Curious as to what is a practical bow-fishing set up. Ease of use, reasonably priced, and durability.
Mine looks something like this:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h312/pjriss/20140216_100009.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h312/pjriss/20140216_100521.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h312/pjriss/20140216_100723.jpg)
Old Kodiak Mag with a retriever pro direct mounted (I hate strap on adapters) and a Wave arrow rest with a custom mount. I have about $200 into this setup.
I just recently bought a PSE Kingfisher, and could not be happier. I have a AMS Retriever reel on it. The bow, new, is under $140, and the reel is about $80.
Bisch
I have a Howatt hunter with an AMS reel on it. Works great. I might have $250 in it.
I've got an 80's model Bear Hunter TD...it's got a set of 50# and a set of 60# limbs. I think I gave like $150 for it about a year ago.
I have an AMS pro fishing set up on it....like $120.
Around $270 total cost for mine and I wouldn't take $500 for it. I've killed a BUNCH of fish with it this year. They have really slowed down here now, but I went this afternoon before the rain and got a carp and a buffalo.
And if I want to take the bow deer hunting all I have to do is take the reel off and it's good to go.
I have looked at some of the cheap store bought "bowfishing" set ups that come as a package deal...I wouldn't have one myself...just my opinion. I'd rather have a good, cheap, recurve that is dependable and I can pull the fishing setup off and go hunting for whatever big game that I take a notion to. It's two bows for the price of one if need be.
Old Pearson Bow = $50
3 Rivers adapter = $30
AMS reel = $80 (12 years ago)
Arrow $12.00
Hundreds of fish boated/landed
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/Bowfishing/1340326193.jpg) (http://s1135.photobucket.com/user/cjohntalk/media/Bowfishing/1340326193.jpg.html)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/Bowfishing/Charlie1Fish.jpg) (http://s1135.photobucket.com/user/cjohntalk/media/Bowfishing/Charlie1Fish.jpg.html)
Bear 76er with spool reel $50.00
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/Bowfishing/1311451320.jpg) (http://s1135.photobucket.com/user/cjohntalk/media/Bowfishing/1311451320.jpg.html)
You dont need much to be killing fish
I have seen guys use a zebco reel and a small rod adapter also.
Take an old spinning rod that is broken and in the trash, cut off the handle portion, just the metal part with the reel mounting hardware (of course, with the rod inside), epoxy in a threaded rod the same config as your adaptor or accessory port threads (some bows already have this installed) with a nut on-line to tighten it up, then add a larger Zebco or similar reel and you have a killing machine for almost nothing.
ChuckC
There are a couple I use, both are custom Bear's Paw bows.
One is a short 52" recurve that has the ability to get an arrow going!
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r76/Timroberts_bucket/imagejpg2_zpsff346f4b.jpg) (http://s141.photobucket.com/user/Timroberts_bucket/media/imagejpg2_zpsff346f4b.jpg.html)
The other is a longbow that is 57# at 26"
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r76/Timroberts_bucket/imagejpg2_zps68fab28f.jpg) (http://s141.photobucket.com/user/Timroberts_bucket/media/imagejpg2_zps68fab28f.jpg.html)
I use the AMS retrieval reel on em both, along with a Fish Lipps, bowfishing quiver. A couple of the places we shoot, it is not uncommon to find the fish in deeper water, 6' or more, the reason for shooting heavier bows.
Thanks,
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/carpbow03.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/carpbow03.jpg.html)
Browning Wasp I picked up for $100 and the AMS Pro bowfishing rig I paid $70 for. You don't need a lot of poundage---you might be drawing /shooting a LOT
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/bgeckle/DSCF2585_zps2b7b2e2b.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bgeckle/media/DSCF2585_zps2b7b2e2b.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/bgeckle/DSCF2610_zps6ad9c32e.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bgeckle/media/DSCF2610_zps6ad9c32e.jpg.html)
Thanks everyone for sharing. Looks like the AMS retriever is the worth looking at.
A spincast reel, like a Zebco 808, is a bit faster, but you WILL, lose a few arrows when you forget to push the button on the reel. I prefer the AMS reel over anything else I have tried.
Bisch
Old Howatt Mamba, AMS reel, and fiberglass arrow with sting-a-ree point and plastic slider. Works great shooting off the shelf with a rug rest. Oh, and I added a kayak this year. It is a blast shooting them out of the boat!
My first rig way back when (I was ten!) was a home made aluminum recurve and a Zebco 808 with 20 pound test taped to it. Yes, I had to swim for some arrows lol
I have a hoyt takedown I need to have new limbs made for (the originals are creaky and ticky) and it will will be my bowfishing now ;)