This stuff sure is really addictive! The spring rains sure have the lakes at full and over full capacity, which has been working out great for bowfishing. The carp started really working the shallows around the 2nd week of May. No boat needed, just some waders to wander around in the flooded weeds next to the creeks that are out of their banks. They were really chasing each other around, and if you kicked the water a little, they would swim right up to you to get a little action.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/gar1.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/carp2011.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/twocarp.jpg)
I shot at the place above for a couple of hours until I lost an arrow. I was flat wore out after shooting for two hours and it was almost a relief to take a break. Went back to house and grabbed an arrow, and returned in the evening for another couple of hours. The dang skeeters about carried me out of there, so I called it quits again.
Went out again on Memorial weekend. Wasn't much happening on Saturday, but the Corps shut the water off going out of the lake, and the area north of us picked up several inches of rain the few days before. And Sunday as the waters were rising, there was some great action going on. Again, the fish were chasing each other in the shallows where they could run the females into the weeds to slow them down. They were flopping and splashing around all over the place. The carp were pretty easy to hit, so I focussed on getting rid of some gar. They two were cruising the shallows, and there would be a couple little ones swimming side by side with a larger one. Made for some easy doubles as well.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/P1030158.jpg)
The area we were fishing in:
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/P1030152.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/P1030157.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/P1030160.jpg)
It was a nice day yesterday, so I took the Harley out to do some scouting for some new spots. I found a good one and went there this afternoon. I took out my MoMarsh boat and cruised along the area. There were gar everywhere and lots of carp too. There were so many fish, that I started choosing to shoot at the bigger fish. I was able to shoot my largest longnose gar so far. I wish I would have had a tape measure with me, as my guess is was over 3' long.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/biggar.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/carp1.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/byersba/2011%20Bowfishing/headshotgar.jpg)
It's been a great year so far. And hope to get out a few more times.
Brian
:yoyo: Looks like fun with some large targets there B. Any use for them later?
Been bowfishing a few times, haven't for several years now though.
Looks like a great time !
Never tried it, but it sure looks and sounds fun.
I think you definitely found the honey holes. :eyebrownod: I love the double headers :congrats:
Thanks for sharing that.
Looks like you've been having a lot of fun Brian. Thanks for sharing.
Pat
Thats great stuff "B"!!! :congrats: Is it a specialty bow for that kind of work or just any bow will do?
Man, sure looks like something I could spend all day doing. ;yes; So what do you do witht he fish?
Quote from: shaddragger on June 05, 2011, 09:56:28 PM
Any use for them later?
I've got a local guy that likes the carp. He's a organic farmer, and puts them to good use. The local fisheries bioligist wants the gar gone, as they are overpopulated in the local lake. Everyone tells me that gar are good eating, but I can't find any takers when I offer them to anybody. :shrug:
Todd, most any bow can be turned into a bowfishing rig, although some are better than others. The main thing is for the bow to have some way to attach the reel or retriever to it. Some traditional long bows probably won't work due to this fact. And the other major difference is the draw weight. Most big game/deer compound bows have about a 65-70# draw weight. Most bowfishing rigs are set up around 35-40#. If you are shooting a few feet down below water, then you can get away with a higher draw weight, but the higher draw weights will shoot right through fish at the surface, and it's not much fun fishing the arrow back through.
Brian