1:26 AM and waiting for Reed to get out of the shower so I can get mine without waking up the girls.  Just got back from a most excellent bowfishing adventure.  Pictures and stories after some sleep!    

Why must you tease?!

yeah, thats not fair

sleep is for the weak, we need pics  :D

LOL      

Got the pictures uploaded, but we have to go to Reed's soccer game.  Back in a bit to post them here...

Sleep..now soccer  :rolleyes:

When Kim Wileman pulled up in the yard I looked at my wife across the paint roller I was holding and said, "I bet he wants to go bowfishing."

She said, "You're still painting until dark."

With that as permission, I made arrangements for Reed and I to meet Kim at his house after the sun went down.

Tools of the trade: Reed was shooting this old Bear Kodiak Magnum (40 #) and I was shooting this much-too-nice-to-bowfish-with Bear Kodiak (45#).  Both bows are outfitted with AMS retrievers.  His is mounted with a gadget adapter and mine is bolted on.

 

Soon we were loaded up in the boat and travelling to a top secret location.



After a short run, we geared up and the action began soon thereafter.  Kim shoots a compound, but is getting more and more interested in adding a recurve to his arsenal.

I was the first on the board with this smallish tilapia.  It is the only picture of me with a fish because Kim and Reed wouldn't put their bows down to pick up the camera after that.

 

Reed quickly followed my nile perch with a fish of his own.  This was one of a half dozen gar he shot.

 

We weren't the only ones out fishing at night.

We passed over this five footer a dozen or so times.  I should have tried a picture without the flash because he was about a foot under the water, but this is all I got of him.

 

18 inchers were all over the place:

 

I thought the action was pretty solid, but Kim said it had been much better the week before.

Here are some shots of Reed, the bowfishing guru, in action:





Gar



Bowfin/Mudfish

We drug in about 1:30 this morning and came back out to take care of the fish at daylight.  Reed was already dressed for soccer pictures-busy man.



I think our total for the outing was something like 31 fish.  We had a great time.  There is nothing quite like bowfishing at night.  The evening was full of genuine laughter, near misses, occassional success, and good-natured teasing.  A good time was had by all.    

looks like a great time! cant wait to bowfish this year!
            jake

Wow, that's a pile of fish boys!  Good shooting,especially on those gar      

"a good time was had by all"....way to go guys,hopefully I'll get down for a visit this year if we head down to FL.    

Come see us, Curt...

Fish Fry!!!!!

OK.........I gotta quit letting work interfere with this kind of important stuff. I have been wanting to get out bowfishing for a couple weeks and haven't made it yet. You really know how to hurt a guy! I think two building projects at UCF are going to get behind now! I gotta go bowfishing!

I'm heading for Florida on Friday and will be at Okeechobee on Sat. evening. Looking for ideas on what to do. My son Tyler and I will be fishing mostly. We have a 17' Skeeter to fish from. My wife and two daughters will be on a cruise. Tyler and I decided to fish, bowfish, and hopefully hunt a little.

Terry,

I am not real familiar with hunting opps around the big lake, but know that there are several pay hunts available down there for hogs and turkey that you could find on the internet.  If you go to myfwc.com you should be able to see what public land areas are open for turkey hunting.

The lake is a major fishery as I am sure you know and is well known for bass fishing.  THere should be some bowfishing chances on any canal or tributary around the lake for gar, bowfin, and probably tilapia.  If you have some lights rigged for your boat or even a couple of spotlights you should be abloe to have some fun.

Post on the Florida forum and see if you get any bites for other ideas.


Ronnie,

Go get 'em brother!