Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

I've been flirting with the idea of giving bowfishing a try for a couple of years, but still haven't done it. I've been bowhunting for around 4 years and the offseason gets harder on me every year so I think I'm going to finally do it :) I wont be out much because I've already got a PSE silverhawk I'm not using the draw lenght is a little too short for me, but I think it will get the job done.

I've got a question for you how do you tune your bowfishing rigs? The only thing I could think of would be walk back tuning. This might be a stupid question, but I hope you guys can help a newbie out.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

Simply shoot into still water and adjust nock height and rest so you make the least amount of splash on entrance or find a soft dirt bank or mound of sand and shoot into it and adjust accordingly for nock high/low and in/out. You can also achieve better tuning if needed by cutting the length of the fiberglass arrow, in effect increasing spine, or adjusting the weight of the barbed point. Heavier point will decrease spine, lighter head will increase stiffness. You're on the right track to tune the bow as your arrow will penetrate the water better with less deflection and will penetrate large fish better as well.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

Thanks robow I thought there must be some way to tune a bow for bowfishing. I still haven't picked up any equipment yet, but I'll use your method to set the nock height. I don't have an arrow saw so I'm going to hope the spine will be halfway close. Are there different spinned fiberglass arrows? I haven't really looked that close at any of the stuff.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

It is rare to need to cut down any fish arrows for spine issues. You will be fine. The best and quickest way to get it done is on the water. It normally takes me about five minutes to set a new bow up on the water, ten to fifteen if I am going to make my own rest out of epoxy. Having the arrow tied on and the line wet is important to get the true picture of how your setup is going to shoot as well.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

Thanks Robin it is going to have to warm up here a lot before I can shoot any arrows into the water :) I need to check out my reg book and see what I need to bowfish. I'm guessing a fishing license, but knowing Iowa they probably have something else required so they can make more money lol.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

I've only cut down one arrow, and that's only because it was cracked. Mostly I just watch the nocking point. You'll find that you'll need to nock a fish arrow higher than you would a regular arrow.

BTW, Iowa has a good bowfishing association. The Bowfishing Association of Iowa. You can visit the BAI at http://www.bowfishiowa.com/

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

Thanks Christine I'll take a look at that website. The ponds are starting to thaw now I wish I would have picked up the bowfishing kit I saw before Spring break started. Oh well guess I'll have to wait to see how well I can shoot an arrow with a line on it :)
Another question I had was what would you recomend for targets?I thought maybe I could paint up some milk jugs and tie weights on the bottom and throw them out a little for practice. The only problem I saw with this is that they wont work for more than one shot so any suggestions would be great.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

Sunken pop cans a few feet from shore are good targets. Sink them in 1-3 feet of water and don't stop shooting till you get them all. They'll be good for a few shots each, and if you get good at hitting them fish will be a breeze, since the cans are smaller than most carp you'll see.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

That sounds like a good idea bowman, but will pop cans damage the arrows? I'm use to shooting carbon arrows and I've seen pics floating around the bowhunting section with arrows sticking out of hands so I'm a little cautious after that. I think I must be the only college kid anxious for Springbreak to end so I can start flinging some arrows.

RE: Tuning a bow for bow fishing?
 

IADeer, do you have Muzzy carbon fish arrows? If you do, they're solid carbon. They wont blow up. Neither will fiberglass fish arrows. I do suggest not sinking the cans over rocks tho'. ;)