BOWFISHING INFO

huntmaster80 · June 11, 2012, 02:58:00 PM

I have been wanting to try some bow fishing, but dont have a rig to use. I think I will take my 51# Kanati LB. What rig would you guys suggest that I get? Also if anyone has one that they would be willing to part with let me know. My bow does not have any inserts in it. I have a few good spots within 20 minutes of my house that I am pretty sure dont get hunted at all. thanks for the help!!!!

ishoot4thrills · June 11, 2012, 04:10:00 PM

I would suggest that you first get you an AMS Traditional Mount(http://www.amsbowfishing.com/traditional-mount-kit-for-recurve-bows.html) so that you can mount a reel of some kind to your Kanati LB. I have two or three of them and they are well worth the money.

You can go with either an AMS Retriever Reel that mounts on the side of your bow(using the Traditional Mount thingy) or you can use a reel seat that you mount on the front of your bow(again using the Traditional Mount thingy) and install some type of a spincast reel onto that. Or, you can go the very simple route and use a tape on hand wind reel and tape it onto the front of your bow. You will also need some arrows that are made for the sport with some AMS slides in which to attach your line.

Here's a pic(or 2 or 3) of my favorite setup:

toddster · June 11, 2012, 04:12:00 PM

I have been bowfishing for over 15 years. I find this to be the most user friendly and cost effective. There are two ways to go, a drum reel, which is fine, but takes long time to reel in or spincaster. I like the strap on from 3 rivers, a reel seat from backwater bowfishing, along with a sure shot arrow from them and line. I get my spincaster from local fish tackle store of walmart for 15 to 18 dollars, the shakespeare TI20 (catfish reel) is the best I found. Alot of people swear about 808, but I have had nothing but problems with them. Hope this helps and aim low.

ishoot4thrills · June 11, 2012, 04:21:00 PM

Here's some more pics but here I have the AMS Retriever reel attached to the side of my bow. They're great reels but I just prefer the spincast reel for a quick retrieve plus you can reel the fish in with the spincast too.

June 11, 2012, 05:39:00 PM

this is really all you need, and probobly the cheapest way to get started, then you can start dumping a bunch of money on fancy eqipment later as needed.

team fudd · June 11, 2012, 05:58:00 PM

jmo but bowfishing is really tough on your bow and if you really like your kanati I would pick up an old bear kodiak or browning safari or wasp for seventy five or a hundred bucks that you can beat around and not worry about. JMO, good luck and have fun, it is addicting. And Muzzy makes a great reel for around fifty bucks that you can not break.

ishoot4thrills · June 11, 2012, 06:53:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by team fudd:
jmo but bowfishing is really tough on your bow and if you really like your kanati I would pick up an old bear kodiak or browning safari or wasp for seventy five or a hundred bucks that you can beat around and not worry about. JMO, good luck and have fun, it is addicting. And Muzzy makes a great reel for around fifty bucks that you can not break.

You took the words right outta my mouth! I was thinking, "man, I wouldn't subject MY Kanati to the rigors of bowfishing for one minute!".

huntmaster80 · June 11, 2012, 06:56:00 PM

well maybe I better go see if I can pick up an old beater if it is gona be hard on my bow. thanks for all the help guys!!!!

ishoot4thrills · June 11, 2012, 07:02:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by arrow30:

this is really all you need, and probobly the cheapest way to get started, then you can start dumping a bunch of money on fancy eqipment later as needed.

That's right, you don't need to spend a bunch of money on fancy equipment to bowfish.

But, if you have the money, I would definitely go with something other than a hand wind spool. You will save money in the long run if you go ahead and start out with a better setup because most folks ditch the slower, more frustrating hand wind thingy soon after they start bowfishing.

Let's face it, you're gonna love bowfishing once you've done it so why not go ahead and get the equipment that even makes it more fun right from the start? That is, if you can afford it. If not, then you will still have a blast even with the hand wind spool.

Kamm1004 · June 11, 2012, 07:05:00 PM

Dont spend lots of money on bowfishing, it wont improve your success imo. I know people who have done it for years and still use a simple tape on reel. I bought mine from cajun archery off amazon. It was cheap, and its easy to use. cant beat that

ishoot4thrills · June 11, 2012, 07:12:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Kamm1004:
Dont spend lots of money on bowfishing, it wont improve your success imo.....

Actually, it can improve your success by making it quicker to get off a second shot.

Please understand, I'm NOT saying you have to spend a whole lot of money to bowfish. But, if you have the money, why not splurge a little and make it even more enjoyable? Don't forget, you can find very good used stuff for cheap if you watch the classifieds and the big auction site.