wild guide : carp-e bow ’ em
QUESTION OF ETHICS Consider any wildlife-related sporting activity , and the ethics question frequently comes up . Bowfishing carp is no different . The key with this one relates to culling as a management tool . Invasive species displace indigenous ones , so removing them is considered a viable solution to the problem . Even still , there are those who believe that if a fish species is harvested , it should be eaten . Carp are a coarse fish and , like suckers , most view them as unpalatable . Some people eat carp , but most consider it unfit for human consumption .
Then there is the other argument . In parts of the world , catch and release carp fishing – with a rod and reel - is a serious sporting activity . Indeed , there are those who want to see carp protected to ensure longevity of that sporting opportunity . In the end , much like the culling of any fish or wildlife species , bowfishing is simply used to help curb a rapidly reproducing fish that shouldn ’ t be in certain waters to begin with .
SPORTING OPPORTUNITY If you ’ re looking for an action-packed shoulder season activity unlike any other , you need to give bowfishing carp a try . Contrary to what some believe , its nothing like shooting fish in a barrel . It demands stealth and skill . With a little practice , most archers get the hang of it , but it can try your patience .
Bowfishing for carp involves sight fishing . There are basically two main ways to do it . One involves walking and wading , and the second involves fishing from a boat . With both strategies , you ’ re covering ground until you see one , waiting , and then taking a shot . During their spring spawn , carp are constantly on the move . Migrating to shallower spawning bays , they can be found swimming in among the weeds and reeds . As they move about , it is common to see and hear the tall bulrushes moving as they swim through them . For the walk and wade archer , this is a great opportunity to wait and anticipate a shot . Look for swirls in the water , moving bulrushes , and other signs of movement . As long as water clarity is good , you may get lucky and see them cruising in shallow pools . On occasion , you can even catch them sunning themselves with their dorsal fin exposed above the surface of the water .
Regardless of your preferred method , common carp offer an unparalleled sporting opportunity for archers . They are a sizeable target , they move around a lot , and they can swim fast . One of the most appealing aspects is that they put up a good fight when you finally get one on the end of your arrow and line ! I ’ ve been an archer and a bow hunter for 28 years now and I can say with great enthusiasm , that bowfishing for carp is one of the most exhilarating hunts I ’ ve done .
EQUIPMENT Walk and wade bowfishing is popular and , given the right conditions it works just fine . To bowfish standing in the water , this is really only effective if you ’ re in a depth of three feet or less . Turbidity can be a big problem . Tea-colored or really murky water can make it very difficult to see the fish . Likewise , wind can create riffles also making it tough to see your target . Ideal conditions involve bright sunny , calm days . The clearer the water , the better .
If you really want to get the most out of any bowfishing adventure , use a stable flatbottom boat that you can stand in . I have a 17-foot Crestliner jon boat rigged with a custom deck on the front and it is ideal for bowfishing . If can float in just a few inches of water , so its easy to navigate through shallow bays . Its incredibly stability and the deck gives the shooter an elevated view of the water and plenty of room to move around .
Aside from a good pair of polarized sunglasses , bowfishing requires specialized equipment . You can use whatever bow you have , but you will need to strip it down and mount a bowfishing reel or spool on it . If you ’ re using a compound bow , then a specialized arrow rest is recommended . I prefer to shoot a recurve hunting bow and shoot off the shelf .
Several manufacturers make good bow fishing equipment , so you have some choice as to what gear you use - but in the end , most agree that AMS Bowfishing is the leading manufacturer . If you want to go all the way , there are compound bowfishing kits available . For example , most will have a 20 % let-off and have either a lower variable draw weight of 30-40 # or 40-50 #.
As far as accessories go - the retriever reel , line , the arrow , arrow tip , and safety slides are other important considerations . I use an AMS retriever reel and I can tell you they are a huge improvement from the old spools we used to screw into the stabilizer receiver . This newer technology is slick and makes nocking the arrow with safety slide and line attached , both easy and safe . As long as the safety slide is positioned in front of your arrow rest or shelf , it serves to eliminate backlash - a dangerous consequence if the line snags and yanks the arrow back toward the shooter . The brake system inherent to the AMS retrievers allows the line to flow freely as long as its not engaged . Likewise , when it is engaged , it allows the line to be easily reeled in and contained in its plastic container .
31 Wild Guide . Summer 2017