Bowfishing
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Bowfishing Basics And Gear
Posted by admin on 01 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Bowfishing
The Beauty of Bowfishing
Bowfishing is an ancient form of hunting that has been used to gather food since prehistory, and still is a great way to harvest game, enjoy the outdoors, and help control invasive species of fish. It is becoming one of the fastest growing facets of archery and requires both hunting and fishing skills as well. Bowfishing is the act of fishing with a bow and arrow versus a traditional rod and reel, and for many reasons is considered by a lot of people to be even more difficult than bowhunting.
Bowfishing, which is classified as fishing and not hunting, is can be enjoyed by the whole family, and is an excellent way to introduce women and children to bow shooting. The whole family can practice and participate together. It is widely accepted in almost all states, and legal in almost any body of water where rod and reel fishing is allowed.
The Bowfishing Bow
Bowfishing encompasses the full spectrum of tackle uses, from the basic recurve bow with wind-on reel to specialty bows and tournament specific line retrieval reels. Bowfishing bows normally have lower draw weights than conventional hunting bows (less than 40 pounds). One that has previously been retired from deer hunting and replaced with newer equipment would make a good bow for fishing. Compound bows, traditional bows, and crossbows can all be used, along with specially designed bowfishing reels and line.
The Bowfishing Reel
The reel is the most important part of bowfishing. Wind-on reels are adequate and work, but they can be very frustrating and slow to use for the beginner. Wind-on reels (or, hand wrap reels) require the line to be wound on the spool by hand after every shot. When the arrow is fired from the bow, the line feeds out of a bowfishing reel, and then reeled back in - hopefully with a fish on it. These are good for the beginning bowfisherman, but you will likely soon outgrow it. Large spinning reels and mounts are more convenient and you can get one for around $60.
The Bowfishing Arrow
A bowfishing arrow is different than a bowhunting arrow. The arrow needs to be rigged specially for fish, and this means adding some holes to the arrow attached to fishing line, otherwise you’ll lose not only your catch, but your arrow as well. A fiberglass arrow would be a good choice. They are cheap ($15 or less), durable, and effective and are used by over 90% of all bowfishermen. The arrows need to be straight and centershot should be corrected for the arrow to come off the bow as straight as possible. Bowfishing arrows have barbs that go into the fish on the shot and hang on to the fish upon retrieval. Then, anglers loosen the fish point on the arrow by folding the small arms back and sliding the arrow out of the fish.
Where To Go Bowfishing
One neat thing about bowfishing is its availability. Bowfishing can be done from the bank of the smallest river to the world’s largest oceans. Saltwater bowfishing is very popular. Anywhere there are carp, buffalo fish, gar, and other similar species, bowfishing is possible, and in most places these fish and many other invasive or exotic species are legal for bowfishing. Avoid choppy water and fish along shores where the water is shallow and these fish hang out. Be careful and avoid being seen or making noice. If they spook, they leave in a hurry and will offer you only a split second to make your shot.
Record Carp By Bowfishing Fan
Posted by admin on 14 May 2008 | Tagged as: Bowfishing
Bowfishing and bowhunting are becoming increasingly popular methods of recreation and even food supply for many outdoorsmen. But not too many of them have had an experience quite like the one a man from Worden, ILlinois had recently.
On the 4th of May, 2008, a 92 pound carp was caught with a bow and arrow by a bowfisherman out of the Mississippi River. It’s reported that it may not be a world record, but would possible beat any previous records for carp taken with a bow and arrow in the Western World.
He had originally set out to do some bowfishing for gar from a bank near a dam on the Illinois side of the mighty Miss and ended up with what has been determined to be a bighead carp, also being called an Asian carp, with an official certified weight of 92 lbs. 8 oz, and a girth of 30 inches and length of just over 5 feet. Before this catch, the Illinois bowfishing record for a bighead carp was just over 35 pounds set in 2006, and there have been only two bigger that have been reported worldwide; a 93 pounder in Texas not too long agao, and one over 100 lbs in Pakistan many years back.
Definition: the ‘girth’ is the measurement around the widest part of the fish.
Apparantly it wasn’t just a matter of reeling the bad boy in, there was a wrestling match to go along with the action. After trying to land the fish for ten minutes, the fisherman had to jump into the water to bring it in and there was reportedly a tough tussle on the bank once the lunker was landed.
“It was real heavy, like lifting a refrigerator,” said [Darin] Opel, who ripped his jeans on the arrow sticking from the back of the carp’s head during the ruckus. “Once he got out of the water, he started fighting hard. He beat me up pretty good. He definitely got a few licks in.” Quote from Bellville News-Democrat.
The carp was taken on 200 lb. test line and had stripped about 40 yards of line out and was fought for about 5 minutes before it even surfaced. As it got a few feet from the bank, the fisherman, who has also bowfished for sharks, stingrays and alligators, is said to have jumped into the “chest-deep water” and muscle the monster ashore.
Since he can’t eat fish do to an allergy, he plans to have the carp mounted to the tune of about $3,000.
You can read the full story at BND.com
