Carp Shooting

W

WLONG

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Anyone here into Bowfishing?

I have been trying it. I know you aim under the fish, and I am doing that. But out of about 10 shots so far, 0 hits.

Exactly how far under do you aim?

Thanks,
Bill
 
It depends on how deep they are and what angle they are to you but I usually try to get themwhen they are about 10-15ft away and just under the surface of the water. If they are in that range I aim right at the belly of the fish. If they are farther away then I hold a little higher up on the fish. But most of my shooting is done from the banks or wading in knee deep water. I've not done any boat fishing. Try and get in an area that will give you alot more shots than just 10. The area that a buddy of mine and I shoot at we average 10 each in about 10min. If you miss just a walk about 10yds and take another shot. It is more of a spot and stock type bow fishing.
 
Practice makes perfect!

As mentioned above, it will depend upon the distance they are away and how far down in the water they are. You just need to get out and shoot a few hundred arrows at them to get an idea of where to hold.

I've been doing this for years and still find myself shooting over these things.

Here's a fish a friend stuck last summer.

davecarp2.jpg
 
The best way is to find some in clear water..as you shoot , the arrow will either be in the carp, the bottom under or over....do the corrections and keep shooting til you are hitting...it will come naturally after that. The best method is to go as far down stream as you can and work your way up.......as they get spooked , they head down stream and spook and take the rest of the fish with them....As you start up stream any hits and figths with fish don't spook the rest so bad and if they get nervous , they will come down past you one at a time and this is the absolute best shooting you can get......the water is stays clear and you see them come and your shot impacts......SM PS get them out of the water fast so not to spook the ones up stream......sometimes I will throw something up stream to bring them down past me at a narrow spot......shooting gallery........ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
What ever you do, do not use that fish arrow for a Beaver. He will get really PO'd and you can not turn him loose without cutting the string. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Also make sure that when you are shooting snapping turtles that you have an ax or another fish arrow. Because when you punch through the shell and drive the arrow into the mud you want to be able to lop the head off or you will be cutting the line also.
 
I've bowfished for 28 yrs. & have taken out numerous people that have not bowfished or even shot a bow before. What works for myself & most others is, if you think the fish is 2 ft. below the surface aim 2 ft. below the center of the fish, etc., etc. Also I use the method of when in doubt aim lower. There are some really good bowfishing sites with forums, these guys really know their stuff also. www.bowfishingassociationofamerica.com . And www.bowsite.com
Keep practicing you will love the results. Joe
 
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What ever you do, do not use that fish arrow for a Beaver. He will get really PO'd and you can not turn him loose without cutting the string. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif



I learned my lesson the hard way too. Darn thing nearly pulled me off the boat. They are strong swimmers. Back to the thread, I've been bowfishing for 40 years and the only way to get good at it is take a lot of shots and pretty soon you will get a feel for it. Carp are quite numerous in the spring when they get up in the shallows. You can normally shoot so much in a day your arms will give out.
As far as aiming, aim as low as you think it takes, then go a little lower and shoot. The depth and distance makes a difference, the deeper the water and the further away the lower you aim. I shoot instinct and don't really aim but all I can recommend is practice a lot. Most folks I have taken out that have never bowfished, usually get it down after about 20-45 shots. Good polarized glasses help a lot.
 
Thanks guys.

My grandfather had a cottage on Chub Lakes near Gaylord, Michigan.

He trolled with cowbells for trout up there. One day he snagged a beaver while trolling. I think the beaver broke the line. Either that or he had to cut it. Either way he was not too happy about losing the cowbells.
 
I just got into it last summer and its pretty hard at first but once you hit a couple you will get the hang of it.I shot alot of gar and a couple carp I cant wait to get out there again this summer.I wasnt very good the first couple of times but the more fish you shoot at the better you will get at hitting them.I use a little compound bow without sights so its pretty hard to explain how far below them to aim.Sorry I wasnt much help the only advice I can really give you is to shoot as much as possible you will get to where you can hit them more often.And something I did since me and a buddy of mine were keeping score, I would just stand on the bank and wait until one was right under me its pretty hard to miss em that way.And its alot easier to hit one with his body in line with you than one thats swimming across from you.Just aim for its head and you will either hit him in the head or in the body.I really dont know if that makes since but if it doesnt just tell me and I will try to explain it better.
 
i've never been bow-fishing, much less shot a bow. but if yer going to be shooting into the water, why not put some sort of target in the water at different depths and shoot at it? wouldn't it help alot?
 
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practice, practice, practice i used to pick things out on the bottom of the lake to shoot at. still do when i have an off day. the general rule is to aim 4in low per 12in of water because of light refraction i think its called so for 2ft of water aim 8in low but distance away from fish makes a differance when you finally hit one youll think you shot under it it almost feels unnatrual at first. just to warn you bowfishing is highly addictive and should only be done by the single or want to be single or have a very understanding wife and family
 
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yeah it looks like im about to blow a gasket but my wife had already had me pick it up 3 times the camera kept messing up on her. thats my best to date its a bighead (
asian) carp it was just under 65lbs, here is a picture from a tournament we won. 10 fish weighed in at 464lbs the 2 im holding up are 50lbers
100_3170.jpg
 
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I'm new to the site so I was relieved when I saw this topic to introduce myself in! I am relatively new to predator hunting but I have been bowfishing a little while. We currently shoot out of a 1756 G3 with an 18hp briggs fan but my company just ordered a brand new 18x8 American Airboats Air Ranger so after April 1st we will bowfish out of. It will have a 496 Levitator and 4 400wt gator gar lights. Here are a couple of albums to my fish pictures, would take way too long to host them all! Enjoy!

General Bowfishing Pictures
http://olemiss.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2034328&l=2b2d9&id=6512818

Some bigger fish
http://olemiss.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089632&l=84612&id=6512818

And the big one!


Couple of grassies
 
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Awesome! I'll be trying my hand at it this Spring. First time from a boat. I hope I can do as well out here in CO.
 
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