Had a day off of work and decided to go bowfishing at a local lake. The weather was beautiful. Not too hot, mostly sunny, and not alot of wind. I hadn't been wading for too long when I saw my first tailing fish, and got into close range and let her rip. And like usual, I missed. It was still early and I wasn't even entertaining the though of this being a long day of poor shooting. I got into them pretty regular and with my next 4 shots I had 5 on the stringer. The 5th arrow shot I got a double, which was my first. I don't know how common it is, but I was pretty happy. I was slowly wading through the grass where the lake had overflown it's normal banks trying to sneak up on some tailing fish that I saw up ahead, when I saw two fish in some cover around 8 yards from me. I crouched low to the water trying to line both of them up and when it I took the shot I thought that I only had one until I got the arrow back to me. Occasionally it is nice to be surprised. Finished up with 8 fish in a little over 2 hours of bowfishing. The chicken will eat well tonight.
(http://i.imgur.com/6CthTqY.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/rBxxi7B.jpg)
Thats a bunch of fish. what make of bow is that?
Rusty
It is a Wing slim line pro. 45# @ 28", 58" long. Got it off the auction site several years ago for $50.
My fishing bows were commandeered by my sons and I need one of my own, Wing slim line pro. Going to look for one,like the lines a lot. Your chickens layers or meat birds, just curious, I have layers.
Thanks
Nice shooting! Looks like a pretty good haul.
I loved bow fishing as a kid... haven't been in years.... You have peaked my interest though, Chickens eating Carp? I have been told they will eat anything but chicken.
I have a handful of Layers, that will be meat birds when they stop. How are you preparing the crap? do you cook it, smoke it, or just throw it too them raw.
I can't wait for a justified reason to go bowfishing.
Thanks ahead of time for your insight
Nice shooting !!!
Bill
Nice! Had to be fun stringin' all those in! :thumbsup:
Nice morning, indeed!
Good work on the double, since it wasn't a fluke.
I like the bow, too.
Can't beat bowfishing, well done sir! rc
Nice shooting! Went out myself today but only got 6 you beat me.
Very nice!!
I looked at that picture and said "That's my bow". I have 2 of those bought new way back when. One is 50# and the other is 60#. I'm headed out in the morning for some bowfishing. Been quite a while since I've done it, but looking forward to it.
Good job.....stabow
Awesome mess of fish! Good job.
Gettin' ready to post my own bowfishing tale.
Rusty, I have both layers and meat birds. We have hatched a couple batches and have around 60 birds now. The young birds that are roosters will be meat birds, and probably a few of the hens as well. We have the birds mostly to eat the grasshoppers and other bugs out of the orchards.
Matthew, as far as prep goes, here is my plan. I already skinned and gutted the carp and removed the head, tails, and fins. I have them soaking in a huge pan in the fridge. Tomorrow I will boil them until the meat falls off of the bones. Some will go to the chickens, but I plan on trying to makes some spiced fish cakes with some as well. We will see how that works.
That sounds like a great plan. I might have to give it a try. I was making fish cakes out of Bonefish in Hawaii, grated a few potatoes into the mix to make them a little more filling and mellow the taste for the kids. I wrapped them in foil and put them on the BBQ to flake the meat off of them. You will have to let me know how the Carp fishcakes turn out... I guess the worst thing that happens is the chickens get a gourmet treat.
Great shooting and great ideas. Thanks again.
I gave most of the carp to the chickens, and they acted like it was ambrosia. Made some fishcakes with the rest and just got done eating some. Really not too bad, and it sure beats wasting the meat. It was alot of work getting all of the fine bones out, though. Maybe next time I will select which area I take the meat from for the fishcakes better. I basically took some old bay seasoning, miracle whip, a couple eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, chopped celery and lemon juice and mixed it real good in a bowl then mixed the fish in with it. Then I formed them into cakes and pan fried them.
(http://i.imgur.com/9a5D34G.jpg)
Good work!
They look good
:goldtooth: :goldtooth: :goldtooth:
ATTA BOY Patrick! :archer: :archer2:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice job Pat! Lots of rain here, but no time for fishing because of my studies.
Patrick, next time pressure cook them instead of boiling and you wont even know the bones are there... The wife used to threaten to chop my head off after canning the 50th quart or so every year. They make great fish cakes after the pressuring, eat bones and all. Spect the chickens would appreciate it too...
I heard you can run the meat through a grinder. Bones and all!
Doug, that is a great idea. I will definitely try that next time. Jeff and Tom, I miss you guys from the NE too. Just not the NE itself, lol.
Hey great job ! And I don't know anything about carp cooking but minced onion, Johnny's Seafood seasoning, and some Tony Chacheres Cajun seasoning really help my salmon cakes. And yes with pressure canning you won't know the bones are there.
Would love to try some carp cakes but where I kill them the water is very, very polluted. While bowfishing the Mohawk River, the smell of sewage is a common companion.
I know what you mean. I did a little fishing on the mohawk when I was doing masonry for my father in law based out Ballston Spa. I wonder if there is any carp activit further north on the Hudson?
Very cool :saywhat: !
Not much in the way of bow fishing around these parts....but someday I would love to try it!
Nice shootin'! :thumbsup:
Looks like a good time. Congrats on the double