By Beka Garris
Bowfishing is one of the fastest growing activities in the outdoor industry. Just in the past few years it’s popularity has exploded. When I first decided I wanted to get into bowfishing six years ago, the only people I personally knew that bowfished were old enough to be my grandfather, and none of them were female.
Nowadays, many of my friends and family are interested in bowfishing and tournaments have become popular all over the United States. Bowfishing is a fairly easy sport to get into, and it doesn’t have to cost much either. I spend most of the summer months on the river or at local lakes shooting fish until hunting season starts back up again.
Gear
BOW – If you have the money, there are several great bowfishing companies out there that manufacture bows and gear specifically for bowfishing. Cajun Bowfishing has a great selection, both online and in any Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s store. If you are on a budget, you have a few options as well. If you have an old hunting bow or just an extra bow lying around, it will work just fine. If not, check out local pawnshops, yard sales and Craigslist to find a cheap, used bow with a draw weight of 35 to 55 pounds. This draw weight is perfect for bowfishing, any less than 35 can be hard to get good penetration and any heavier than 55 is just overkill.
REEL – While there are simple hand reels available with a spool that screws into your bow and line wraps around, these can quickly become bothersome and frustrating. Bottle reels are most popular for bowfishing as they are easy to use and generally very sturdy.
The reel is made up of a plastic bottle that encloses your bowfishing line with a winch-style handle to reel in the line. However, most bottle reels aren’t strong enough to withstand reeling a fish in solely by the winch, so you will want to bring your fish in by hand and then reel in your line.
The third type of reel is a spinning reel. This looks like a standard push button fishing reel, only larger. The bowfishing line is fully enclosed, and these reels will use a thinner braided line than the other types of bowfishing reels. Spinning reels are my favorite simply because they tend to operate faster and smoother, but they do require more maintenance.
REST – Simple is always best. The last thing you want is to release your arrow and have your line wrap around your arrow rest. This can be dangerous, so don’t take it lightly. You can use a simple whisker biscuit rest or a shelf rest. Keep in mind some whisker biscuits aren’t sturdy enough for the extra weight of bowfishing arrows, so if using one of these rests, you’ll want to test this early on. I prefer a fully enclosed rest that completely encompasses the arrow, but either way, you will want a rest that is sturdy with no moving parts.
ARROWS – The arrows you will use are much different than the standard hunting arrow. Bowfishing arrows are made of fiberglass, and are long and heavy to be able to penetrate deep water and still go through a fish. The type of bowfishing tips on the arrow can be crucial depending on the type of fish you are shooting. Especially with soft-bodied fish such as carp, large flat prongs work best.
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES – Comparing no sunglasses, sunglasses and polarized sunglasses when looking for things under the water, the differences are simply amazing. Polarized sunglasses are definitely a necessary if you are planning to bowfish during the day. Even a cheap pair will make all the difference when it comes to spotting fish in the water. If you can’t see the fish, you can’t shoot the fish!
With how fast-paced and instinctive shooting bowfishing is, most bowfishing bows do not have a bow sight and are used without a release. However, I do recommend plastic Finger Savers on your bowstring to keep from hurting your hands, or wear a pair of gloves.
Target Fish
The type of fish you shoot will vary depending on where you live. Always make sure to check your local fish and game laws, as most states prohibit shooting any fish that aren’t considered invasive. You will also most likely need a fishing and/or hunting license.
Here in Ohio, I shoot a variety of fish including carp, suckers, gar and freshwater drum. These fish are on the invasive species or ‘trash fish’ list, meaning they are detrimental to the waters they reside in. Removing them from the waters is helpful to the ecosystem, as well as helpful to other fish populations. Carp in particular can take over large bodies of water in short periods of time and obliterate species such as bass, sunfish, and even make the waters difficult for ducks to live in.
There are also different species of carp, such as common carp, buffalo carp and bighead carp, as well as different gar, such as longnose gar, shortnose gar and the huge alligator gar. Many states also have a frog season, which is a challenge as well.
Many people will simply use the fish they shoot for fertilizer, coyote bait or cut bait for catfishing. Most game farms and farmers will also take any fish you shoot to feed their animals. Certain species such as gar, suckers and drum are very good to eat, but it is important to clean and put them on ice right away. No matter what you decide to do, it’s important to dispose of the fish you shoot in a proper manner and not just leave them to rot on the riverbanks.
Boats
Flat-bottom boats are very popular for bowfishing, whether these are small jon boats that allow you to get to shallow backwaters or more expensive boats with high decks and mounted lights specifically for bowfishing. Boats are a great way to bowfish, especially with other people. However, a boat is definitely not necessary to get out and shoot fish as many people start their first bowfishing adventures from shore. I spend most of my time wading creeks and walking the banks, and I still shoot plenty of fish. I also bought a paddleboard last year to use at one of our local lakes, and it was a blast.
In the Dark
Bowfishing can also be very successful, and is often most popular, at night. However, having a proper setup with mounted lights is key, except bugs can be extremely difficult. You want to be near the lights to see well, but you can also have massive swarms of bugs at all of your lights as well as be fighting mosquitos. Make sure to prepare for this with proper clothing and strong bug spray.
While bowfishing at night is easiest in a boat, it can be done just as well from shore. I recommend getting a stream light to mount on your bow or a strong headlamp with a long battery life. However, again bugs will likely be an issue. With the lighting being so close to your face using a headlamp, you will also need to wear a face mask to cover your mouth and nose during the summer months, or you will be inhaling dozens of the hundreds gnats and mosquitoes.
At night, the fish tend to sit right along the bank in the shallows, so if you are quiet, you can get right up on top of them. You have to be quick though, as they’ll swim off as soon as they see your shadow or hear your footsteps.
It took me a few times out before I finally got the hang of shooting fish… it can be tricky due to the refraction of the light on the water, and everything will appear closer than it is. You will need to aim low in order to hit the fish, and the deeper the fish, the lower you will need to aim. At first it may seem like you’ll never get the hang of it, but after you hit a few, you won’t even think about it. If you are feeling discouraged, fill a few plastic bottles with sand and toss them into a clear, shallow creek to practice.
Give bowfishing a shot — you won’t be disappointed. And one of the added bonuses of bowfishing all summer is you will be keeping your bow muscles in shape for when hunting season rolls around again in the fall.
Click to view the author’s ‘How to Filet a Gar’ and ‘Frying Gar’ videos!
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Beka Garris grew up hunting and fishing with her dad, brothers and sisters. Currently living in Ohio, she strives to live the outdoor lifestyle through hunting, fishing, bowfishing, gathering and farming. Visit her website at bekagarris.com.
