checked it out and did not relize how popular bowfishing is I can not think of 1 person I know in my area that bowfishes. Now I'm of to 3 rivers to check out the Great Northern gadget adapter. I have another question about the vanes on fishing arrows are the soft and pliable or hard like A vane on an aluminum or carbon. Cut i tried to shoot off my shelf and the vanes did not work to well.
#9

Fishhunter:
Where do you get the threaded inserts for the holes?
I've never seen them for sale.
OHDeerguts:
I hate vanes on BF arrows. I think they are pretty useless, and I don't buy the arrows with them unless I need one right now, and then I just cut them off. The vanes might clear a BF Whisker Biscuit OK, but it will hit almost any other type of fest.
I drill two holes in the riser and mound the retriever with #10 bolts.
I've never seen them for sale.
OHDeerguts:
I hate vanes on BF arrows. I think they are pretty useless, and I don't buy the arrows with them unless I need one right now, and then I just cut them off. The vanes might clear a BF Whisker Biscuit OK, but it will hit almost any other type of fest.