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advice for a newbie

1K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  wader 
#1 ·
hey guys,

Just learning to bowfish. Thought I would list my setup and see if you guys could offer some advice. I am real curious as to what equipment everyone is using. Shot my first fish on Cowan lake friday, 15# carp.

I have a PSE Optima recurve 66" 30 lb bow. I have an AMS retriever with a Muzzy arrow, broadhead and slide. I am shooting instinctive with no sites. I HAVE MISSED A BUNCH!!! But it is an amazing challenge.

I am fishing out of a two man 11' coleman crawdaddy with a 30 lb trolling motor. I also have a 5 horse kingfisher I can put on this boat. Not alot of room for extra batteries and things so I do not have it setup for night shooting, I would be really interested in any thoughts on lighting setups for this boat including power options.

I have a 16' nitro bass boat as well, but just to big to get into the shallows I think. I also have a bowtech Diamond that I deer hunt with, fully loaded set at 55 lbs right now, just seems like alot of bow to be fishing with??

Any advice would be appreciated guys.

Thanks
 
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#2 ·
Well my setup is a oneida osprey bow with a muzzy spinner reel with 200# fastflight line and most of the time I shoot muzzy tiped arrows, your setup sounds good for most Ohio fishing but you might run into some trouble on deep fish with only A 30# bow. Most of the time I shoot 32# to 55# depending on what I'm after and how deep the fish are.

As for the boat I would set up that nitro with some lights and a small genny and go for it! Save the small boat for the creeks and small rivers.
 
#3 ·
My set up is a Oneida osprey with an ams retriever with fiberglass arrows tipped with muzzy points with carp tips. I have safety slides on my arrows.
I agree with putting lights on your bigger boat and save the small one for creeks and such.
I have a 16 ft. Lowe jon boat with 6 HPS 150watt lights run by a Honda 2000 watt inverter genny. I made a box that sits in the rear of the boat to hold the transformers, igniters, and caps. so the boat weight is balances better.
I would just go ahead and invest in a bow with about 45-50lb. draw and set it up for bowfishing and save the bowtech for hunting. The 30lb. bow will do ok for close shots. I only shoot about 35lb. out of my osprey and it passes though fish. It is all I need for what I find in Ohio. But when I get to go to Texas I will turn the weight up quite a bit for the gator gar.
 
#4 ·
I am an occasional bowfisherman, but I do really enjoy it, especially in the late summer when nothing else is happening. At the risk of sounding foolish, what do you guys do with the fish you shoot? I would shoot a lot more carp if I had a practical outlet for them. Once I put a few in the garden, my season is pretty much over. I apologize for hijacking the thread, but I need help in continuing to reduce carp populations in my smallmouth holes.....
 
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