On a frozen lake in South Dakota is the last place many folks would picture themselves bowfishing. However, thanks to South Dakota’s liberal regulations I find myself sitting patiently, gazing into a large hole cut into the ice.
At times it seems like staring at an empty fish aquarium, but I know that at any moment the meanest, most aggressive pred-atory fish in South Dakota could be literally inches beneath my feet.
My anticipation builds as the hours pass by. Suddenly the nose of a Northern Pike comes slowly into view. I reach for my bow while the fish eyeballs my decoy dangling below. As the fish closes ever so slowly towards my little fake friend, my heart is beating and the adrenaline is flowing, as
if the buck of a life-
time were approach-
ing. I slowly draw
my bow with the
pike oblivious to my
presence. The dark-
ness provided by
the walls around me
keeps the pike
focused on the
decoy.
This story can
have several out-
comes. It can be the
highest of highs if
my shot hits the
mark, or my heart could sink slowly into my gut if I miss. Regardless of what happens after I release this bowstring, the homework, the waiting, and the hard work have all been worth it.
South Dakota is not exactly a premier bowfishing destination.
We don’t have monster alligator gar, huge buffalo, or giant stingrays, but South Dakota does have arguably one of the greatest state fish and game departments, who do their best to please out-doorsmen with varying interests.
In the fall of 2012, South Dakota (SD) Game Fish and Parks passed a year-round law making it legal to spear and bowfish for Northern Pike on all inland lakes from sun-rise to sunset (with only a few exceptions).
Prior to 2012 this activity was legal in only a handful of lakes throughout the state. Thankfully the game and fish department recognized how popular the sport of spearing Northern Pike through the ice is in neighboring states like Minnesota and North Dakota.
Since South Dakota places spearing and bowfishing in the same category, a unique opportunity materialized to take
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6
March, 2015
Stalking the
water wolf
bowfishing through the ice for northern pike
by Ty smith
Ty credits his dad for introducing him to bowfishing and they still get out together whenever they can.
The author with a fat South Dakota northern. Pike are an aggressive predator on walleyes and perch.
Photos courtesy of Ty Smith