Top 5 Best Bowfishing Bows of 2023
The best bowfishing bow varies depending on your budget and expectations. We understand some people want the best bowfishing bow that's out there, while others want the best bowfishing bow for the money. If you're not ready to spend the money on buying a new bowfishing bow, then you may be able to convert your hunting bow into a bowfishing bow.
We've made it easy to choose the best bow for you by separating out the top bowfishing bows into two categories: the Top 5 All-Around Best Bowfishing Bows and the Top 5 Best Budget Bowfishing Bows.
1. Oneida Eagle Osprey Bowfishing Bow
2. G-Rex Bowfishing Lever Bow by G String Bow Strings
3. Muzzy LV-X Bowfishing Lever Bow
4. AMS Bowfishing Hooligan Bow
5. PSE Archery D3 Bowfishing Compound Bow
RUNNER UP (6): RPM Bowfishing Strike Lite Bow
Top 5 Best Budget Bowfishing Bows
Top 5 Best Bowfishing Bows
Here is a list of the 5 best all-around bowfishing bows. We are purely looking at quality and performance, the price of the bow may be mentioned but it was not a determining factor in finding the 5 best bowfishing bows on this list.
Match any of these bowfishing bows with a bow mounted bowfishing light, and you'll be ready to take down fish on the river bank or reach out past your boat lights for longer shots. Our bow mounted light has been used to win numerous bowfishing tournaments; primarily due to its rigidity, brightness, bighead switch momentary controls, and optimized color temperature output for seeing through muddier waters.
It's one of the only bowfishing bow lights capable of penetrating clear and muddy waters, with BigHead switch controls made special for bowfishing.
Oneida Eagle Osprey Bowfishing Bow
Oneida Eagle Bows was originally founded in 1980, when John Islas had the idea to invent a lever action bowfishing bow. Over the years, the bow has undergone continuous changes and improvements to make it one of the smoothest shooting bowfishing bows on the market.
Oneida Eagle Bows have changed hands several times and are now owned by John Paul Morris, who is the son of the founder of Bass Pro Shops, Johnny Morris. Every Oneida Eagle Osprey is Made in the USA, from quality crafted components.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Lightweight and smooth draw similar to a recurve bow with the hard punch of a compound bow
- Used by more championship bow fishermen than any other bow
- American made, originator of the lever-action bowfishing bow
CON'S
- In comparison to other bowfishing bows, it is higher priced. In this case, premium quality and high price come together in one package.
- Requires special bow press to work on
Despite the higher price of the Oneida Eagle Osprey, it is a prime example of the common phrase "you get what you pay for".
If you're looking for a lightweight, accurate, smooth shooting bow for fishing, look no further than the Oneida Eagle Osprey.
G-Rex Bowfishing Lever Bow by G String Bow Strings
G String Bow Strings was founded by the Greenwell family. There isn't a lot of public information available on how they came about, but they are a small family run business. On their website, you can fully customize the paint pattern of your bow.
In comparison to an Oneida, the G-Rex is very similar. They are both lever bows that are made in USA, but the biggest reason people go to a G-Rex over an Oneida is due to the ability to customize the fishing bow the way you want it.
G String Bow Strings is growing as the sport is evolving - they recently relocated to a larger facility in an effort to increase their production volume. If you're looking to support a small, family owned business - look no further than the G-Rex by G String Bow Strings.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Lightweight and smooth draw similar to a recurve bow with the hard punch of a compound bow
- An up-and-coming bow manufacturer who stands behind their product. We have heard nothing but great things about their bows.
- Made in USA
CON'S
- In comparison to other bowfishing bows, it is higher priced. In this case, premium quality and high price come together in one package.
- Requires special bow press to work on
If you're looking for a lightweight, accurate, smooth shooting bow, that is fully customizable and made by a small family owned business - the G-Rex Bowfishing Bow by G String Bow Strings is a great option to consider.
Muzzy LV-X Bowfishing Lever Bow
Muzzy Bowfishing is a subsidiary of FeraDyne Outdoors, and was originally founded by avid bowfishermen in 1984. Over the years, they have become a world-wide leading supplier in bowfishing supplies. They are most well known for their arrows, lighted knocks, and bowfishing bows.
The Muzzy LV-X Bowfishing Lever Bow was developed alongside the staff at Oneida Eagle Bows to offer a lower price version of the Oneida Eagle Osprey. The new product development didn't come easy, as the first batch experienced a recall, but since then they have corrected the bow to be a good lower cost alternative to the Oneida Eagle Osprey.
The green version of the Muzzy LV-X is the less desirable version that had issues on the first go-around. The orange version of the Muzzy LV-X is the more desirable version that came after the green version, where all the issues were fixed. Generally speaking, the orange version may be a little bit more in price than the green version.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Similar lever action design that promotes a smooth draw and hard punch.
- Lower price point than the American Made Oneida Eagle Bow.
CON'S
- Made overseas
- Experienced recall when first released, but all current bows have been corrected. Orange bows are better quality than green bows.
- Requires special bow press to work on
If the Oneida Eagle Osprey bowfishing bow is too expensive for your budget, and you still want a lever action bow, then the Muzzy LV-X Bowfishing Lever Bow is a great choice for you. Muzzy has a wide variety of other fishing bows and general bowfishing equipment available as well.
AMS Bowfishing Hooligan Bow
AMS Bowfishing was founded in 1979, and is among the originators of the bowfishing sport as we know it today. "AMS" literally stands for all metal stamping, the name of the machine shop who eventually turned into a bowfishing business. AMS Bowfishing invented the bottle bowfishing reel, which is sought after for its simple, fool-proof design.
While most standard spinning bowfishing reels are prone to have problems with gears or break after long term use, the AMS bottle reel will hold up to continual use and abuse. In addition to their reels, AMS is well-known for their quality selection of bowfishing bows.
The newest bowfishing bow by AMS comes standard with this bottle reel in their AMS Bowfishing Hooligan Bow Kit.
Key Features
PRO'S
- American Made
- Quick draw, hard hitting compound bow
- Reputable brand in the bowfishing industry
- Priced competitively
- No bow press needed to adjust
CON'S
- Harder to hold back for aiming in comparison to lever action bow. Still great for quick shooting.
If you are new to bowfishing, this is a great quality starter bow. All of the components are fail-proof and user friendly. The bottle reel is a must-have on fishing bows for those that are learning the sport.
PSE Archery D3 Bowfishing Compound Bow
PSE Archery was founded in 1970 by Pete Shepley in the town of Mahomet, Illinois. PSE focuses on a wide variety of bows, beyond just bowfishing. The name "PSE" literally stands for precision shooting equipment. They are focused on accuracy with their hunting bows, which sets the foundation for a great bowfishing bow.
One of the most notable bowfishing bows by PSE Archery is their D3 Bowfishing Compound Bow. It's a lightweight bow that shoots straight, and is priced affordably. It is most comparable to the AMS Hooligan Bowfishing Bow.
Key Features
PRO'S
- According to their website, all PSE bows are manufactured at their Tuscon, AZ production facility.
- Quick draw, hard hitting compound bow
- Reputable brand in the bow industry
- Lowest price bowfishing bow on the list
- No bow press needed to adjust
CON'S
- Harder to hold back for aiming in comparison to lever action bow. Still great for quick shooting.
- The spinning reel it comes with is more prone to having problems in comparison to the AMS Hooligan Bowfishing Reel.
PSE ARCHERY D3 Bowfishing Compound Bow Kit
RPM Bowfishing Strike Lite Bow
RPM Bowfishing is a small business based out of Ogden, Utah. They appear to be involved with the bowfishing community and have developed a lever action bow that is priced similarly to the Muzzy LV-X Lever Bow. This fishing bow is a little heavier than the above mentioned bows.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Lever action bowfishing bow
CON'S
- Limited information on this bowfishing bow and RPM Bowfishing
Top 5 Best Budget Bowfishing Bows
Here is our list of the 5 best bowfishing bows for those on a budget. Unlike the previous list, the goal is focused on keeping the price of the bowfishing bow low while maintaining good quality and performance. The bows on this list are ideal for entry level bowfisher men.
If you're an entry level bowfishermen, a great add-on to your bowfishing bow arsenal is a bow mounted bowfishing light made special for the sport. There aren't many out there that have the right color tone for clear and muddy water and the right features for jumping on light sensitive fish.
You can trust the Outrigger Outdoors Bow Mounted Bowfishing Light will handle anything you throw at it.
Muzzy Vice Bowfishing Bow
From the makers of the new LV-X lever action bow, the Muzzy Vice bowfishing bow has been around for many years. It is a great entry level bow at an affordable price.
The Muzzy Vice Bowfishing Kit is a great way to get started bowfishing without having to invest in all the extra's. The kit comes with a starter bowfishing reel, bows, and even a bowfishing arrow. This is a great way to start bowfishing quickly.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Hard hitting compound bow
- Complete kit with bowfishing bow, arrows, and reel at an affordable price.
- Great for entry-level bowfishermen
CON'S
- Made overseas
Muzzy Vice Bowfishing Kit with Compound Bow
Barnett 1108 Vortex H20 Archery Bow
Barnett is most well known for their crossbows, but in this case they've branched out to the bowfishing segment. The Barnett 1108 Vortex H2O Archery Bow was designed for entry level bowfishers who are on a budget. The price of the bow is the lowest out of this entire list, but it seems the kit does not include a bowfishing reel or arrow.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Cheapest bowfishing bow on the list
- Youth bow, but draw poundage is high enough for adult use
- Great for youth and entry-level and young bowfishermen
CON'S
- Made overseas
- Kit does not appear to come with bowfishing arrow or reel.
Most entry level bowfishing bows are going to be very similar in terms of quality. The reason the Barnett Vortex bowfishing bow landed number 2 on our list is primarily due to its low budget price point.
Cajun Bowfishing Shore Runner Compound Bow
Cajun Bowfishing is a subsidiary of Bear Archery. The founder of Bear Archery, Fred Bear, is considered to be the father of modern day bow hunting and bowfishing. Cajun's bowfishing products are targeted towards entry level bowfishermen. Their main goal is to provide a reliable product at a minimal price.
Cajun's new Shore Runner Compound Bowfishing Bow is a great choice for entry-level bowfishermen. It comes standard with a bowfishing reel, arrow, and rest so you can hit the water as soon as possible.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Great entry-level bowfishing bow, from a well-known bowfishing company
- Includes bowfishing reel, arrow, rest, and finger pads to get started bowfishing quickly.
- Complete bowfishing setup
CON'S
- Made overseas
Southland Archery Supply Scorpii Compound Bowfishing Bow
As someone who is active in the bowfishing community, I must say that I am not familiar with Southland Archery Supply (SAS). It appears they have sourced a bowfishing bow and integrated it with a Cajun Bowfishing Winch retriever bottle reel. The two items have been integrated to form the Scorpii Compound Bowfishing Bow.
The Cajun bottle reel was modeled after AMS Bowfishing's invention of the bottle reel, and the fail-proof design makes it great for entry level bowfishers. The SAS compound bowfishing bow reviews are pretty good for the most part, with the most common frustration being associated with limited instructions for setting the bow up.
Key Features
PRO'S
- Appears to be a good low cost entry level bowfishing bow.
- Options for bare bow or complete bowfishing package with arrow, rest, and reel.
- Adjustable draw length
CON'S
- Company does not appear to be actively involved in the bowfishing community
- Reviews say the bow comes with limited instructions for setting up.
PSE Archery KingFisher Bowfishing Recurve Bow Package
As we previously mentioned above, PSE Archery is well established in the bow making space. They claim all of their bows are made at their production facilities in Tucson, Arizona.
The King Fisher Bowfishing Recurve Bow is a great entry level way to get into bowfishing. It is a complete bowfishing setup at a low cost, which is why it made the list of best budget bowfishing bows. The downside is that it's a recurve bow, which can be more difficult to shoot fish with in comparison with compound bows.
PRO'S
- Great entry-level recurve bowfishing bow, from a well-known bow maker
- Includes bowfishing reel, arrow, rest, and finger pads to get started bowfishing quickly.
- Complete bowfishing setup
CON'S
- Less knock down power compared to compound bow, making deep water shots more difficult
PSE Archery KingFisher Bowfishing Recurve Bow Package
Thank you for reading our full review of the best all-around and budget bowfishing bows. We have reviewed what we believe are the best all-around bowfishing bows and the best bowfishing bows on the budget that we've seen in the bowfishing industry. As a company, bowfishing is our passion and we are very well connected and in-the-know with the up-and-coming bowfishing companies. We will continue to update this article as new fishing bows come available.
To learn more about the bowfishing sport, how to find good bowfishing spots, boat setups and more, we encourage you to visit our complete guide: Bowfishing - The Ultimate Guide to Fishing with a Bow or visit our outdoor tips on bowfishing.