Kind of a strange topic name, but so be it.
Anybody with real experience out there?  I was wondering about equipment. I'm thinking a shorter bow might work better?

Also, do the strap on reels work as well as one mounted into an insert?

I have a fairly short window of time when the Red River floods and carp can be found in creeks and flooded ditches. And want take advantage of it.

I prefer a reel mounted to an insert. I use a retriever by ams bowfishing. I use a 58 or 60 inch bow. I do most of my bowfishing out of a canoe so like a shorter bow

I'm another vote for the AMS set up. I like using bows that I'm not worried about getting beat up. I shoot mostly from a boat. I mount my reel on the side of my riser. I've generally always used recuves.

AMS for me also, 60" super Kodiak. I shoot mostly standing in my canoe

I have used mounted spools, Zebco 808 reel and the AMS Retriever.  The AMS is the fastest second shot and best for longer shots, all work.  An arrow with the safety slide and screw on tip where the barb can be reversed easily for fish removal is a good setup.  For wading ditches and Red River backwater, any length will be fine for open flooded grass.  A shorter bow would be helpful in flooded timber and brush.

Quote from: bharring on February 27, 2026, 02:44:23 PMI have used mounted spools, Zebco 808 reel and the AMS Retriever.  The AMS is the fastest second shot and best for longer shots, all work.  An arrow with the safety slide and screw on tip where the barb can be reversed easily for fish removal is a good setup.  For wading ditches and Red River backwater, any length will be fine for open flooded grass.  A shorter bow would be helpful in flooded timber and brush.

For sure on the safety slide , safer and better.

I use a 60" D/R with an aluminum spool in a riser insert . I'm sure strap on inserts will work but a big fish may be hard on that, never tried it...

We have caught the buffalo spawn on a lake near home lately and you can shoot all you want from the bank, actually more than you want.  We have guys setting lines for catfish that take all we have for bait, say it is way better than carp...

Some of the fish are over 30 lbs so they have some horsepower!!

Thanks, the exact info I was hoping to get.

I've got an old 58" Ben Pearson bow i set up my fishing rig on.. It collects more dust than gets used any more. its kind of a shop decoration now. But ... i used to go carp fishing in my canoe now and then in late May when they were spawning and sunning themselves. it was a blast.

I'm pretty sure someone else mentioned it but a dedicated bowfishing bow is the best idea in my opinion. Plenty of options out there. Used to have an older PSE or Hoyt trad bow that was just for bowfishing, had all the riser inserts and what not for attaching reels and such. Had a plunger insert where I put a round brass arrow rest. Have used other setups and the strap on stuff will also work but will mar the finish on the bow in my experience.

Definitely go with an arrow that has some sort of safety slide. I used heavy fiberglass shafts, even had a swagger for putting heads on. Most ant commercially available bowfishing head will work but certain heads work better on different fish. On gar the heads with a trocar style point seemed to be best.