[trapperman1985]

I am looking at those bow fishing kits they have at wal mart and was wondering if someone can give me any info on them. Are they any good or a waste of money? I would like to get into bow fishing but don't know anyone that goes or anything about it. will I have to totally change my hunting bow over for bow fishing? (arrow rest) I think I know of a good place to go but I don't have a clue what I am doing or if I should even pick up another hobby like this.

 

[MO HUNTER]

The package deal you get is ok, a budy of mine got one from there. I cant remember the price, seemed a little pricy for what he got. Your best bet is to go to one of the flourishing pawn shops in your town and buy an old recurve or compound (personal preference should come into play here) and get you a bow fishing spool from your local Sporting goods store. The price is a little lower and you can get exactly what you need. We did a lot of Bow Fishin, and I went with the recurve. You dont have to worry about a rest, and it is just a little cheaper route until you get into it big time with the Oneida Eagle and the Air boat. I paid like 65 dollars for the bow, bow fishing arrow and the spool. Jus my 2 cents.

 

[odocoi]

if you live in conway you need to hit the archery shop on hwy 64 as your coming into conway from vilonia. Its on one of the side streets that head north just east of the waffle house out that way. I know in the past they would put together some tournies on the area lakes. My set up is a pawnshop compound and huge zebco(can't remember the #) with 150 lb nylon bowfishing line. Try that shop before you buy an overpriced package deal.

 

[bhays]

I shoot on old Bear Whitetail II compound I got at a pawn shop and have the Retriever fishing reel on it with Muzzy bowfishing arrows and heads and 250# line. I got the Retriever reel for about $50 for my birthday one year, but they look to have gone up price wise.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=bowfishing&noImage=0

I shot a lot of, I mean a lot of fish before I got that reel though with the old drum type reels that thread into the stabilizer hole on the bow. Get an roller type arrow rest if you use a compound and make sure to get the safety slides for your arrows. Have fun, it is a blast!!!

 

[bhays]

Here are the safety slides I was talking about...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=bowfishing&noImage=0

 

[bhays]

Here is the drum type reel that is pretty good if you don't have a lot of $$$ to throw into it starting out...
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...r=24038&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults
You just don't get to play the fish with these, but just pull it in by hand.

 

[bhays]

Here is where it gets fun though...

 

[trapperman1985]

I think I will get the reel with the crank on it so I can play the fish some. I have an old browning bow that I can set everything up on. Looks like a lot of fun. Is it realistic to think that it is possible to get into this with just a flat bottom boat with no real set up?

 

[odocoi]

I Is it realistic to think that it is possible to get into this with just a flat bottom boat with no real set up?

You can but just be real carefull if you try and build some sort of platform. I know guys who've thrown platforms in some smaller boats and ended up losing everything when they flipped over. Make sure and try everything out in the daylight in a safe place before heading out in the middle of the night!:up:

 

[jdoyle]

I highly reccomend a zebco 808 reel and the safety slide system for your arrow. I mounted my reel on my stabelizer with hose clamps. It works great! You can buy a reel holder that screws in where your stabelizer goes, but I dont really think it's necessary. Anyway, bow fishing is a lot of fun!!

 

[bhays]

I think I will get the reel with the crank on it so I can play the fish some. I have an old browning bow that I can set everything up on. Looks like a lot of fun. Is it realistic to think that it is possible to get into this with just a flat bottom boat with no real set up?

Some of my buddies have their boats completely set up with halogen lights and the whole 8 yards, but when I use mine, we just go low-key and use hand held spotlights, one shoots while one spots, then switch after every few shots. We use 16 foot flatbottoms, but I have a smaller 14 foot we use in creeks some and shoot out of. I've even shot some out of my canoe, but no standing up real quick and that was in the daytime!!!:biggrin:

 

[fredbear]

I will 2nd the Zebco 808 but I don't like arrow slides. If you use arrow slides and forget to push the release button you are liable to get an arrow coming right back at you. I have seen it happen. But if you don't have an arrow slide and forget to push the button your arrow just comes off the string.

 

[bhays]

I will 2nd the Zebco 808 but I don't like arrow slides. If you use arrow slides and forget to push the release button you are liable to get an arrow coming right back at you. I have seen it happen. But if you don't have an arrow slide and forget to push the button your arrow just comes off the string.

Don't know what you are talking about with the arrow slides. I've never used any that have a button you push to release??? You just draw your bow and the line slides down toward the tip out of the way when you shoot. It is made to prevent snapback of the arrow and line like you are talking about. I've never seen one with a safety slide snap back, but have seen several without slides snap back??? Maybe you are talking about a different slide than I am?
Here is the safety slide I was referring too...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=bowfishing&noImage=0

 

[bhays]

Well, it just hit me you are probably talking about a release on the Zebco reel.:smack: I use a Retriever reel, so I don't have any type of problem like that. I've never used the Zebco, so there may be a problem with the slides and that system???

 

[fredbear]

Well, it just hit me you are probably talking about a release on the Zebco reel.:smack: I use a Retriever reel, so I don't have any type of problem like that. I've never used the Zebco, so there may be a problem with the slides and that system???

Yes I was talking about the reel, should have been more clear. As long as you use a retriever/bottle reel you don't have anything to worry about. I started off with a Zebco 808 and never could get used to reeling the bottle reel.

 

[UCNE]

Try this on for fun....:biggrin:....these guys are good............:clap:

These things are in the Mississippi river around Cape Girardeau, Mo. Asian Carp.

http://splodetv.com/insane-bow-fishing

 

[grits and gravy]

I will 2nd the Zebco 808 but I don't like arrow slides. If you use arrow slides and forget to push the release button you are liable to get an arrow coming right back at you.

I'm pretty sure that the whole point of the slide is to prevent the arrow from coming back at you. I know this is why they are included in the AMS package and highly recomended by most everyone that bowfishes very much. If you are wanting to get into bowfishing, just go ahead and pop for the AMS kit. It included everything that you need except for the bow and arrow and you can get the set for about $70.