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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: canders on April 02, 2010, 06:07:00 PM

Title: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: canders on April 02, 2010, 06:07:00 PM
I own a 9ft fishing kayak sit inside model and i took it out for a regular fishing run the other day and i was looking at my set up to see if it was possible to bowfish out of.  Im just curious if any of yall bowfish from a kayak or have tried with either failure or success.  I just think it would be cool to bowfish from a more traditional means (even though my kayak is a modern version). If you do bowfish from a kayak what kind of kayak do you have along with what type of bow and any pics of your set up would be great.  Thanks for the help
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Bill Kissner on April 02, 2010, 06:16:00 PM
I don't but a good friend bowfishes from his kayak and says it is a lot of fun.
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Ragnarok Forge on April 02, 2010, 06:18:00 PM
I would look into the small pontoons that are available aftermarket to stabilize the kayak when you stand up to shoot.  I think you could do it without em like the natives in South America, but I bet a dunking would follow without the pontoons.
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: DannyBows on April 02, 2010, 07:04:00 PM
One of our members here, "Yononindo", has some great videos on YouTube of himself bowfishing from a Sit-Inside kayak. He really does an excellent job shooting from it. Do a search there for them.
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: canders on April 02, 2010, 07:05:00 PM
thanks dannybows ill do that now
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: jrchambers on April 02, 2010, 07:11:00 PM
yep yononindo.  no need to stand
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Weasel on April 02, 2010, 08:00:00 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g07TLllL8Y
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: oxnam on April 02, 2010, 08:22:00 PM
I have successfully done it.  What I didn't like is how limited I was in my range of movement.  The lower limb hitting the kayak or water is a real issue. Reverse canting the bow allows for some added flexibility concerning the shots you can take.  It is simply tough to do out of a sit inside kayak.
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Don Stokes on April 02, 2010, 08:32:00 PM
Standing up in a 9' kayak?     :scared:

I have one, but I wouldn't try to bowfish from it, mainly because I'm too close to the water, which gives a bad angle for shooting. The higher you can get the better. I can easily shoot sitting in a canoe or johnboat, though.
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Lefty on April 02, 2010, 09:03:00 PM
You may not need outriggers, but boy do they work great.  I bought a set off the auction site and they far exceed my expectations and they will fit on canoes as well as kayaks.  Here is my daughter and myself in our 14 1/2 foot canoe.  We couldn't tip it over if we tried.  Perfect for bow fishing!  My friends in the background tipped their 17' canoe over twice on this paticular trip.  LOL!
  (http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/44499/2419864990049369050S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://family.webshots.com/photo/2419864990049369050FvJtNH)
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: texbow2 on April 02, 2010, 09:08:00 PM
I can stand up and fly cast out of my 14' sit on top but would not feel comfortable with a bow.
Pontoons are the answer.

http://www.keenzo.com/showproduct.asp?M=SCOTTY_FISHING_PRODUCTS_302&ID=4190838

I'm sure there there are some cheaper ones out there that strap on
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Old York on April 02, 2010, 09:26:00 PM
A kayak?

A  kayak ?

Where you gonna hang the 14,550W generator and the array of halogen quartz lights?

What about the 80 HP kicker motor? Where you gonna mount the fan cage?

C'mon, yer thinking too small & too carbon-footprint friendly......  :wavey:
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Overspined on April 02, 2010, 10:09:00 PM
LOL!!!

you can get a tunnel hull kyak made for standing up in and shoot away!
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: kestimator on April 02, 2010, 10:11:00 PM
Not if you're as clumsy as me  :)   Barely can fish out of one.  In theory, it should work  :)  LOL!
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: bama on April 02, 2010, 10:26:00 PM
Only for Ron LaClair
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Ground Hunter on April 02, 2010, 10:30:00 PM
In mine you would spend more time in the water than shooting.  It would be more like spear fishing.  H
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: joel smith on April 02, 2010, 11:09:00 PM
Lefty, what's the brand and where'd you get your pontoons ?
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: canders on April 02, 2010, 11:24:00 PM
Thanks for the responses guys.  I watched yononindo's video and he makes it look easy.  I feel comfortable enough in mine to take some shots but like someone said earlier being that close to the water might make some shots difficult due to the angle.  Im thinking of making a board bow just for this sort of thing.  Ill let yall know with some pics when i get out there, ill just have to stay away from the gar especially if they are bigger than my yak...LOL
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: gregk on April 03, 2010, 02:03:00 PM
I have a hard enough time fishing out of mine, i would definitly get the stablizing pontoons if i were going to bowfish from one.
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: broketooth on April 03, 2010, 02:11:00 PM
there is a tg member here named yononindo, he has some awesome videos on youtube of him bowfishing carp in a kayak you shoud check it out ... im not sure how to post a link regards ruddy
Title: Re: Bowfishing from a kayak is it possible?
Post by: Bill Skinner on April 03, 2010, 09:58:00 PM
Try to get your hands on a 52" or shorter bow.  60" is too long for me, the limb hits the water or the kayak.  I have had better luck on bright mornings, later, the glare can be pretty bad.  When you are poking around those sloughs and bayous, watch out for gators.  I have an eleven foot kayak, I spooked a gator that was longer off the bank and under me.  I thought he was going to flip me.  Wear your life jacket at all times, it is really easy to flip a kayak when you are wreseling with a 4 foot gar.  Have a safety cord to your bow, paddle, and any thing else you don't want to lose.  Bill