Buying the best bowfishing bow and arrow kit is as exciting as the sport itself. All you need is to get yourself well educated on some significant factors to make the best decision.
As long as you know what you want to buy yourself, the best bow fishing bow that matches your physic and style is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Read on, and you will develop a good understanding in no time.
Taking up bow fishing as a hobby can be very entertaining, staying close to nature. It can be challenging, fulfilling, and rewarding at the same time.
To get the most out of this sport, you need to get the kind of equipment that matches your abilities without bogging you down.
Below is the list of Fishingbows that we reviewed, and I’m sure you will find them helpful when getting one for yourself.
Contents
10 Best Bowfishing Bow 2021
So you want to take up bow hunting this year. Even when you’re starting in this sport, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the Best compound bow for youth and beginners.
To help you decide which is the best Compound bow for youth and beginners in 2018, we have looked at many compound bows that boast of being the best. We decided to look past the marketing fluff and find out the real deal.
Besides the bow weight, draw weight, draw length, and speed, a bow can only indeed be judged when you hold it in your hand and feel what it’s telling you.
What’s best for others may not be best for you, so our guide gives you seven options to decide the best compound bow for yourself. We have reviewed other bows further down, but I’ll save you some time if you’re looking for the absolute best.
I’ll make a tall claim about this one right now – Bear Archery Cruzer G2 is the best compound bow for youth and beginners.
1) Raptor Compound Hunting Bow Kit – Editor’s Choice
Hoyt Raptor is a fast shooting, smooth pulling, reliable, and versatile compound bow. So it just had to be considered one of the best bow fishing bows for youth and beginners. It has a fully adjustable draw length with its max peaking at 31″ with the draw weight of 30-70 lbs makes it one of the top compound bow hunting kits out there.
This compound bow can adjust for a person of any size without the need for a bow press. Generally, the beginners are looking for a bow that is cheap without a compromise on the quality. After all, there is an upward learning curve that needs to be scaled first.
Only then can a hunter can consider themselves pro and start looking for a better weapon. Until then, this compound bow can be your perfect hunting partner.
In my view, the best compound bow for youth and beginners should be light and versatile yet fast and quick enough to keep them in the hunt. Hoyt Raptor compound bow fits the bill in that regard very nicely.
All in all, this bow is of a decent enough quality that you can gamble on over high-end brands saving a few bucks and getting a powerful, accurate, and rugged beginner’s bow.
2) Bear Archery Cruzer G2 Adult Compound Bow
Our pick for Best Compound bow for Youth and Beginners Bear Archery Cruzer. I helped a friend get this bow who had no experience in archery or bow shooting. Yet he was shooting cans from 25 yards in less than ONE hour.
So no matter what your age, if you’re a beginner and have never shot a bow, this is the best compound bow for you, Period !!! That is just hard to beat No other bow, but Bear Archery Cruzer G2 would have allowed him to accomplish that if you ask me.
That feat alone makes it a Very impressive compound bow, in my opinion. Not just any, but the Best compound bow for youth and beginners is capable of that.
It comes with a complete ready to hunt package, and that combination is just plain deadly. It has the peep sight, awesome reticle with night illumination feature, nook, stabilizer, quiver, and wrist wrap. All set up perfectly to have it ready to shoot right out of the box.
Like most compound bows, It has the variance that increases or decreases the draw weight. Adjusting the draw lengths is as easy as turning the dial, making it a perfect companion on your hunts for a long time.
3) Cajun Bowfishing Sucker Punch
Top of the line in bow fishing combo kits, the Cajun Bowfishing Sucker Punch gets you on the road for bow fishing right out of the box. Not too keen on building your bow fishing package? This beast is a tailor-made bow fishing bow and arrow package that specifically design for bow fishing.
Although you can get it in both bow-only and ready-to-fish bow fishing bow and arrow kit, It’s combo package will save you from experimenting with different accessories and parts. Add to that the convenience of two interchangeable draw modules.
The first is the specific draw module, while the second is a constant draw module with 60 percent let off. In both cases, the draw length does not change – 17 to 31 inches is the draw length.
It has deeper cam grooves to prevent the derailing of the strings. Since all your action will take place close to the water, the deep cam grooves will help keep the lines on even if the strings get wet.
The kit that design for this bow is the best and most complete bow fishing bow and arrow kit in the market. Fishing biscuit arrow rest, Cajun hybrid bow fishing reel, and Cajun blister buster finger pads are part of the complete combo package.
In case you don’t have to run off to the store to get the arrows for your bow, they are added to the package as well. Not one but two arrows. Both are made of fiberglass and topped with piranha tips to give you a complete and powerful bow fishing experience.
PS The customers who bought this on Amazon have raving reviews for this bow. Check it out on Amazon. I will recommend this in the compound fishing bow category.
4) Quest Forge DTH Compound Bow – Premium Choice
Quest forge is also one of the best compound bows created and targeted specifically for youth and beginners. I hands down one of the best bows to get started in archery and decide whether you want to take up hunting.
Its hybrid cam design, combined with its draw range of 25.5-30 inches, allows for a comfortable draw cycle. After all, when you’re starting, being convenient to shoot will be crucial for you in deciding whether you will take up hunting or not.
So might as well start with a compound bow that is easy on those archery muscles that still need to develop when starting. Mind you. These archery muscles are in your upper back and arms that you don’t usually use for daily activities.
Its roller guard slide helps in smooth movements and easy adjustments. It can shoot at high speeds thanks to its hybrid cam design. Since we are talking about the Best compound bow for youth and beginners, these features would bolt any bow to the list’s top.
Quest Forge has a slim design with wide limbs. These, along with a comfortable grip, provide stability while in full draw and shooting.
5) Diamond Archery Edge SB1 Compound Bow
In our quest to find the best compound bow for youth and beginners, I came across Diamond Archery Edge SB1. This bow is a bow hunter’s dream come true.
It is adjustable, lightweight, and versatile with an excellent quality build. If that’s not motivation enough for you to get one, let me add that you do not have to break the bank to get it.
The best thing is that its design with the youth and beginners in mind. So it helps them start experiencing the thrill of bowhunting by hitting the targets. No wonder it’s Diamond’s best selling bow of all time.
This bow is so versatile that it can adjust to the needs of any age group. Kids aged 7 to an old pro at 87 can set this up and use it with ease.
I recommend this compound bow for beginners, but seasoned hunters cannot stop but praise this machine. It has all the qualities of being a long term companion. Even after you upgrade to a new bow, you might still want to keep this one because it’s just that functional.
It’ll love as a compound bow for youth for its super-fast speed, low noise level, and incredible ease of adjustment.
The Diamond Edge SB-1 binary cam system helps in protecting…
- The strings stretch,
- Cams are losing their tune.
- General wear and tear and keeps your bow in perfect tune.
Diamond’s website is a great resource for keeping your bow in good shape with its videos that show step by step instructions on adjusting old or new bows.
6) Diamond Infinite Edge Pro Compound Bow
The infinite Edge Pro conceive after its predecessor’s phenomenal success, Diamond Infinite Edge, which was the best selling bow of all time from Diamond. Infinite Edge pro builds upon the strengths of its ancestors and makes it better.
Its lightweight is one of the first things you will notice when you get your hands on it. You will be amazed at how easy and comfortable it is to handle and can be carried along anywhere you go without an issue.
The draw length is now better, allowing the shooters who like longer draws. It has a completely redesigned cam system to give you the smoothest draw cycle. Diamond has also made improvements by adding a solid back wall and stabilizer, giving it a perfect balance.
Infinite Edge Pro is both a speed bow and a hunting bow. That makes it one of the best compound bows for youth and beginners in the market. At high 310 fps, it’s reasonably fast for a starter bow, yet it has a comfortable and smooth draw.
This bow is light and compact enough for a kid. We would call it a child-friendly since it’s one of the most easily adjustable bows in the market.
Part of its versatility is its ability to adjust with any hunter. With so many options to adjust, everyone can find a comfortable configuration that suits them best.
7) Southland Archery Supply SAS Rage Compound Bow
What makes SAS Rage a good choice as the best compound bow for youth and beginners is that it gives the Other compound bows in this list a run for their money when it comes to High quality and durability.
With 270 FPS of max speed, it is not the fastest compound bow out there, but it makes up for the speed with its strength because of piece layered limbs.
It’s light and durable enough to use for bow fishing. It becomes convenient while bow fishing because of its lightweight and the strength of its limbs. Its low price is a bonus, but that does not compromise on the quality.
It can compete with its siblings from a lot higher and expensive class and gives them an excellent competition to prove their worth.
For those of you who are not buying a bow because they feel so expensive. This one is for you, low priced yet strong enough to last you many hunting seasons. For a compound bow meant for youth and beginners, you can upgrade that to a full-fledged hunter bow by adding a few inexpensive accessories.
A good Dot Sight, a good peep, and a whisker biscuit will turn it into a reliable and affordable hunting machine.
8) PSE Ghost Take Down Recurve Bow
This fishing bow is hard-shooter and durable. Not the most modern and technical beast in the market but provides a perfect bow fishing bow and arrow combo package on a budget. PSE Kingfisher Bowfishing Kit market as a beginner and youth fishing bow kit. It does not have the latest and greatest of everything but quite the opposite in the package.
This package contains the bare minimum that any beginner would need to get started in bow fishing. The bow itself is decently loud and durable with an all-season camo. It’s a recurve bow that generally produces some noise when the bow is shot, and this one is no exception.
The sound will not matter as much while bow fishing as it would with other games as fish don’t as easily get spooked away with noise.
Recurve bows are now a thing of the past and have been replaced by more precise, compact, and quiet compound bows. But if you’re in Love with the recurved shape, maybe you should consider this. All that said, this bow does the basics very well. When an arrow is shot, it gives it enough punch to propel it through the water fast enough to catch the fish off guard.
It’s easy to carry and transport because of its simplistic design and shape. Lesser weight because of lesser gadgets also help to keep its design light and compact. P.S. People who bought this were generally looking for a basic beginner and low priced fishing bow. Amazon has this for sale at an even better price. Most were getting it for occasional shooting and bowfishing.
9) Advanced PSE Kingfisher Bowfishing Package
Surprise – surprise !!!
The PSE Kingfisher bow has shown in another one of our reviews. This bow fishing bow and arrow kit package is entirely different. This package is most certainly geared towards an advanced bow fishing hunter. Maybe it can also be picked up by beginners or youth who want to take up bowhunting more seriously and for the longer term.
What makes this kingfisher bow combo kit better is the AMS Retriever #310, which is regarded as the best retriever in the industry, hands down. Add to that 2 Sureshot penetrator arrows with safety slides, and you have yourself a bow fishing setup that is hard to deny.
The bow itself is made with an Aluminum handle and fiberglass limbs, which keep the bow light enough. The rubber no glove finger protection is ideal for bow fishing in the wet environment. Protecting your fingers from blister will give you long days of bow fishing.
So if you are looking for a good quality kit that you can continue to use year after year without breaking the bank, this advance bowfishing package with PSE Kingfisher should be top of the list for you. A bow like this would make you want to go fishing every day. Find out more about this on Amazon.
10) Hoyt Carbon Defiant
There is no doubt in Hoyt’s dominance when it comes to making the best compound bows for beginners and seasoned hunters alike. Hoyt is known for it’s designing and manufacturing of high-performance quality equipment.
Given Hoyt’s quality and dominance in the market, it’s only natural that not one but two of Hoyt’s compound bow have featured in our list of the best compound bow for youth and beginners. Carbon Defiant muscled its way into our directory. With its quality and features, we just couldn’t leave it out.
The significant advantage of using carbon fiber in bow manufacturing is the strength of this material. But that’s not the only benefit that you get with it. Carbon Fiber is also warm to the touch in low temperatures. That makes it ideal for hunting in colder climates. Carbon fiber is even lighter than both Aluminium or plastic fiber and yet more durable and lighter than both of these materials.
Hoyt has done their research well to make Carbon Defiant strong yet light enough to carry around youth and beginners. Given the benefits of carbon fiber, it’s no surprise that the industry’s best compound bows are made with this very material. No wonder Carbon Defiant is considered to be top of the line.
Carbon Defiant’s balanced design makes it lethally accurate. The even bigger advantage is that its accuracy does not compromise the speed. It’s able to push the arrow at top speeds of 331 FPS – That is no small feat.
Carbon Defiant’s strength and accuracy are evident in its price tag. Rest assured, it is no cheap bow to carry around. It certainly shows its class during the hunt or just while it’s being carried around with its rugged yet strong build.
Buyers Guide For Bowfishing Bow Kit
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro at bow fishing, the following information will help you make an informed decision about what type of equipment you should choose for yourself. Wikipedia defines it as “A fishing method that uses specialized archery equipment to shoot and retrieve fish.”
What is Draw Weight?
When considering the draw weight, a basic rule of thumb is, “The taller and stronger you are, you can choose a bow with the higher draw weight.” When you’re deciding on your next bow fishing kit combo, just getting a bow fishing bow or just getting a bob, Draw weight is one of the main factors to consider.
The reason why draw weight is of vital consideration is that it will play an important role in shooting an arrow whether you’re shooting a fish in the water or a large pray on land. In simple terms, it’s the amount of force/weight required to pull back the string and hold it steady without the need for any aid. Learn archery website has a very detailed explanation of why draw weight is so important and how it affects shooting.
The draw weight of bows ranges from 30 to 80 lbs on most bows. What suits you best will depend on your strength, ability, technic, and the length of both your hands when stretched to the sides. Other factors like your age and gender also come into play, but in general, they do not affect the draw weight too much.
Does Bowfishing Bow Kit Combo Includes Reel?
Bowfishing Reel is what makes the bow fishing arrow different from other compound arrows. Should you care whether your fishing bow has a reel attached to it right out of the box?
Well, if it’s your first bow and you don’t have too much of an idea about the equipment, they might as well go with the bow fishing kit combo rather than going through the hassle of constructing your own. It will save you time and get your feet wet in the ocean of bow fishing while you become more familiar with the details of what exactly suits your hunting style.
The fishing line in the reel attaches to the rail on the arrow. In some cases, the indicators do not have a fence, so it connects to the shaft (More on this arrow section). So once the arrow is shot, and the fish is on the arrow, it’s reeled in the same fishing rod.
The bow acts as the rod and works as the lever to pull while the line rewound through the bow fishing reel. The bow fishing reels sold in the market are of two types, open or concealed in the drum. Concealed reels are better, in my opinion, because they keep the line from getting stuck with the ends of the coil.
What Hand Orientation of the Bow You Need
While hunting for a bow fishing bow – pun intended – there is a significant factor that needs to keep in mind – Not all bows are designed the same. To make it easy for you to understand, the right-handed bows are held in your left hand while the arrow is shot from the right – your dominant – hand.
For the left-handed bows, it’s the opposite.
While that might sound odd when we talk about it, but you wouldn’t think twice when you’re holding one in your hand. Most of the people’s bows are made with the dominant right hand. That should not discourage the left-handed from taking up bow fishing for fun, though.
Left-handed bows are not that hard to find in the market. There might be fewer choices, but finding a quality bow that fits your requirements is not that hard to find.
Archery talk forum has a great in-depth discussion about hand orientation and how it may affect your shooting. Nonetheless, not giving it a thought and just picking up one for your non-dominant hand may just make it entirely useless for you. The right bow for you does not have to be right-handed, So make sure to give it some thought before buying one.
How to Calculate Dimensions(Draw Length) Of Bowfishing
Your draw length plays a vital part in what bow fishing bow you should choose. You want to match your draw length with that of the bow you want to get. A mismatch will compromise your shooting experience, and that is the last thing you want while on the hunt.
There are a couple of ways to measure your draw length. The most accurate would be for you to stretch your arms out to form a T. Make sure you’re standing up straight. Then keep your shoulders in the same positions, bend your dominant elbow, and bend your head to look towards your stretched hand.
The draw length would measure from the tip of the fingers of your stretched out the hand to the edge of the mouth. The second option would be to measure your stretched out arms while standing up straight, forming a T. The measurement should be from the tip of the farthest finger on each side. Now take that measurement and divide it by 2.5. That should give you an almost perfect draw length.
Determining the draw length is explained in detail at Hunter’s friend’s website in their bow fitment guide. The third and recommended method is to go to a bow shop and have the pros measure the draw length for you. They’ve done it many times and know exactly how to measure it and help you match up with the best bow possible.
How Much Weight Will be Suitable for Me
Bowfishing is generally a lot more fast-paced than large game hunting. You will be spending a lot of time drawing the fishing bow to full draw and holding that draw for some time before shooting. All you need are a bow fishing bow and arrow that are light enough to be held on full draw without causing much fatigue to your shoulder muscles.
If they’re light, then carrying them around does not feel like a chore either.
Choosing the light but strong bow will give you the best bow fishing experience.
The fishing bow’s weight can be anywhere between 3 – 5 lbs for the most popular bows. The importance of the reel cylinder would add to try to get that as light as possible. There are several materials used for the construction of bows. Aluminum, plastic fiber, carbon fiber, or a mixture of carbon and Aluminum are some materials.
The weight of your bow will vary significantly based on the material used to build it.
Fishing bows constructed with Carbon fiber are the most durable bows with the least amount of weight. Most bow fishing kits come with fishing bows made with carbon fiber. Carbon fiber bows are generally the most expensive as well. Nonetheless, it’s money worth spending when you consider the comfort and strength of carbon fiber.
Add to that. Carbon fiber is warm to the touch and excellent for cold weather conditions.
Arrow Parts and Types
Bowfishing bow and arrow kit are not complete unless you have at least one arrow included with it. Bowfishing arrow is a specialized arrow that is made specifically for bow fishing. So obviously, it cannot be used for any other kind of bowhunting.
Bowfishing arrow has multiple parts contributing to being a better, more reliable, and effective arrow for the water’s different types of fish. In addition to that, there may be specialized arrows for the different kinds of fish as well, mainly depending on their size, but in general, if you’re staying below the 20-25 lbs fish, your single bow supplied with the bow fishing bow and arrow kit should suffice.
A bow fishing arrow consists of the following main parts.
- Shaft: The materials used in the shaft determines how sharp an arrow is. Aluminum, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and aluminum carbon fiber mix are some of the materials used in manufacturing the arrow shaft.
- Rail: Specific to the Bowfishing only, arrow rails distinguish bow fishing arrows from all other arrow types. The fence helps secure the fishing line and acts as a safety for the shooter, ensuring that the fishing line stays to the far side of the bow. If the arrow rail not uses, there is a danger of the shaft flipping back and hurting the shooter.
- Nock: This is on the opposite side of the arrow point. The part that notches onto the bowstring and keeps the arrow from slipping on the bow.
- Point: Top part of the arrow that penetrates the fish. Right quality arrows would have a replaceable point. Just like the shaft, the position also comes in a variety of materials. The end material should be chosen based on the size of the fish you want to bow fishing.
- Barb: Barb is what makes the fish stay stuck to the arrow. Bowfishing arrow barb should be reversible. That makes it easy to take the shaft out of the fish once the fish has reeled.
Warranty on Parts
Should it come to this, the warranty can come in very handy. Bows are generally built to use in the rugged environment, so user handling might always come into question. But even then, most manufacturers honor their warranty and stand by the quality of their product.
All manufacturers would offer some type of warranty. The warranty period will vary for each manufacturer. So it’s best to get yourself educated about how long the warranty will last.
It will also help to know well before buying as to what type of warranty is offered. That will help you understand what is covered and what isn’t. As with anything else, not all parts and not all circumstances generally include.
It will be hard to find a manufacturer that will offer an unconditional warranty. Be sure to know that the repairs for your bow fishing bow and arrow can also be costly. So if you’re investing in the complete bow fishing bow and arrow kit, let the warranty factor into the money coming out of your wallet.
Best Bowfishing Bow FAQs
What is the Best Anchor Point for Drawing a Bow?
The best Anchor point for drawing a bow varies from archer to archer. It is as individual as a person. No one can TELL you what your best anchor point is because it can only come with practice, reflection, and self-awareness.
All archers shoot the arrow in their style, those with a high anchor point characterized as top archers. Others with low anchor point can term as low archers. Some just have the anchor point to the side of their face. If there are so many shooting styles, then what is this hoopla about the anchor point is in the first place? So let’s start with the basics.
What Is the Anchor point on Bowfishing Bow?
The anchor point is part of the proper form of shooting with a bow. Whether you’re bow fishing or shooting a compound bow for the big game, It is part of the fundamentals in learning archery and hunters ed. The anchor point is as crucial as your stance and body direction.
Knowing your best Anchor point for drawing a bow also helps determine the bow length you should use. So when you have the bend on the full draw, your face’s position that the nock of the arrow touches is your anchor point. This will vary from person to person based on their body type, strength, technique, and stance.
In general, it advised keeping the anchor point between the chin and the lip, right below the closer edge of your rim. That is a safe area for the nock to rest before shooting because your facial features – skin, beard, or a scarf you may wear in winter – might rub off while you make the Shot.
If any part of the body is too close or rubbing with the string or the arrow, it can cause the ball to miss-hit.
So at the start, you must be aware of your anchor point. Once you become seasoned, it becomes second nature. In essence, as a guide for the best anchor point for drawing a bow should be between the chin and the lip, more to the closer edge of the mouth. But as the archers get comfortable with shooting, they develop their Anchor points for what suits them best.
Why is the Anchor Point so Critical?
To achieve perfection in archery, every time you shoot an arrow, you want to shoot it the same way Shot after Shot after Shot. Accuracy can only come through repetition (This is one of the great lessons that archery teaches for life).
To get your Shot to hit the middle of the bullseye every time, you need to develop a solid anchor point for drawing a bow.
You need to master your Anchor point to repeatedly reproduce the same Shot regardless of its surroundings and conditions. The anchor point that varies – above your lips, below your chin at times, or ahead of your face will give you an inconsistent shot without fail that hardly ever hits the target.
So the best way to find your anchor point is to start from a template – if you will – that is a good starting point and then move it around a little to find out what suits you best.
How to Find the Best Anchor Point for Drawing a Bow?
There are a couple of methods that you can employ to find the best anchor point for drawing a bow. You can pick and choose any of these that you are comfortable with.
- Ask a friend to “Spot” your shots: The best, quickest and easiest method is to ask a friend to keep an eye on your Anchor point before shooting. An experienced Archer would be able to guide you and provide helpful tips.
- Setup a Camera: If you can’t get anyone to help you or if you want to observe your anchor point for correction, you should set up a camera that records your draws and shots. After all, practice makes perfect in archery, and the Camera will work as an excellent tool to give you feedback.
- Walk into your local Archery shop: Let the professionals handle it. Your local Archery shop has helped plenty of new archers through finding their best anchor point. They know where and how to correct the form, and they can provide further tips and suggestions on how you need to achieve your specific Anchor point.
How Does Peep Sight help in Finding the Best Anchor Point?
Peep sight placement would be a good indicator of how consistent your Anchor point is. Whenever you change the anchor point, your head position will have to adjust to having a good look through the peep sight to make sure you’re targeting correctly.
If you continuously have to change your head, then there are only two possible reasons. Besides the peep sight not being placed right, there’s a higher probability that you’re not shooting from your best anchor point for drawing a bow.
Avoid Torque Point?
Torque points are a big no-no when drawing a bow. They can affect your anchor point and, in turn, contribute to an inconstant shot that you should avoid. So What is a torque point? Torque point is any place on your face that creates an additional torque on the bowstring when you are at full draw. Generally, Archers create an extra torque point on their
Nose: by letting the string press against their nose
Chin: By letting the skin on chin and cheek to drawback with the string.
Torque point is never good because it can cause the arrow to change from the intended target. The friction created by any torque point can cause the arrow to either lose speed or change direction. When you analyze many archers over time, you will notice various torque points that some archers create while holding the draw.
How to Get consistency for the Best Anchor point with Bowfishing Bow?
There’s an adage, “Mastery can only come with repetition.” So once you have found your best anchor point, now is the time for you to make it consistent and make sure that you’re drawing at that point every single time.
All you need to do is ensure that you do not deviate from the anchor point that you have established. It will require consistency and tenacity.
You might need to correct yourself multiple times, but keep at it. Initially, it may seem like painstaking labor to get the perfect anchor, but eventually, you’ll get used to it. Once you have mastered that proper anchor, you’ll become your best critique. You’ll pick out your mistakes as soon as you make them.
Why Bowfish Instead of Plain Old Fishing
Bowfishing is a different sport when compared to fishing altogether. It requires a different kind of temperament, another type of mindset, an altered state of being, if you will. Frankly, the only thing common between the two is the fish.
Bowfishing is more related to impulsive hunting instinct as opposed to the calm and lazy fishing mindset. It promotes activity and gets your brain going on top speed when you’re on the hunt.
It’s not dull but a Very Active Sport.
To start, bow fishing is a very active sport, unlike its big brother. It’s more like hunting than it is fishing. There will be times when you’ll find yourself aiming at something every couple of minutes, if not more. How many times you will hit the target depends upon your skills and accuracy.
But you’ll hardly ever find any dull moments. To this end, you need to make sure that you pick a spot where there is plenty of fish lurking around, and naturally, you’ll find yourself going to places that crowd with fish. That is where bow fishing adrenaline pumps the most.
Talk, Scream, Laugh out loud. It’s OK.
It’s a very involved type of sport where you’re talking to your friends very frequently and getting exciting very often. So if you’re into hunting more massive games on the ground, you would be much too familiar with keeping quiet and whispering and listening to nature.
You don’t have to do all that while bow fishing. It’s quite the contrary most of the time. If you’re with someone, you will find yourself yelling and screaming and getting excited at times, and that’s OK for this sport. Try doing that while shooting at an elk 10 yards away.
Best Vantage Points to Shoot
From the bank, Wading inside, from a bridge or top of the boat, bow fishing can be versatile, and each one of the forms will have its own unique experience. I like to either hunt from the top of the boat or head of a low walking bridge. These experiences give me a better vantage point where I can look directly down and bring the bow to full draw and shoot.
The angles of refraction become steeper when you’re shooting from the bank. The general rule of thumb is to aim 10 inches below the target before you shoot – but of course, it is just a rule of thumb. You’ll have to adjust your goal based on what you see and how you see it. But in general, you should always aim beneath the fish rather than the above.
Best Time to Go Bowfishing
Bowfishing is a great sport during the day but excellent during the night. It’s a sport that does not limit you by the hour of day or night but is equally challenging regardless of the time you choose. So any time of the day is the best time to go bow fishing.
If you’re fishing during the daylight hours, you will need to take precautions about the sun battering down on your skin and eyes and the reflection and glare from the sun off the water since you will be moving around and trying to look through water.
The best idea is to take along a good pair of polarized sunglasses to save your eyes from the sun if you’re fishing during the day. A hat might also come in handy when the sun is at its hottest, so you can use that to keep the sun off your face.
When you’re having fun and enjoying yourself, the time flies quickly, so you might want to take precautions about the skin and take along a good sunblock even if you don’t plan to spend long hours in the sun. Besides these, you might want to carry a light jacket or windbreaker should the weather warrant for it.
At night, the dynamics of bow fishing change quite a bit. Your technique remains the same now. You need to look through the water in total darkness. So it would be a novel idea to carry along a spotlight. That helps you see through at least a few feet of water.
As an alternative, a perfect and robust flashlight can use if a spotlight is hard to come by. But without any of these, your bow fishing venture out will be as blind as darkness. Bugs and mosquitoes can always be an issue near open water, so you should plan by taking along an insect repellent.
Teach Me the Tricks of How to Bowfish
- Shadow: This is one big distractor in shallow and clear water. The fish can easily spook if it comes directly under a moving shadow. So whether on the bank or a boat, try to avoid sudden movements while aiming if the fish is close to your shadow. The fish may have small brains, but they’re not idiots. They can sense things that we humans might not.
- Noise: Loud thuds and sound can also scare off your target fish. Although Bowfishing is pretty generous in this department because you don’t have to be library quiet, if you’re on a boat, then sudden and loud noises of any kind that can travel directly through the water will get the fish swimming away in a hurry.
- Food: You should naturally choose a spot where there is plenty of game. The best playing ground for this sport are places where you can find large pools of fish. That gives you good target practice.
- Aim: An all too familiar sight in bow fishing is a Newbie that comes in with tons of confidence and excitement to match. They seem so excited that they feel they can take on the world. Then 3 or 4 missed shots at the fish, and their confidence dwindle.
You would see this newbie mistake of aiming too high. What they’re doing wrong is not calculating for refraction. The general rule of thumb is that you need to “Aim beneath the fish NOT above it.” So you should always aim below where the fish appears to be. But how far below??? It will depend on a couple of factors and will only become apparent after some trial and error.
Firstly keep a check on the angle that you are shooting down. What that means is that if the fish is far from you, then your perspective of refraction is more comprehensive, and you have to shoot more now below – typically 10 to 15 inches – to compensate for the view.
On the other hand, if the fish is closer, your refraction viewpoint is narrower, and you need to shoot 4-8 inches below the fish. These are just some numbers for reference, but you can only figure out the real deal once you get ready, aim and shoot.
What Not to do While Bowfishing Precautions
Before you jump into the bow fishing world headfirst, it would help you first find out what NOT to do during your bow fishing adventures.
The bowstring always needs to be tied to the slide at the front of the arrow and not related to the shaft’s end. If it’s tied to the end, it is bound to get stuck in the bowstring and snapback inevitably, and if that happens, there is a very high likelihood of significant injuries, so prevention is better than the cure.
It will benefit you to no end to find out first how and where precisely the bowstring should attach before you unleash your first arrow.
The perfect way to find out any issues can avoid practicing what is called the “Walk around” in the aviation industry. Just like a pilot would walk around the plane and check all the vital parts of the flight to ensure a safe trip, you should do the same with your bow fishing equipment.
A quick visual and physical Check of
- The screws and bolts,
- The tension of the bowstring,
- Visually inspect any damage to the bow,
- Checking the string and retriever,
- Checking the slide on the arrow where the bowstring connects
… are all the significant checkpoints that need to tick off before you head on out on your adventures.
All in all, Bowfishing is a great sport. It does not require a lot of time to prep and does not require a lot of time and planning to go out. You can be in your PJs sitting at home and decide to go fishing on the creek or lake nearby all of a sudden and just hit the road without much of a prep. It does not matter what time of the day or night you make your decision, all you need is the equipment, and you’re all set.
Best Bowfishing Bow Guide For Equipment
Let’s go, Bowfishing!
If you like bow fishing, you should know that bow fishing bow and arrows are made of what material – that depends a lot on the kind of fish. Bowfishing? Is it some kind of fish wearing a bow? That may be a response from a novice—someone who has not felt the adrenaline rush of this fantastic, relaxing, outdoor activity. Bowfishing is an outdoor activity unique because it combines the focus and precision of archery with fishing’s lazy relaxation.
Bowfishing bow is not a very distant cousin of a longbow or crossbow. How is it different from other bowhunting games? Well, it’s all in the name. Unlike its cousins, bow fishing has to do with lots of water, lakes, brooks, or creeks. Wherever you can find any type of fish, and that’s where all the bow fishing enthusiasts flock. In this post, you will learn.
What do you Hunt by Bowfishing?
If you can hunt a deer with a bow and arrow, why can’t you do the same to the fish? After all, they too live and breathe the same as all other living beings. OK, maybe not breathe the same, but you get the idea. So you will have to adapt your technique a bit for shooting arrows underwater.
Not only that, but it will help to modify your aim a little bit as well because if you’re looking down on the water from an angle, it will mess up your depth perception and make the objects appear closer than they are.
It will take some trial and error, but you would always shoot slightly below the sightline because of refraction. So as long as you have the right technique conquered, you can hunt for any type of fish and then some.
Bowfishers, or bow fishing hunters as we like to call ourselves, like to hunt catfish, paddlefish, common carp, bowfin, grass carp, bighead carp, tilapia, and alligator gar. Now, as you can tell, those are all fish from freshwater.
Here in Minnesota, freshwater is all we have because we are just so far away from the sea on either side. Lake Superior is the closest thing to the ocean we have, but for one, it’s so far up north that it’s practically in Canada, and secondly, who are we kidding? It says in the name it’s a lake.
What Type of Equipment will I Need for Bowfishing?
As exciting as it was for me when I first found out about it, Bowfishing is not a new fishing technique, although it is relatively new as a sport. It has been a traditional way of fishing in the Philippines since time immemorial and is based on its simplicity. It has existed in many different forms in different parts of the world.
The tools for bow fishing can be elementary. Simple bow, a barbed arrow that clings on to the fish once it’s hit, with a fishing line connected to the shaft on one end and a reel on the other that’s attached to the bow to reel in fish once the Shot made and the fish is barbed to the arrow.
The modern bow fishing equipment can be as straightforward or as precise as you want to make it. There are tons of bows out there that make bow fishing fun, easy, and a type of precision fishing. Technology has also changed the Arrows with time from pure bamboo, feather, or wooden arrows to Aluminum, carbon fiber, Aluminum Carbon fiber, Hybrid, and tons of new materials for adventurers.
1) The Fishing Bow
The modern fishing bow is made up of multiple components. The main ones that make up this formidable weapon are the bow, the reel, and the fishing line. The fishing bow is not a lot different from the ones you find for any other hunting sport.
The materials used are more or less the same, but the bow’s size is not as bulky as you would find for some other type of bobs. It makes more sense to use a bow that is lightweight and easy to carry around.
The recurve bows are ideal to use as a fishing bow. Since they’re more compact and generally smaller in size, they’re easy to lug around. But they are also sturdy and pack a punch when the arrow is released, catching even the fastest moving fish in their tracks.
Since bow fishing is generally shallow water or surface water sport, where you do not need to shoot the arrows too far, Most of the fish you would be aiming for are not very large.
Of course, you should only shoot at fish that is about 2 pounds to 15 pounds (even that is pushing it) in the lakes or brooks because more massive fish will be much tougher to reel back in. If you’re looking for a reliable bow fishing bow, Get one of these from Amazon. They sell out pretty quickly.
2) The Arrow
Selecting the right bow fishing arrow depends upon what kind of fish you want to use it on. Best bow fishing arrows are made up of materials with multiple parts on its own the major part of it is the shaft, then you have the point and barbs. One thing missing from the bow fishing arrows is the flinch since that would only slow it down once it enters the water.
Bowfishing Arrows made of What Materials
1) Arrow shaft
Arrow shafts are not very techy to look at; they’re just a straight round stick made with different materials. But I’ll tell you to bow fishing arrows made from what material because Materials is precisely where the technology resides.
Bowfishing arrows are generally made from Fiberglass, Aluminum, Carbon fiber, or the combination of the latter two. The other materials out there as well, but these are the best ones out there, and based on what you’re going to fish, you should choose one of these.
Aluminum is durable and cheap, but it can be substantial. So it should be used if the price is a concern, but you need something durable and reliable. Carbon fiber – which, by the way, is the material that the pros will recommend as the best bow fishing arrows material – on the other hand, is light and durable and by far the best content out there. Still, it’s pricey, so if the price is not so much of a concern, then you should go with that.
Thankfully, technology has caught up to the Arrow manufacturing process. You can get Aluminum and Carbon fiber hybrids that do not compromise the strength of either of these materials but help make the price more affordable.
So if you’re looking for the best bow fishing arrow for the price, go for the hybrid.
2) Arrow Safety Slide
Bowfishing arrow safety slide is an accessory that is specific to bow fishing. Arrow slide does not use in any other type of bowhunting. You can do without an arrow slide – or arrow slider as it sometimes calls – but you should plan on using it at least in the beginning.
It is also sometimes called an arrow safety slide. As the name suggests, the most significant purpose it serves is the safety of the user. It keeps the fishing line away from the bowstring, where it can get stuck and snapback. Therefore it works well as a safety precaution.
If you wanted to go cheap, you could leave the slider out, but you’re not going to save so much money to offset the safety and practicality it brings to bow fishing. The best way to shoot the fishing bow is that when the bow is cocked with the arrow, the reel should be completely retrieved to ensure no slack can get stuck.
While the bow is cocked and released, the slider is near the arrow’s point in the front. As soon as the arrow is released, the bolt goes forward, and the slider moves to the end carrying the fishing line with it. This motion keeps the fishing line away from the bowstring.
3) The Point
Point is the very tip of the arrow. It contains a sharp point that helps it to penetrate the fish through tough scales. When you buy an indicator, you need to make sure that the points are changeable with screws.
The location gets banged up very quickly because there are rocks and sometimes concrete around water, and the end gets a pretty good beating. If you need to change a position, it’s straightforward, just unscrew the old one and screw in the new one.
4) The barbs
The barbs are a critical part of the arrow for bow fishing. It’s different from the arrows for a more massive game. It’s a part of the bolt’s point and can be flipped or retracted so that the indicator can take out of fish.
Without this, the fish will not stay on the shaft; instead, it will be bleeding and injured and will be impossible to retrieve, most probably falling prey to other predators or just die from injuries. So you want to make sure that you have a good set of barbs that can hold the fish once hit.
The Final Verdict
We have researched and found these 10 Best Bowfishing Bow for you. All these Best Bowfishing Bows are Bestseller and Top-rated o the market. In this post, we have covered all necessary points of Bowfishing, like which time is best for bow fishing, which thing you need for bow fishing and a complete guide on how to choose the best bowfishing bow.
Detailed and comprehensive reviews of how to select the bow for bow fishing and buyer’s guide.
