Bowfishing - The Ultimate Guide to Fishing with a Bow

Bowfishing: How To Fish With a Bow

Bowfishing is an action-packed adventure where outdoorsmen use a bow, retriever reel, and barbed arrow with bow fishing line attached. It is often compared to bowhunting and referred to as a bow hunters off-season sport. There are many proven strategies for how to fish with a bow on a successful bowfishing trip, whether you are bowfishing during the day or at night.

The purpose of this article is to help you get started bow fishing, obtain proper bowfishing lights and supplies, understand how to find the target bowfishing species, and ultimately combine this knowledge together to prepare you for many successful bowfishing trips.

Who We Are

Outrigger Outdoors is a designer and manufacturer of purpose-built bowfishing lights; capable of increasing visibility in clear or muddy water. If you're looking to outfit your boat with industry-leading technology that will help you put more fish in the boat, look no further than the Swamp Eye HD or Swamp Eye Gen 2.X Bowfishing Lights.
  

Bowfishing Discussion Topics 

What is Bowfishing?

Getting Started Bowfishing

Bowfishing Gear You'll Need

Bowfishing Bows
Bowfishing Reels
Bowfishing Arrow
Arrow Points
Arrow Rest
Bow String
Bowfishing Lights

How to Aim when Bowfishing

Universal Aiming Rule for Beginners
10-4 Rule for Expert Bowfishermen

How to Find a Good Bowfishing Spot

Beginner Level Bowfishing Spots
Expert Level Bowfishing Spots
     Numbers Shooting
     Big Fish Shooting

Competing in Bowfishing Tournaments

Numbers Bowfishing Tournament
Big 20 Bowfishing Tournament
Big Fish Bowfishing Tournament

What is Bowfishing?

Definition of bowfishing

Many bow hunters choose bowfishing as an off-season sport because the methodology is similar. Bowfishing is done primarily in the summer while bow hunting is done primarily in the winter. 



Learning how to fish with a bow requires some unique insight. Bowfishing bows are not the same as hunting bows. Bowfishing bows typically have a lower draw poundage in the 20-30 lb range while hunting bows maintain a higher draw poundage in the 50-70 lb range. A bowfishing bow is made for a high volume of quick shots whereas hunting bows are designed to shoot a couple times at much higher velocities. A hunting bow is geared to take down large animals such as deer while bowfishing bows are geared to penetrate invasive fish such as carp. If you're on the market for a bowfishing bow, you may find this article helpful in choosing the best bowfishing bow for you.

Bowfishing bows typically do not have sights and bowfishermen rarely pull string back with releases. They tend to wear gloves, put "finger savers" on the string, or even leave the string bare so they can quickly pull the arrow back and release when a fish is swimming by. Bowfishing is a fast paced sport that relies on quick reaction times and instincts to be successful. Fish rarely stay around long enough for bowfishermen to take the perfect shot. 

Getting Started Bowfishing

   

Bowfishing lights illuminate the marine life underneath the boat and you will often see more than just the target invasive species. It is not uncommon to find good fishing spots for bass, crappie, catfish, and more while out chasing invasive species. Bowfishing at night is also a good way to stay cool and avoid the sun in the heat of summer.

Bowfishing Gear You'll Need

Bowfishing Bows

There are 3 variations of bows to use for bowfishing - compound bow, recurve bow, and although extremely uncommon, there are even crossbows made for bowfishing. The recurve is an old style bow that some people still use due to the added difficulty and strategy required to successfully shoot fish with it. The crossbow, along with recurve, are the least commonly used bows in bowfishing. The most common type of bow are variations of compound bows. Some bow hunters that are new to the sport prefer converting a hunting bow into a bowfishing bow. This can be a good short term solution for someone in a bind, but ultimately it is best to purchase a bow specifically made for bowfishing. 

Compound Bowfishing Bows

There are two primary types of compound bowfishing bows: lever action bows and cam bows. The traditional cam style bows are typically a lower cost option in comparison to lever action bows, and are most popular among beginner bowfishermen.

Bowfishing guides typically supply these for their clients due to their resilience, ease of use and affordability. The lever action compound bowfishing bows are typically more expensive, and are more common among the experienced bowfishermen.



Lever action bows are typically more precise, shoot at higher velocities and have higher let off in comparison to their cam counterparts. It is not uncommon to go to a bowfishing tournament and see the vast majority of bowfishermen competing utilizing a lever-action bow. 

Bowfishing Reels

Hand Reels

Spinning / Spincast Reels

Bottle Retriever Reels

Bowfishing Arrow

Unlike most hunting arrows, bowfishing arrows commonly come pre-made as a single unit. More advance bowfishermen may be able to build their own arrows, but the majority of the time you would purchase these as a complete unit. We do not recommend attempting to use an arrow designed for hunting when bowfishing. Bowfishing arrows have a different composition than hunting arrows because you are ultimately going to be reeling the fish back in. 



The two most important components of a bowfishing arrow is the arrow shaft composition and the bowfishing tip or arrow points. The best bowfishing arrows are made from a fiberglass-stainless steel combination shaft for increased strength and rigidity, with grapple arrow points that will hold on tight to fish during retrieval. 

Arrow Shaft Composition

Arrow Points

Carp Arrow Points

Gar Arrow Points

A gar point will typically have two shorter barbs and a very sharp tip. Gar points are made to penetrate through the strong, thick body armor like scales that are on a gars body. The sharp tip is the most important component of a gar point while the barbs are less important. If a gar point arrow successfully penetrates a gar, it will rarely pull out. Thus our focus on gar points having very sharp tips. Gar points will work for bowfishing carp, but since their design focus is not on the barb itself, they have a higher risk of pulling through a soft fleshed fish such as a carp.

Bowfishing Arrow Nocks

The purpose of the bowfishing arrow nock is to attach the bow line to the arrow when you pull back for your shots. It's important that the nock holds on tight to the bow line through the entire draw back process, until the arrow is released for a shot. Most bowfishing nocks are pretty much the same except for the different color variations they come in. In recent years, there have been companies who started manufacturing lighted nocks. These are great for being able to see where your arrow landed or to be able to diagnose your shot on film. 

Arrow Rest

Bowfishing Bow String

Bowfishing Lights

How to Aim when Bowfishing 

Bowfishing is done with the use of instincts and without the use of sights. The best method for learning to aim is repetition, repetition, repetition. The most common phrase for how to aim when bowfishing is "aim low".  This is due to the refraction angle making the fish appear in an offset location.



The refraction angle is the angle at which light passes through the water and the apparent angle changes depending on how deep the fish is, and how far you are from the fish. In other words, a fish close to the surface of the water may require you to aim at the bottom portion of the fish, while a fish deep in the water will require you to aim well below the fish. 

Universal Aiming Rule for Beginners

• Aim 6 inches below the target fish

10-4 Ruler for Expert Bowfishermen

• For every 10 ft away, aim 4 inches below the fish. This assume the fish is 1 ft deep. If the fish is twice as deep (2 ft deep), aim twice as low (8 inches low). This rule follows the general principles of light refraction through water. 

Another key tactic when aiming is knowing how much force to put behind the arrow.

Shots up close (<10 ft)

• Quickly pull at half draw. Great for numbers shooting.

Shots far away (>10 ft)

• Pull a full draw to pack as much force into the shot as possible. Great for big fish shooting. 

How to Find a Good Bowfishing Spot

Beginner Level Bowfishing Spots

The basis of determining what to look for when learning how to fish with a bow in a quality bowfishing spot starts with vegetation. It is best to look in shallow areas that have lily pads, brush, trees, weeds or other vegetation. Carp are typically bottom feeders, they eat insect larvae and uproot plants from the bottom of lakes and streams. This naturally causes carp to tend to be in muddier waters as opposed to clearer waters because they themselves muddy up the water. That isn’t to say you can’t find carp in clear water - there are plenty of carp in some of the clearest water bodies around such as Canyon Lake in Texas. It is important to just be aware of what the carp food source is and go to areas that match their food source.


Where you find carp, there are bound to be gar. That’s the primary reason more bowfishing trips are geared after bowfishing for carp and gar. Most gar will feed on game fish species, bait fish, and even carp.

Alligator gar are one of the most prized types of gar which are typically found closer to the coast in the southern states. The most popular states to bowfish for alligator gar are Texas and Louisiana.



Alligator gar have different regulations depending on the state and county you target them in, some states such as Florida do not allow the harvest of alligator gar at all. Similarly, different areas of Texas have different requirements for harvesting alligator gar. Alligator gar are well known for eating carp and some believe they are a good control mechanism for keeping carp numbers in check. Most water bodies away from the coast that have gar will typically have spotted or long nose gar, which are not protected in most states. 

Both spotted and long nose gar will primarily eat other fish. The best way to find them is to look for bait fish and there are bound to be some gar nearby.

Expert Level Bowfishing Spots

We spoke with several bowfishermen who have shot and placed at the top of several state and world bowfishing tournaments. They all had similar advice - you have to understand the water conditions and habitat as a whole, and implement the best strategy based upon the hand you're dealt. There are 3 core features to consider for freshwater bowfishing: water temperature, barometric pressure, and water clarity. If you're fishing in saltwater, then add tide to the mix. 


When scouting for tournament holes, these guys typically do so several days and up to a week in advance of the tournament. They keep a close watch on the weather because they know the weather strongly dictates fish activity. Their strategy depends on if they are planning to shoot numbers (focus on high volume of fish in the hundreds or even thousands, typically smaller in size) or if they are focused on shooting big fish (focus on 10-20 fish depending on tournament rules, with highest weighted average possible).

Numbers Shooting

A low barometric pressure typically pulls the fish up while a high barometric pressure typically pushes the fish down. It's equally as important to watch the water temperature. The shallow waters are typically warmer than the deeper waters, which is why night time bowfishing is favored over day time bowfishing (shallow waters cool off at night). The next thing to look for is water movement. 


Is the water movement natural or is it artificial? If the water movement is artificial such as a dam opening or closing, it is best to go to these spots when the movement is scheduled. If the water movement is natural, such as near a spillway or a river inlet, then the spot is typically more reliable from one day to the next.

If you are fishing saltwater, it is important to be aware of the tide levels. A changing tide can cause water movement in the inlets and canals and it can also impact the third feature to look out for: water clarity. Generally speaking, water clarity is best near spillways and grass beds and is worst on mud flats. 

It is hard to compensate for muddy water, but some quality bowfishing lights and other bowfishing supplies can help increase your visibility. It is best to implement a strategy that finds clearer water sources such as spillways, grass beds, and even rocky bottoms . 


Wind is another important tactic for numbers shooting. Understanding where the wind is coming from and finding protected areas based upon that will lead to finding fish.

Typically banks that are protected by trees and protected islands are the best bowfishing spots on a windy day. If you play the wind right, it can often solve problems related to water clarity. 

Big Fish Shooting

The strategy behind shooting a big fish tournament such as a Big 20 is far different than shooting a numbers tournament. Most big 20 tournaments are won with big fish that average close to 20 lbs a piece. That's a lot of meat, but it's not impossible if you play your cards right.


Big fish have been around a long time and there is a reason for it - they are smart. In order to effectively find big fish, you have to really understand their behavior and habitat. Big fish are rarely in shallow waterways, they like to hang out in deeper waters that are 4-5 ft deep and beyond.

The one instance that might push a big fish into shallower water ways is a low barometric pressure. A low barometric pressure is commonly associated with a low pressure system moving in, or a cold front. 

Big fish need cooler temperatures. Thus, they are not commonly found in stagnant water in the heat of the day. They are found near moving water sources typically at night. If you're able to use advanced bowfishing supplies like to sonar the bottom of a lake or water body and find underwater humps where there are shallow areas of "underwater islands", you may be able to find cooler water temperatures more easily. These areas are nearly impossible to find without more advance instruments such as a sonar depth finder or by accessing an underwater map of the lake which can often be found online. 


Water clarity is more important in finding big fish than it is in numbers shooting because they are in deeper waters. Having effective bowfishing lights to illuminate these fish is essential but if the water is straight mud it doesn't matter what you use to light up the waterway because there are too many suspended solids in the water column. A fellow bowfishermen once told me that you are better off going home and eating ice cream than chasing big fish in extremely muddy water on a warm night.

We've found that the south end of a lake near a spillway produces the best water clarity and is normally well protected by the wind. If you don't have a spillway on the south end of the lake, then you should find an area protected by trees that has grass, rock, or even a sandy bottom. These all promote better water clarity and give you the best opportunity to see big fish swimming down under. 

Once you are able to find the right location that meets the constraints above, the next tactic to putting you on a big fish is finding their food source. If you are able to find an area that meets all of these variables, then you are putting all of the odds in your favor that you will find some absolute monsters. As a wise man once said, they call it fishing and not catching. Nothing is guaranteed. The best we can do is put the odds in our favor. 

Competing in Bowfishing Tournaments

Bowfishing tournaments started out as a group of guys getting together and throwing money in to see who could shoot the most fish or the biggest fish.

This pot luck format continued to grow, and eventually caught the attention of major brands such as Bass Pro Shops, who now hosts the annual U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship. The rise in payouts has resulted in high competition that requires a bold strategy, determination, and a little luck to consistently win bowfishing tournaments. 

The original pot luck bowfishing tournament format has formalized into 3 primary tournament formats: numbers, big 20, and big fish tournaments. Each format requires a different strategy to win. 

Numbers Bowfishing Tournament

•  Most invasive species fish wins
• Strategy is to bring in high volume of small fish
• Small fish are typically in shallower waters (3-4 ft or less)

Big 20 Bowfishing Tournament

•  Largest average weight of 20 biggest invasive species wins
• Strategy is to bring in big fish average
• Big fish hang out in deeper waters (4-5 ft)

Big Fish Bowfishing Tournament

•  Biggest invasive species fish wins
• Strategy is to bring in one monster fish
• Big fish hang out in deeper waters, single biggest fish may be in 5+ feet of water. 

In order to consistently win bowfishing tournaments, it takes strategy, preparation, and ultimately a lot of hard work and determination. Luck can win some big fish competitions, but the team who scouts and is well prepared is typically the team that will win the bowfishing tournament. 

What makes Carp an Invasive Species?

As crazy as it sounds, carp were once a prized fish in the mid 1800’s. There were zero carp in the United States at this time, and due to food scarcity they were seen as an economical means capable of feeding a rapidly growing Nation. An instance of this was in 1872, when Mr. Julias A. Poppe imported 5 common carp into his California farm and by 1876 he had a thriving operation that was fielding orders all across the entire country. 

Soon to follow at the turn of the century, carp was transitioning from  a prized fish to a total nuisance. The same attribute that made them initially desirable - the ability of females to lay over 2 million eggs in a year and for fry to grow to 8 inches within one year - has now caused them to take over ponds, lakes, and streams. Carp were also found to decrease the water quality of lakes because they would ravage the bottom floor eating all of the insect larvae and uprooting plants. The combination of stirring up the muddy bottom and removing plants can result in a rapid decline in water quality. Low water quality has an affect on the appearance of lakes and streams but it also effects the game fish species and vegetation that live in those waterways. The game fish are no longer capable of seeing their prey and the vegetation is not able to obtain proper sunlight for continued growth. 

Day Time Bowfishing

Bowfishing during the day is a great way to get started for beginners. If you are on familiar waters, you may already know where the invasive species likes to hang out. These spots are typically in the shallows near lily pads, brush, trees and other vegetation. If you are on unfamiliar waters, the first step in finding a good spot is to check the satellite view on google maps for areas that appear to match these characteristics. Ultimately, the only way to verify a bowfishing spot is going to be to check it out in person. There are some areas that are really fun for day time bowfishing such as on Kentucky Lake. Kentucky Lake has silver carp that will literally jump in the boat's wake and bow fishermen can shoot them in mid flight.


Other instances where day time bowfishing can be a lot of fun is during the spawn. When fish are spawning, they run up into shallow waters by large volumes and are really easy to shoot. Some folks compare it to shooting fish in a barrel because it's so easy to find a bunch of fish. 

The downside to day time bowfishing is the sunburns associated with being out in the heat of the day. To combat this, many people prefer night time bowfishing. 

Night Time Bowfishing

Bowfishing at night is the preference of most experienced bow fishermen. The reason being is because you don't have to deal with the sun beating down on you and the water temperatures are cooler, which means fish are more likely to move up into the shallows. A good set of bowfishing lights is guaranteed to set you up for a fun night out on the water. 

Bowfishing at night opens up more opportunities for finding fish than day time bowfishing does. As discussed above in the section on Finding a Good Bowfishing Spot, the water temperature, barometric pressure, and water clarity are the most important factors to consider when trying to find fish. Bowfishing at night takes care of the water temperature issue because it is naturally cooler at night versus the day. The other two factors depend on what part of the lake you are on, and they are discussed above in Finding a Good Bowfishing Spot. 


If you're new to bowfishing and you aren't ready to spend the money on a boat full of bowfishing lights, then we recommend starting out with a bow mounted bowfishing light. This is the cheap alternative to being able to get out at night and experience the fish moving into the shallows. When I first got started bowfishing, I put a bow mounted bowfishing light on my bow and walked the river banks to shoot fish. This was arguably one of the most fun times I've ever had and despite spending the majority of my time on a boat now, I still walk the river banks every now and then. 

Bowfishing Platforms and Boat Setups

Is your boat dedicated to bowfishing, or do you like to duck hunt and do other types of fishing as well? 

Are you bowfishing during the day or at night? Or both?

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