getting started??
 

I want to get into bow fishing. What, where , why and how do I go about it. I assume there is more to it than grabbing my bow and shooting some fish? Or is it that simple? Any advice to get me started would be appreciated. thanks

Yeah, it is about that simple. Decide on a real kit for your bow, maybe use an old bow and turn it down. Don't want to use release, slows you down and you need to make quick shots.

If you find you like it then I would invest in a bow especially for bowfishing so you can take shots without having to be full draw.

Know your species and local regs before going.

Have fun and most importantly, aim low.

btw, most don't even use sights on bowfishing bows.

Ah Bowfishing.... I just got back into bowfishing this year, and i got to say i reach for my bow now more then my rods in the summer.

Like 7danny said know your regs first, where i live they encourage us to shoot all the carps, gar and especially Snake heads we can handle. I would get an old bow to start, im using my old Browning bow i used to hunt with when i was a teenager, no peep or loop or any of that crap, get good with your fingers. If you use a sight sight it in low.. I mean put a paper plate in the yard and shoot at it, and make sure the arrow is hitting a good 8 inches below the plate, Thats on in the bowfishing world, water refraction is something you got to get used too....

AMS has a bunch of crap for bowfishing, its what they do. I highly recommend spending the money on one of their reels, and get a good rest too, you can use any rest you want, but the ams rest or the whisker bisquit bowfishing rest are great. Any fiberglass arrow will work, and i love Interloc heads(3 barb grapple point), not a fan of others i have tried.

http://www.amsbowfishing.com/

http://www.innerloc.com/Pages/prod_H2O.htm

And lastly..... Have a blast!

Thanks for the input. Just wondering why no release, peep or loop?

Takes to much time... You need to be able to pull and release very quickly. Most shots are on the move and usually happens very fast. I mean you can use all that stuff if you want, but you will be drawing and the fish will be darting off in the other direction by the time your ready to shoot. My friends wife uses a release, loop and peep and she takes a lot fewer shots then me or him just because she can never get ready fast enough, or cant line everything up quickly enough.

if you have ever shotted with a recurve or longbow try a set-up with a more traditional bow.

This is a Recurve with a Zebco 808 bowfishing reel with muzzy pole. Muzzy arrows with sliders. Works well.

There's one!SHOOT!Attachment 12425

if your a tru hunter dont do it, onley if you eat the fish
 

Do you eat the mosquitos or ticks that you kill? If a mouse or a roach moves into your house, do you leave it alone or do you kill it and eat it? Do you eat the dandelions in your yard after you put down some weed killer?

We kill carp. Lots of them. It's fun and we don't apologize for doing it. Nor should we. And since when are we not supposed to have fun in our outdoor pursuits? Would you be okay with bowfishing if we only frowned when we did it??

It has been proven many times over that common carp are destructive, invasive species and that killing them is a good for our lakes and rivers. No need to be grim about it. http://www.carpbusters.com/documents/9_1_06_CT_art_.pdf (I could post dozens of 'carp are destructive' research papers here)

If you don't want to bowfish, then don't do it. But don't come on here telling us we are unethical. We are the ones helping out the waterways.

Ok back on topic. (sorta) is say 30-35lbs draw weight ok for say gar and carp or do I want something heavier?

You would be fine with that weight. I shoot 34 pounds at 28 inch draw on my recurve. Heavier the draw weight the harder it is on arrows when you miss. A ton of guys shoot less weight than that even.

i bowfish and i have tryed carp its not bad. if it wasnt for bowfishing carp would ruin your bass,pike,walleye fishers we are doing all you guys that fish a favor.

OK, just got a compound bow. Can you explain how you real the fish in? Is the fishing line tied to the arrow? Do you have it hooked on to a fishing pole? Or do you spool the line on the bow, and then grab it with your hands and real it/tug it in? Or can you get reels to attach to the bow?

Reeling in fish
 

That in part depends on your setup. Yes the line is tied to your arrow. Most use 80 to 200 pound test made for bowfishing but I prefer 45 pound braided catfish line that reduces the chance of the arrow coming back from a snag (the line breaks) but with the new bottle type reels they have these days it's not really the issue it was when I first started. With a bottle type or a spincast reel you simply reel the fish in. With the block type reel often used by beginners you pull them in hand over hand.

You would approve of that weight. I shoot 34 pounds at 28 inch draw on my recursive. Heavier the draw weight the harder it is on bolts when you miss. A huge amount of folks shoot less weight than that even.

Hi guys i am railey new here ,feeling so nice to get all of you.I want to know about bow fishing from all of you guys by huntingnet. So please give me tips & tricks to get me started, it would be appreciated. thanks