I am wanting to try some bowfishing but before I go buy some equipment, I was hoping to get some advice.  I shoot a t/d recurve and I will be up front that I do not want to do any drilling into the riser to attach the bowfishing gear.  Can anyone offer some advice on what I need to get started?...reels, arrows, etc.  I am here in Colorado so most of the bowfishing will be around my house at local ponds and rivers.  Thanks for any help you can offer.  I really appreciate it.

Take a look at  http://www.3riversarchery.com/Cat.asp?c=56&s=0&p=0  
I a sure there is others.
It a lot of fun and there are reels that strap on, no drilling needed.

What part of Colorado you in?

thanks Tex Mex.  I have looked in the catalog but am not sure what reels are worth the money.  I shoot off the shelf so do I continue to do that even with the rubber vanes of the arrow?

I live in Loveland which is northern Co.

Most people do not shoot any vanes on a fish arrow. There is really no need for it. I would strip them off and continue to shoot off the shelf.

I like to use the AMS retriever reels the best. They are quick to recover your arrow. They make adapter that strap to the bow to use them or you could just use some cable ties.

I prefer the retriever. But I started with a hand wrap reel. It was cheap and just mounted to the bow with tape. I think the Retrevier is worth the money.
 Next thing to do is take the vanes off the arrow. They really don't help at all and can actually can hurt the flight in the water.
 There are a couple different adapters for mounting a reel on the bow with rubber straps. So you don't have to drill holes in your bow.
 When it comes to arrows fiberglass works well and is cheaper than solid carbon or the aluminum/glass arrows. Just make sure the arrow has either a cable or slide on the arrow to tie the line to.
 Polarized glasses are a must. If you are shooting ponds and streams a stringer works well to keep the fish together when wading and moving around

The easiest setup to use on your bow would be just a cheap, simple tape on drum reel with a fiberglass arrow with safety slide and some decent line for the reel.  That will get you going for little money and will shoot just fine.  You can always upgrade the reel and line if you really get into it or end up doing it more.  Check with Backwater Bowfishing, Sully's Bowfishing Stuff or Bowfishing Extreme for equipment options!  Mark

Listen to Mark. He is a veteran tournament bowfisherman and knows his stuff. Strip the vanes, if you buy a complete arrow Muzzy now sells them with the safety slide and point installed and no vanes.

Black electrical tape works good for taping on reels.

CB

Lots of great information here.

Like Mark said, a cheap hand wrap reel will get you started. I've sure shot more than my share of carp with one. But if you'd like to "move up", so to speak, I highly suggest an AMS Retriever. I've been using the same one since around '91 or so and it's still going strong.

Definately get an AMS Safety Slide for your arrow though. Keep that line in front of the bow and you'll almost eliminate any chance of it becoming tangled in the bow string and flying back at you. Been there, done that.

You can get a strap-on mount for the retriever, or like CB suggested, some electrical tape works well too (I add a strip of rubber inner tube between the bow and reel though).

 

Jason, nice fish.....but very ugly!

I use an old Shakespeare Necedah, Great Northern Gadget adapter, drum style reel, and standard fiberglass arrow. This is a cheap yet productive set up. If I were shooting competitions then I would go to an AMS reel.
Buy the best polarized sunglasses you can afford. You will see 10 times more fish than with the cheap glasses. I carry an extra fiberglass arrow and I always strip the plastic vanes off. I use Muzzy fish heads and carry a few extra screw in tips for them. Have fun!    
 

Jason, nice German Carp. I used to shoot a few around here but I haven't seen any in a while. Mostly all Grass Carp now with a few high fin suckers, dogfish, and Gar thrown in.  

If you do go with the cheap route and drum style watch how you wrap it up in the heat of the moment or 1. you loose the arrow, 2. it comes back at you just as fast as it left or 3. you loose the arrow and the string comes back and cuts you across the face. Been there done all that! just dont let it wrap behind the drum or coffee can if you go that method.

Yep...that has to be the ugliest carp I've ever shot. That particular year I seemed to shoot a lot of mirror carp and other oddball variations.

This mirror carp was quite a bit smaller, and not nearly as ugly.    



Back to the question at hand though: you don't need anything fancy for shooting 5- to 10-pound carp. The homemade BBO and tape on reel on the right has removed several dozen rough fish from the local waterways.

 

I have always wanted to try bow fishing!  I have a stupid question though... what do you do with those carp after you shoot them?  Surely no one eats those things!

turtles have to eat too  :D