what bows U use
 

Just wondering the preferneces of everyone in IL. I had been a recurve lover but got some discovery II's and was impressed. Just got an aquaforce also for another back up. Went walley fishing and took my two recurves out incase fish were not biting and they didn't. So we found some fish and i had more pulloffs on big buffs than ever b4 and all the ones i got was about to pull off. Shot a common at point blank in head and bounced off even tho fish went belly up for a while. I always thought it was me in the previous years. Now im breaking down the one recurve and giving it back to my dad and putting the other as my newbie bow or backups backup. Top note is i found a brand new yellow jacket arrow with plastic stil on tip has a sting-a-ree but i can change that pretty quick.

Oneida Ospreys!!!!! :barmy: Shoot the yellow jacket arrows with a long barb piranha tip. Bend the barbs in close to the shaft... Shouldn't have too much of a problem with pull offs..

I shoot a onieda aeroforce x80. I love it. The only other bow I would use as a primary would be a 5150 angler. My dad shoots a onieda liteforce and my other teammate shoots a screamin eagle. I just switched to the yellow jacket arrows this year and love em.

First of all don't imediately blame pull offs on the bow. It probably has much more to do with arrow flight (tuning and release) and type of point. If the arrow isn't flying straight, it will tear a bigger hole. A bigger hole allows the tip to pull out. Buffalo fish are some of the softest fleshed fish out there. And therefore they are the easiest to pull off.

Back to the original question, Recurve shooter here. Nothing I've tried is as lightweight or points and shoots as well. IMO

I just recently picked up an Alpine Mako. It has it's pluses. It has a good smooth draw. It shot clear through the only fish I've shot with it. But later my recurve was shooting clear through them also. This is a minus when shooting gar or in really shallow.

Lethal Louie and myself are both shooting the
Diamond Razor Edge Compound Bow, they are highly ajustable in draw length without needing a bow press and highly ajustable in draw weight, light mass weight bow, smooth draw cycle nice letoff and comfy for shooting fingers as well. We have been very happy with them for bowfishing. Mine also serves as my backup hunting bow.
I wish I could do the recurve thing but my shoulders and elbow dont seem to like the No Letoff thing :(
Kendal nailed it
" First of all don't imediately blame pull offs on the bow. It probably has much more to do with arrow flight (tuning and release) and type of point. If the arrow isn't flying straight, it will tear a bigger hole. A bigger hole allows the tip to pull out. Buffalo fish are some of the softest fleshed fish out there. And therefore they are the easiest to pull off."

Thanks Deb. I learned it all from you. :hail:

I got a good deal on this Mako and decided to give it a try. I have to say that I like it. But it won't replace my recurve.
At $300, it is cheaper than most recurves out there.


The bottom line is to find a bow YOU like. If you shoot a lot, (and if you bowfish much you will) you will want a bow you are comfortable shooting.

well i have not tuned it with a bowfishing arrow and i do shoot the long barbs with barbs bent in i shoot the white or blue shafts since they are cheap. Got a few yellow jackets i might start shooting as primarys. It probably did need tuned with the bowfishing arrow on it since it always left some massive holes. Which i just attributed towards it only going part way in and wroking on that one hole the entire fight. I just think im going strickly compound for bowfishing cause at 29# i can draw back like 10" and still go thru both sides on alot of fish with the DII. PLus i have small draw anyways and im short so the recurve is not made for me

ALso i really like that mako...does it have the no letoff or not for snap shooting?

Man K you shot a sitting duck there... From the looks of the arrow he was already doing a backstroke before you stuck em' LMAO

Oneida Talon, same bow as the Osprey but with a woodland camo. I've shot fish with Oneidas for over 20 years but their newest bows are their finest in that they're so light in hand, making it easy to hold your bow all day or night. I've used recurves from time to time but in all honesty, I'm a terrible instinctive recurve shooter, barely able to hit the water let alone a fish. I've also tried some of the newer "bowfishing" bows in the last few years and my problem with many is the finger pinch associated with such short length bows but they are a great value. It's such a shame the Oneidas have increased in price beyond what many are willing to pay for a bow that is going to get messy (hopefully).

For jumping silvers a compound is hard to beat, but for shooting fish in the water a recurve cannot be beat. We shoot samick recurves, sage and a red stag. Any old recurve with a ams reel will do the trick, but as with all outdoor sports we often want to spend more that is actually necessary to do the job. :) Manufacturers love it when we want the latest, greatest gizzmo.

what poundages does everyone shoot and howu shoot these bows the most (like rolling gar or deep carp?)

My Oneida Osprey is set at 28-30lbs. I've taken some good sized carp in 4' of water with it. I've even gotten bigheads 6' deep... but that was shooting almost straight down.

My TNT Revolution is at 30-35lbs. Here's a picture of that bow and a good sized carp.


I may be getting a Mathews Craze to try out for bowfishing this year.

:sign0018: but is that metal gaurd like rod thing custom or something you bought for it? how well does that work?

:lolabove: Joe that is a custom Carpsniper line guide. :p It works great. But they are tough to get.

nice i like it...what gauge did u use on it just 1/8"?

i always set the bow down and pull em in anyways but that looks like it would help alot

If you would like a line guide for your AMS reel, shoot me a PM. I'll hook you up. :happy0001:

Joe, Carpsniper made that one.

They used sell them but I haven't seen one for sale lately. Kendall could probably make one for you.

I think they make a big difference when reeling in. Keeps the line feeding directly into the reel no matter if the line is going behind you or off to the side. :)

Man you guys type fast... or my computer is slow.

and the pages on this message board load really slooow.

I know I'm becoming an old fart but feel there is something wrong when your arrow is longer than the bow, that just isn't right. Now...... the fish being longer than the bow is great.

A lot of us when we shoot a fish do not have to lay the bow down and pull in the fish. We just reel it in and shoot another one. Joe does make a nice line guide I use it when shooting big heads.

Becoming? :happy0157: ;)



:party0005:

My #1 bow is an early 70's 45 lb Bear Grizzly recurve. Shot my first on purpose double with it today, two 18+" commons, using a plain white shaft and a Sureshot point.

My wife quit shooting so I use her 45-60 Martin Bengal . super smooth draw
The pink sling and grips are long gone but its still sporting the pink and grey strings and cables .and yes I shoot it with the limbdriver on it I just load the spring on the arm a little more for the extra arrow weight . Shoots great . Also have 2 bears rigged out . One youth and a early 80's model also have a older pse as a backup bow .

AWWWWE ~ Come on Scott you need to be sporting the Pink Bling, You know I bet you look pretty in Pink :p
Hey by the way your boat is looking good.

Why thanks , I get it finished up I will give ya a call to come out . gotta find someone that can put some new seals in my lower unit fairly quick . got anyone close that reasonable and quick ?