Bowfishing

[scotty18]

Does anybody bowfish for carp? I have many years ago and would like to start again.
I haven't gotten a reel for my recurve. When I had it built, I didn't have a insert put in my riser so I'll have to find a mount for the reel. I've seen a reel mount that staps around the riser on a recurve.
It's been a while since I looked at equipment, are there any changes to arrows and the way the string is attached? I use to place a steel ring on the arrow shaft. I would tie the string to the tip and then to the ring. I would leave enough string between the tip and the ring so at full draw, the ring would be at the tip and when you released the ring would slide along the arrow shaft to the fletching. That way you could get straighter flight. I assume Muzzy still makes a fishing tip. I always had good luck with those.

Scotty

[riverbasher]

AMS bowfishing makes a safety slide that goes on their fiberglass arrows that makes it even safer than the cable system. AMS has a HSOforum and also Muzzy makes good bowfishing products I have had good luck with

Jeremy

[B. Amish]

Shooting carp and suckers with a bow is a great way to keep shooting during the offseason if you bowhunt for deer. I like the bottle reels, they are really fast to reload and i've never had a problem with them. Also, a good pair of polarized sunglasses are a must.

[Doop]

I love bowfishing!! I got into about 4 years ago and now do it quite often during the summer. I used to live in southern MN but last July moved to Dallas,TX. In two weeks i and a buddy who is flying down from MN are getting a guide and going after alligator gar!!!! I can't wait! Him and I usually just go after carp....so this will be a little different!

Bottle reel is the ONLY way to go....never get slapped in the arm again!
Where does everyone bowfish? We usually go up around Detroit Lakes,MN Carp seem to be much bigger up there.

[B. Amish]

I bowfish mainly on the Otter Tail river around the inlets/exits of Big Pine and Rush lake and on a few small creeks and rivers in the same area
I've heard going at night can be an excellent time
Is this legal?
What's everyone's biggest carp?
mines about 25 lbs, although iv'e had on bigger ones and missed plenty more

[Doop]

Hey Amish!

A buddy and I also shoot on Big Pine! The biggest i've shot out of there was 27lbs. Are the carp numbers going down? It didn't seem like there were as many last year? About what time of year do they hit full spawn? Great to hear from you!

[B. Amish]

I don't think that the numbers are going down at all. It depends a lot on the weather when the carp are starting to hit the rivers and spawn. If we get a stretch of 80 degree days in late May and early june then you can bet there will be lots of carp in the OT river. I like to go in the morning during late may and early june.

p.s. carp are in the minnow family

[Doop]

Yeah that's usually when we go is early June but the last couple of years it's been a tough go. Do you think the river is a better option? We have a V-bottom boat so would getting in the OtterTail River be a problem?

[fullchoke]

I used to do it on the Minnehaha creek down by 50th and woodale in Edina, also would canoe up to meadowbrook golfcourse and slap a few in there. Down by Arden park, one summer you could walk across the creek on their backs, that was about 15 years ago though.

[Doop]

Bowfishing out of a canoe? I'll bet that was an experience!!! I have a hard enough time doing it out of a v-bottom boat!

I've heard Long Lake in the cities is a full to the gills!! Can't wait for the water to warm up!

[riverbasher]

If you are talking about the Long Lake out in the western metro, that lake is FULL of em. The city hosts a carp tournament every summer. Then as a bonus there is a water ski show(I used to ski for them) by the Twin Cities River Rats. I've never done the carp tournament but it might be fun to try. Later

[B. Amish]

Yeah, i usually just stick to the rivers to shoot my carp. there are plenty of back water areas where they hang out. as far as getting a boat down the river, there are sand bars that you might bet hung up on once and a while, other than that you should be fine, except for the low flow ****s at the outlets of big pine and rush lake

also, try putting down a rough floor in your v-bottom boat with a plank of plywood, it will be a lot easier to shoot off of

[Doop]

Hey Amish

I am just curious, when you shoot out of the river is it close to Big Pine? Sometimes in the past it's been very slow on Big pine and it would be nice to have an alternate area to look. any ideas?

We do have a pretty stable setup....you'd probably laugh if you saw what we have rigged up. It works. We have school desks that we stand on...the desks sit on top of two dowled together 2X12's. We get some pretty funny looks.

[B. Amish]

DOOP
The spot on big pine where i go the most is the outlet of the OT river, it might be hard to find if you've never been there before, there's a low flow dam and there is actually a road that goes back there otherwise there is a lot of shallow water on the lake side that can be good for shooting carp out of the boat, i actually shot a carp out of water back there while it was trying to jump over the dam

a spot i know would be good but have never been to is the area between big and little pine, there is a lot of shallow water back there

also, there is a lot of carp in "mud" lake nest to the little pine zorbaz, the carp are in there for a good part of the summer, though its hard to get a boat around back there, because its so shallow and weedy

[This message has been edited by B. Amish (edited 04-05-2004).]

[GitErDone]

Whats everyone do with their carp. after the water mucks up they taste like swamp. You can only bury so many in the garden. I used to give them to a hog farmer but thats even getting more difficult.

[huskiesplayer15]

B. Amish
I know where you are talking about there are some huge carp there, I dont bow fish but I like to poke them with the spears, though, sorry, it still is a challenge though, I have always just waded for them, there are some big dogfish there too, so does nitche, I have speared a couple carp our of there, I have one that is 42 inches long I got last summer out of a ditch by nitche. Someone show me how to post pics, please tell me.
Best Fishes
Chris
IBOT IN TRAINING
IBOT WANNABE

[buckkiller183]

any one know of any bowfishing spots around the metro area or close to.
thanks
brian

[buckkiller183]

any bow fishing spots around the metro.
brian

[DIP-NET]

FAS

[DIP-NET]

THERE ARE SOME MONSTERS IN FOREST LAKE. WE WERE OUT ON SUNDAY AND SHOT 7 THAT WERE BETWEEN 25-45 LBS. WE PASSED ON A LOT OF SMALLER FISH TOO. THERE ARE A FEW PHOTOS ON ***************.COM IF ANYONE WANTS TO SEE THEM. SHOOTING CARP IS A GREAT CHANGE UP WHEN THE WEATER IS NICE AND ALL THE RECREATION TRAFFIC IS ON THE LAKE. FOREST WAS A ZOO ON SUNDAY BUT NO ONE ELSE WAS OUT AFTER CARP.