Bowfishing Boats with Shapes And Sizes in Mind

Bowfishing has taken on a bunch of new enthusiast into the sport. Most of the new bowfishing people start off with fishing from the banks. Utilizing there old archery bow with some simple modifications at little to no cost to start out. Everyone who enjoys bowfishing has a certain quality about them to want more action. They tend to not stand on the bank for to long before they are searching for the perfect bowfishing boat and freedom of the open water
How many people generally go out with you has a large impact on the choice of boat. Sixteen to twenty feet on length will generally do for up to five persons on a bowfishing trip. Forty eight inches is also about as narrow for stability purposes. Keep in mind also a flat bottom vessel will give even more stability. Your bowfishing experiences from the banks of earlier excursions have you well informed of the environment where the fish are. Shallow lakes and bayous are the most popular for bowfishing by all means.
Bowfishing motors and are determined by the environments. The most expensive bowfishing boat has to be the all so common air boat from the deep south. Next might be just a all purpose fishing boat with an outboard motor. Then the surface drive engines like Pro-Drive or Gator-tail. And don't forget the typical trolling motor Quite and smooth running plus Eco friendly. Which every you decide to research on. They all have a purpose and a application for use.
Your wallet might be a little lighter after just a little dream shopping. There is always alternatives and you can start just about at any level of Bowfishing. Just as long as your out there. Landing the trophy fish just comes with time and practice.

Fishing Bass or Trout with a Real Purpose!

Fishing for has brought families together for many many decades now. Bass fishing is among the most famous and Trout fishing is close second. Now a days we are trying to become a professional on a recreational level. The 'Biggest Fish' is what we all are searching for. I can't even believe that there is a sport for fishing that pays people to make money in tournaments.
What ever happened to the days when Grandpa loaded us up and went to the local fishing whole? Far and few in between! There are a few active fisherman left and even fewer that eat what they catch. The local grocery stores supply us with our needs but also remove the family outings. Most of my childhood weekends where spent with Grandpa out on the water fishing for Trout.
Why not become a better fisher man/woman? Tried and true we all search for better ways to succeed. Werther your a seasoned veteran to the ways of the water or a true novice. A person can always gain knowledge in the game of fishing. Remember, a discovery is only known when it is shared with others.
The greatest joy comes when the beginners hook that first fish. Seeing that smile from ear to ear. There faces light up and are overwhelmed with joy. This is what fishing is all about. Teaching someone else to fish. Carrying on family tradition and being away from all the conveniences that the Nintendo generation has become accustomed to. Outdoors and the freedom to fish.

Bowfishing Boat - Work In Progress

A nice little gift from the brother-in-law (Free), an old hunting and fishing Jon boat. It needed a lot of TLC since it had been stored outside in the elements for the past three years. The lower unit was damaged and with the new love for bowfishing the major decision was made to go with a surface drive outboard engine.

On are family adventure to getting on the water we had to start somewhere. We stripped out all the old wood floors and screws. Removed the center console.Trying to achieve a lighter vessel. With all the debris removed we had a clean slate to work with.

All the time bowfishing was in our veins waiting with anticipation. We removed the old outboard motor that was of no use to us. Took off the boat and put alot of time removing rust from the trailer. My two sons put some time in with the sanders running and the dust flying. Trying to save money I turned the boys loose with about 15 cans of spray paint to add a little rust protection to the boat trailer. More memories for the boys as they grow older also.

My father-in-law dropped by to help with the lights and get a free dinner while we where working. I'm totally illiterate when it comes to electrical (white, green, brown, and yellow). Made it all a little simpler for me when he brought over his ohm meter. We had it wired in about an hour.

On with the boat. It had a old camoflauge paint job but I added my own touch over the top of the old one. With several different stencils that I cut out with my own imagination the boys and I placed are camoflauge paint on as we saw fit. With a few drips here and there.

Then off to Pro-Drive Outboard to get the motor installed. I chose the 27hp Kohl er due to it reliability. Also with the low gas consumption of about 1 gal. per hour while running wide open.
We Still haven't put a bowfishing deck on yet but it's a work in progress. Since the kids are out of school we have found a new fun activity for the fishing boat. The kids have been enjoying knee-boarding in between are fishing trips. And with the misses of the house enjoying pole fishing we have been cat fishing about twice a week.

The bowfishing has been slow but we still take are bows along for when the fish aren't biting.

Pole Fishing for Catfish and Freshwater Drum

Setting out to catch catfish!
So we finally got the whole family together to go on a fishing trip. Loaded up the fishing boat the night before and enjoyed my time spent with the boys while messing around in the shed with our tackle and making sure our gear was ready for the morning. With the radio on extra loud and spending time with my oldest son learning the ins and outs of his girl troubles. Giving him guidance when ever possible. Seems like only yest er year I was with my father doing these same things before a fishing trip.

The wife and daughter are inside getting the sunblock, hats, water and food together. I can only imagine of the girl talk going inside between a mother and daughter.

We set out for are fishing trip before sunrise to hit are hot spot. When all of us are together the kids go for the number of fish we catch over the quality. But hey, it's funner to be catching then sitting around and waiting to catch.

As they day progresses we caught 31 Catfish, 9 Freshwater Drum, and 1 Bream. Not to bad for six hours of memories. My daughter tried to feed a drum to my youngest and let the fish war begin. Now of coarse they all play with there food before they eat it. They through there drum at the ice chest in hopes to slap someone else with fish slime. Catfish on the other hand is a little different with the poison fins. They still handle the catfish with care so they don't get anyone stung.

41 catfish,drum and bream not two bad for a family of five. The best is when the kids are catching and seeing there smiles.

Getting the kids outdoors and away from the video's games is what it is really about. New experiance and even sight seeing as we go down the bayou. We saw Bald eagles, Aligators, Aligator Gar, and the occassional water snake. Not bad for a day out on the boat. Plus the kids know have some pictures to brag about on there Myspace and what they did for fun this summer.

A Day With My Pro-Drive Outboard!

What joy it brings to me to get more of our younger generation outdoors. If it's not hunting or fishing why not have them drive the boat or even hydro slide behind the new Pro-drive.

Rituals and Superstitions in Bowfishing

Rituals and superstitions apply to all types of fishing and are not limited to just one type.
So you start to plan your next bowfishing trip before your even done with the current trip. Most of us in the bowfishing community are like that. We plan to get out in the water as much as possible. There are certain rituals that come into the equation when planning.

You can't just go shoot a fish and that's it. You have to dress the part of a bow fisherman.
Grab your lucky shirt. Put on your lucky hat. Install your lucky shades so they fit just write and are at the proper angle. Fill up the truck and boat at a certain local gas station. Grab your lucky bow that shot that monster gar fish or crass carp. I mentioned gar bowfishing and carp bowfishing because these are about the two most popular ways to bowfish theses days.
You laugh, but we all do it. Each and every time we go bowfishing we have certain rituals or laws to fulfill to have a successful trip.

Are bowfishing equipment must be in tip top shape and ready to use before we even it the water. Oiled up muzzy tips so they are easy to use and operate. Waxed cables for longevity and lasting life. A few practice shots before you start fishing at a lily or floating twig. Wetting your bowfishing line so it wont get caught up in your bowfishing boat. Maybe by now all the cobwebs are out of your system and your ready to hit your first gar or carp of the night.

You sit back and take a real close look at your bowfishing trip and realize that you do have an obsession to bowfishing. Never change your obsession. We,meaning all of us who bowfish are small in numbers. Instead, on your next trip. Take someone who has never tried bowfishing before. Let them enjoy bowfishing as much as you do. Then on their second trip out with watch how the new guy always has the same shirt,cap or jeans on. It's not because there old clothes. it's because he shot a fish while bowfishing and now he has his own rituals to abide by and you taught him.

Fly Fishing - Really A Fly Fishing

Not much a fly fishing guy but I recently stumbled across this picture looking at some funny articles. Figured all the fly fishing lady's and gents would like it. It takes a real lot of time to get your own technique down while fly fishing. I tried a few times when I was younger. Grandpa would take me down to the Salmon river in Idaho. Great memories of stalking the brook trout and trying not to spook them away.

I also found a website just for the ultimate fly fishing secrets!

Hope it helps some of you since I changed over to bow fishing. The fish don't need to bite. I just need to be a good shot!

Fishing Funnies

Get great funnies sent directly to your email at work or home. Daydream about fishing and have a great laugh.

Also For your fishing Needs-
Fishing reports
Fishing Auctions
Fishing tackle
Fishing Events
Take a look and have fun while you fish the web site!

Bow Fishing Bows

So What do use when starting out in this new sport? Usually any old archery bow will work for bow fishing. I currently use the PSE Silver hawk bow. It is a 55lb. compound bow. Not my bow of choice but it is what I had available. Most people use a single re curve since when you shoot it is usually done with a what is called a snap shot. Others prefer to use what is called a zero let off bow. This type of bow is good since it is similar to the single re curve bow but smaller in length.

In today's world of bow fishing a retriever is the perfect choice to ad to your bow fishing bow. Simple design and easy enough a child can use it. There made to be mounted with spacers and hardware that takes about 10 minutes to mount on the side of your bow. The retriever makes it real nice for recovering your fish back to the boat.

The choice of arrows and tips also very. I choose to use a standard arrow with a double barb tip. Most fish can be shot with this same set up. Even the tough scale of alligator gars.

Check your local regulations before you go. Bow fishing doesn't usually follow regular fishing regulations.

How To Eat Gar Fish

Gar Balls

Ingredients: 3 pounds garfish meat

8 medium baking potatoes

2 onions

1 egg

1 cup mixed onion tops & parsley (chopped fine)

2 cups all-purpose flour

Cajun seasoning to taste

Skin and clean garfish. Scrap meat off the bone. Put onions and meat into a meat grinder. Mix with boiled mashed potatoes, onion tops and parsley, egg and season to taste. Roll into 2-inch balls. Dip balls into flour and deep fry (375 degrees Fahrenheit) until brown and floating.

This recipe is for the younger people with lost family recipe's. Most of us realize that bow fishing is gaining in popularity these days. One generation has gone by and almost forgotten some of the good eats when it comes to bow fishing.

The Importance of this recipe is do to the fact we tried Alligator Gar on the BBQ grill. We found out the hard chewing way that the Gar fish recipe is needed. There are to many tendons in the meat. Meat grinding really softens the meat like hamburger and makes it easier for consumption.

Use this recipe if you succeed in cleaning the gar fish. If you can get past the cleaning part. Tools you may find useful for the cleaning Alligator Gar fish; Bone knife, hack saw, hatchet, hammer and maybe - just maybe a fillet knife.

You think I'm kidding? The first one that we ever cleaned all we had was a spider knife and a crescent wrench to use as a hammer. Let's just say that there scales are like armor. Heck it is armor, no likes about it. The native Indians use to use there scales as arrow points cause they are that tough.