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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Scrub_buck on March 28, 2009, 02:45:00 PM
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I would like to survey all you hard-core bowfisherman/women out there about your bowfishing bows.
What poundage bow are you using for your bowfishing rigs?
I am looking for a bow to fish with, and I want to get the lightest poundage possible and it still shoot that heavy fiberglass shaft well enough to stick a fish with out to say 7 or 8 yards.
Any info is welcome!
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What kind of fish and how deep?
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Gar - carp, no more than 2 feet deep.
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40# or so would do it.
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I have shot a bunch of Carp with a Bear Kodiak Magnum of 45lbs. Frank
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I agree with orion. I had a 38# bow that I use to shoot carp with and it worked fine.
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You want something in the #45 to #50 range. I personally use the Martin Rebel which is #50@28" but I find that when I'm bowfishing I tend to snap shoot and I'm probably only drawing to 26". Anything under #40 will bounce off a gar further than 5 yards.
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I like 55 pounds for bowfishing. like INBOWFISHER I do a lot of snap shooting and don't get to full draw.
But when a big buffalo or big longnose is the target I can pull to full draw and get penetration.
Even then if you hit a big buffalo in the center of a scale it will stop the arrow some times.
If your bow fishing for fun and not in tournaments I'd drop to 45 to 50 and enjoy.
Ron
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Carp or gar 7-8 yards out and 2 feet down? Like Orion said, 40# will be fine.
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I have an AMS Pro reel with 150# braided line. I guess it depends on what type of reel you use.
Sink the arrow in a log, you will want the strongest line possible.
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I have an AMS reel .. sounds like I sould be fine!
Thanks for the info guys!
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I have another question- I'm setting up bows for the whole family. The full length fish arrows seem awfully heavy for my youngest sons lighter weight bow(35#) can or should I shorten the arrow up some? It seems like it just dives soon as it leaves the bow. If I do, what would be a minimum weight for penetration through the water in carp. We will be wading depth for most of our shooting.
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I shoot 65#'s, because that was my only bow at the time. Still using it.
John, I would keep it full length because you want the weight, just have to wait for the gimme shots.
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I'd cut the shafts down. You'll only lose a hunderd grains or so, which shouldn't make any difference on carp in a foot or two of water.
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i shoot around 45# for carp and gar, that seems pretty good. The thing you need to watch out for is if you go to heavy you can bury your arrow into stumps and such when you miss as well as damage your tips faster, also if your shooting a lot you can tire yourself out.
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On the arrow length. I agree the heavier the better but The most important thing is tuning so the arrow enters the water straight with as little splash as possible sorta like a perfect Olympic dive. If you take the time to practice shooting in the water and working with the family for a decent release and getting the arrows entering straight your success will be much higher.
Ron
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For average sized carp 45# is ok but I shot a big grass carp last summer about 12 yards with a 58 lb longbow and the arrow didn't impale him so the point didn't stay in him.By the time we got untangled from the brush he had pulled off so i'd definately shoot as high poundage as i could stand to punch all the way through big carp and gar.PR
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I bought a #41 pound Kodiak Magnum yesterday. I had a decent deal and decided to give it a try. I guess we'll see if #41 is good enough for shallow water gar and carp.
If not, it will be given to my boy in a few years for a starter bow.
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I'm with arrowhead80 on this. Shoot as heavy as possible, hunting weight bow that you are comfortable and accurate with. I have also shot carp with a 55lb. recurve and a sharp muzzy point and not completely penetrated the fish. It's stinks when you fight a big one, only to have it pull off at the bank. But I love Bowfishing!
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If you are shooting common carp, grass carp, buffalo, longnose gar, shortnose gar, and anything except Gator Gar/sharks or gators, a 35-40# bow will work. Have shot fish down to 2' deep with a 40# bow with no problem.