Bowfishing
Wednesday, 28 March 2007Bowfishing may be done in both freshwater and saltwater. Typical freshwater species hunted for include carp, paddlefish and bigger targets, such as alligators. Common saltwater targets include rays and sharks.
If you are a beginner in bowfishing, the first thing you have to do is get oriented with the equipment. Newer bowfishing arrows ate typically made of fiberglass and, unlike arrows used in archery, do not have fletching. The arrow usually has a hole in the shaft, where the bowfishing line is tied to. The bowfishing line may be made from nylon, spectra or Dacron, and is connected to the bow through a reel. Common bowfishing reels include hand-wrap, spincast and retriever reels.
Bowfishing equipment is available in most fishing stores and online auction sites. For not so big targets, you can start with 30-40 pound bows. Hand-wrapped reels are typically the slowest to use, but are also the cheapest. Another useful equipment to invest in is a good pair of sunglasses. This can provide you with more visibility, especially when fishing in the afternoons.
Once you have the equipment ready, you can start bowfishing. When bowfishing, remember to always keep your line in front of your bow. This prevents the arrow from snapping back at you, which can happen if your line becomes entangled. Since this might cause problems with your arrows flight, you can use either cable rigs or safety slides. These mechanisms make sure that your line stays in front of your bow before shooting, but slides to the back once your arrow is released.
When bowfishing, there is such a thing as The 10-4 Rule. The water causes the sunlight to bed, or “refract”, making it difficult to assess how far exactly the fish is underwater. The 10-4 Rule states that when your target is 10 feet away and appears a foot under the surface of the water, aim your equipment 4 inches below.
Bowfishing is a rewarding activity. It allows you to catch more fish swimming below what your typically fishing line can reach. It also allows you to fish for bigger game. Try it!
