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Spring archery season.

Started thinking about getting into bowfishing as an off-season meat producer. My limited research over the past couple days has me asking A LOT of questions (recurve vs. compound, etc.). The lack of sub-$200 lefthand bow setups may keep me out of it though. Anybody have suggestions for a bow that won't break the bank?

Looked up the regs here and we're allowed to bowfish carp and gar. Not having been any kind of fisherman in the past, are these two kinds of fish good eating?
If you have an old bow it can be converted into a bow fishing rig pretty cheap. I've only had gar once. It was good. Lots of videos about both on YouTube. No clue about carp.
 
Started thinking about getting into bowfishing as an off-season meat producer. My limited research over the past couple days has me asking A LOT of questions (recurve vs. compound, etc.). The lack of sub-$200 lefthand bow setups may keep me out of it though. Anybody have suggestions for a bow that won't break the bank?

Looked up the regs here and we're allowed to bowfish carp and gar. Not having been any kind of fisherman in the past, are these two kinds of fish good eating?
I’ve bowfished my whole life. Go to the local pawn shops and find you a cheap ol used bow. I bought a Bear Whitetail 2 about 10 years ago for $40. Slap you on a bow fishing reel and rest and you’re ready to go. I’ve shot plenty of fish with that setup.
 
If you have an old bow it can be converted into a bow fishing rig pretty cheap. I've only had gar once. It was good. Lots of videos about both on YouTube. No clue about carp.
Thanks buddy. My oldest daughter lost interest in the Diamond Edge I bought her awhile ago. I thought about converting it because the thing is so dern adjustable but I read that they take so much abuse a recurve may be better suited for bowfishing (cams getting wet, etc.). That, and one of my 4 other daughters or my son may eventually want to shoot that Diamond.
 
I’ve bowfished my whole life. Go to the local pawn shops and find you a cheap ol used bow. I bought a Bear Whitetail 2 about 10 years ago for $40. Slap you on a bow fishing reel and rest and you’re ready to go. I’ve shot plenty of fish with that setup.
Ha! Second recommendation to convert an old bow (@denots) :)

Ok. So, you think the Diamond will be ok for it? Bottle reel or stabilizer mounted one?
 
It depends
Ha! Second recommendation to convert an old bow (@denots) :)

Ok. So, you think the Diamond will be ok for it? Bottle reel or stabilizer mounted one?
on what you’re fishing for. I fished for gator gar so I preferred the bottle so that it could be a loose line if need be. Drum, small far, etc... you’d probably be okay with a stabilizer mount
 
Thanks buddy. My oldest daughter lost interest in the Diamond Edge I bought her awhile ago. I thought about converting it because the thing is so dern adjustable but I read that they take so much abuse a recurve may be better suited for bowfishing (cams getting wet, etc.). That, and one of my 4 other daughters or my son may eventually want to shoot that Diamond.
It takes abuse, you’ll probably never want to deer hunt with it after the fact. But I preferred a compound due to holding back on fish waiting for the right shot. It’s all in your preference. I shot about 30-40 pounds with a 30” draw length and killed gar as big as 7’2” and plenty of big buffalo and carp.
 
It takes abuse, you’ll probably never want to deer hunt with it after the fact. But I preferred a compound due to holding back on fish waiting for the right shot. It’s all in your preference. I shot about 30-40 pounds with a 30” draw length and killed gar as big as 7’2” and plenty of big buffalo and carp.
Right on. From my reading it looks like the general consensus is that all bowfishing is "instinctive". For a guy not familiar with trad, how does that work with a compound?
 
Started thinking about getting into bowfishing as an off-season meat producer. My limited research over the past couple days has me asking A LOT of questions (recurve vs. compound, etc.). The lack of sub-$200 lefthand bow setups may keep me out of it though. Anybody have suggestions for a bow that won't break the bank?

Looked up the regs here and we're allowed to bowfish carp and gar. Not having been any kind of fisherman in the past, are these two kinds of fish good eating?
If you can find a old bow at a pawn shop, those work great. Then you just attach a retriever and you’re good. I got a PSE Nova like I shot as a kid from a pawn shop a couple years ago for Bowfishing. The left hand requirement will be the tricky part.

As far as carp and gar edibility, it’s like asking which saddle is better. It is a bit personal preference. I have eaten both. They are also a bit tricky but in different ways. Carp have a lot of bones inside the meat. Gar have armor that make the meat hard to get to and the meat itself has to be cared for in a particular way or it goes mushy. Both are edible if you take the time and effort.

If you’re looking for off season meat producer, get into limb lining or trot lining for catfish. Ton of fun and high yield of delicious and easy protein.
 
Right on. From my reading it looks like the general consensus is that all bowfishing is "instinctive". For a guy not familiar with trad, how does that work with a compound?
You just kinda look down the arrow. It’s instinctive with a compound as well. Practice with a box or stuffed animal in the back yard.

Don’t worry. You are going to miss a lot anyways so don’t chalk it up to poor instincts. You just didn’t aim low enough.

“Aim low and when you think you aimed low enough, aim lower”.
 
As far as carp and gar edibility, it’s like asking which saddle is better. It is a bit personal preference. I have eaten both. They are also a bit tricky but in different ways. Carp have a lot of bones inside the meat. Gar have armor that make the meat hard to get to and the meat itself has to be cared for in a particular way or it goes mushy. Both are edible if you take the time and effort.

If you’re looking for off season meat producer, get into limb lining or trot lining for catfish. Ton of fun and high yield of delicious and easy protein.
Thanks buddy! Catfish aren't on the menu for us (not kosher). Would be nice if they were though cause they seem easy catches around here.

I'll certainly be looking to your culinary expertise once the cooler is full of fish!

Practice with a... stuffed animal in the back yard.
This is going to be good. I can already hear my girls crying... "Mama, why is Papa executing our teddy bears in the back yard?"
 
Thanks buddy! Catfish aren't on the menu for us (not kosher). Would be nice if they were though cause they seem easy catches around here.

I'll certainly be looking to your culinary expertise once the cooler is full of fish!


This is going to be good. I can already hear my girls crying... "Mama, why is Papa executing our teddy bears in the back yard?"
I’ll pass along all I know but the internet is a good teacher as well (it’s where I get most my knowledge).

The key is to not use your kids stuffed animals they like. That can be quite traumatic. Although it could prove to be a good disciplinary technique. “Clean your room or I’ll murder your stuffed animals.” I’m sure that wouldn’t come up in counseling later in life........

You can probably find some at a Goodwill or similar store for practice and a less traumatic experience. Haha!
 
Started thinking about getting into bowfishing as an off-season meat producer. My limited research over the past couple days has me asking A LOT of questions (recurve vs. compound, etc.). The lack of sub-$200 lefthand bow setups may keep me out of it though. Anybody have suggestions for a bow that won't break the bank?

Looked up the regs here and we're allowed to bowfish carp and gar. Not having been any kind of fisherman in the past, are these two kinds of fish good eating?
Bowfishing is a blast! I go a lot in the spring and summer. Carp and gar are both edible but not my favorite. I score carp and fry them or you can smoke them and they taste similar to smoked salmon, they're full of Y bones hence scoring them to try to fry them out. If you brine them and smoke them the meat basically falls off the bone and I discard the dark meat/lateral line (tastes muddy). Sometimes they'll get cooked in the grill and mixed with our dog's dog food. I've boiled a few carp too, skimmed the oil off the water and my dad uses it for trapping in the winter. Carp/gar also makes great raccoon bait for conibear bucket sets. Scoring Video Tutorial
As far as set ups go, I started with my old Reflex compound, same sights I used for deer hunting, a whisker biscuit, a fiberglass arrow and a stabilizer mounted reel. I bought the stabilizer mounted reel, fiberglass arrow and line from 3 Rivers Archery but Amazon and all those places have 'em too.
When the carp are spawning in spring they're pretty easy to see/shoot in grass flats and shallow water. Shorts and an old pair of tennis shoes are all that's needed or waders if you don't want to get all mucky. I really enjoy bowfishing off my paddleboard or kayak though. It's fun getting a bigger carp and having them drag you around a little before landing it.
I upgraded to a bottle style reel after really enjoying it and later switched over to a fiberglass recurve bow so I could snap shoot and not worry about my bow getting too messed up from dropping it in the mud or tossing it around. No matter how careful you are, it always seems like you'll break something on your bow, get it muddy/mucky or generally not feel great about what just happened to it. Amazon carries knock off bottle style reels that are probably just as good as a AMS or something similar that can be had for about the same price of a stabilizer style reel.
 
Gotta use a cedar board to bake carp. Lay fillets on the board, season to taste. Cook for 1hr at 350f. Once its cooled, throw the carp in your garden and enjoy eating the board, which will taste better than the carp. Lol
 
Right on. From my reading it looks like the general consensus is that all bowfishing is "instinctive". For a guy not familiar with trad, how does that work with a compound?
I shoot it instinctive. You can put a sight if you want, but it’s hard to have time to aim. I just practiced with a pool noodle in the yard til I got the hang of it. Then tie the pool noodle to a brick and toss it in a pond to learn refraction. My general rule. 1:2. For every 1” below the surface, I aimed 2. But that depends on the range. Close up, you have to aim lower. Far out you can almost aim straight at it. Took me a couple trips to finally figure it all out
 
I shoot it instinctive. You can put a sight if you want, but it’s hard to have time to aim. I just practiced with a pool noodle in the yard til I got the hang of it. Then tie the pool noodle to a brick and toss it in a pond to learn refraction. My general rule. 1:2. For every 1” below the surface, I aimed 2. But that depends on the range. Close up, you have to aim lower. Far out you can almost aim straight at it. Took me a couple trips to finally figure it all out
That pool noodle brick idea is solid advice. I’m gonna have to try that. Good idea!
 
Started thinking about getting into bowfishing as an off-season meat producer. My limited research over the past couple days has me asking A LOT of questions (recurve vs. compound, etc.). The lack of sub-$200 lefthand bow setups may keep me out of it though. Anybody have suggestions for a bow that won't break the bank?

Looked up the regs here and we're allowed to bowfish carp and gar. Not having been any kind of fisherman in the past, are these two kinds of fish good eating?

Best eating fish around here to shoot are snakeheads. Those other two you mention suck


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