Bowfishing Basics: 3 Steps so a Person Can Get Started

bow fishing

Everything you've wanted to know about the art of bowfishing is right here! And if you've already mastered the bowfishing experience, you'll probably learn a few more tips and tricks you didn't even know in this article. Beka Garris knows everything there is about bowfishing, and she has some tips to share with us:

Most people are under the impression that bowfishing must be an expensive sport. Fact is, it doesn't have to be. My first setup only cost me about $30. Most of it was old equipment that my dad had lying around the garage. I started out bowfishing with a Browning youth model compound and a metal

Bear archery hand reel from the 1970s. I shot as accurately and killed just as many fish with that bow as I do now with my upgrade. You can easily put together a decent setup for about $120. Craigslist and eBay are a great source for used bows, as are pawn shops and yard sales. I’ve picked up several extra bows for $25 apiece off Craigslist. Just keep in mind you want the draw weight to be somewhere in between 25 and 50 pounds.

Depending on what type of reel you are looking to purchase, the price will vary. You can get a basic hand reel for $10, and the simplicity of these is great. If you’re looking for an AMS bottle reel or Muzzy spinner, you can pick up either of these with line for under $60. Fiberglass bowfishing arrows can run between $10 and $20 each, depending on the brand. Arrows and tips are one thing I don’t buy cheap, as they are the key to bringing your fish all the way in. When in doubt, go with a grapple tip.

Contrary to popular belief, many fish targeted with a bow are great to eat. Despite their somewhat hideous appearance, long-nosed gar taste great, especially their deer-like backstraps. They are easily my favorite to clean and cook. You must use caution when cleaning female gar, as the eggs are poisonous to all mammals. Take care to rinse the meat well. Gar skulls also make a killer European mount.

The idea of cleaning and cooking carp may not seem appealing, but I enjoy smoked carp which tastes a bit like beef jerky. Simple carp patties, made with ground carp, chopped onion, celery, lemon juice, egg, mayo, and seasonings are also good. Suckers are also tasty, and produce a flaky white meat with very little of the fishy flavor that is so often associated with freshwater fish.
Be prepared to miss—a lot. Because I share a good portion of my bowfishing adventures on social media, many people are under the mistaken impression that I don’t miss. Well, I most certainly do.

Aiming is the most difficult aspect of the sport. Light refraction on the water makes judging depth for precise aiming points a bit tricky. A good pair of polarized sunglasses helps for bowfishing during the day. A solid rule of thumb for beginners is to aim low. When I first started bowfishing, I would practice on water bottles and soda cans in the yard. Even practicing at small targets on land can greatly improve your shooting, and when teaching others to bowfish I found this is a great exercise.

Much like bowhunting, you want to make sure that you are consistent. Although proper form and follow through aren’t quite as important, being consistent when it comes to anchor point and release makes a big difference.

Have you tried bowfishing before? As the information above states, practice makes perfect. Even if you've never tried bowfishing yet it's never too late to start. And if you happen to live by a body of water why not?!

Source: Outdoor Life

Featured Image via Beka Garris


One Comment;

  1. Mitch Younger said:

    its harder then it looks. I missed 6 of my first 7 shots on a carp at 25 feet.

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