AZ FSJ'r Report post Posted August 25, 2010 I recently purchased a NEW to ME, PSE Fire-Flite bow and would like to begin Archary fishing(Carp) so what do I need toget started? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted August 25, 2010 Bowfishing can be a very addicting sport, you'll have a lot of fun with it! It's best to bowfish off a boat as it gives you access to more water and gives you a better angle on the fish. It's still a blast to bowfish from the bank and you can stalk around just like hunting critters. The spring time and on into early summer is the best time to do it when the fish are spawning and visible close to the surface and in shallow water. You can do it at night which will extend your season by using lights mounted to a boat and just cruise around. I haven't done that but heard it's a blast in the mid to late summer! The hardest thing is getting a feel for the water refraction. It vary's by how deep the fish is, but there is a visual distortion which changes depending on the angle in which you are looking into the water. A boat decreases this angle and allows you to see deeper and with less refraction or distortion because you can be higher and more up and down on the fish. the closer to the water you are and the more you are looking level to the surface the more the angle distorts where the fish is actually at. With more horizontal angle you shoot lower than the fish appears, with less horizontal and more vertical angle you shoot under but not nearly as much. This is the hardest thing about bowfishing but it can be mastered with lots of practice. You can read about it as much as you can but it all boils down to seeing it for yourself and getting a feel for it firsthand. The best practice is go to the lake with some foam fish targets and tie a rope under them to a lead weight or rock and sink them at different depths and distances. Practice shooting them at different angles and depths and you'll be amazed at how much lower the target can be compared to where it appears! There's lots of different equipment nowdays and they are all good for beginners, Cabelas sells some nice packages that will get ya started for not too much money. As you progress you can get crazy with custom arrows, fish points etc. I'll send a P.M. with more info, have fun and best of luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ FSJ'r Report post Posted August 26, 2010 Thank you that is very good info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 26, 2010 Cool info Coosefan!! I bet there are others who would love to get into bowfishing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted August 26, 2010 I bowfish a little every year and and used to do it much more back when I had more time and less responsibilities...i miss those days. I was never very good at it but I loved it! It's an awesome combination of hunting and fishing, especially if you get in the water with em' and stalk em'! I would reccomend that you pay close attention to the desert lakes in early spring and look for fish along the banks in shallow water. There are good days and bad days, some days there are fish all over the place rollin' and splashin' in the shallows and other days they are more out in open water or deeper. When you get on a good day it's a blast and your arms and fingers will be hurting from all the action! Again, a boat will help out immensely and especially one with a high platform to lessen your angle into the water but it's not necessary. There are folks on this site who are much better at bowfishin' than I am, hopefully they will post pics and advice for ya! Here are some pics i have handy.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ FSJ'r Report post Posted August 27, 2010 can't wait toget in to it. thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
