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.

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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.

From Pole Fishing To Bow Fishing

Throughout my time off shore working in the Gulf Of Mexico fishing has always been a release. Weather it's Amber jack, Red Snapper, Grouper or Tuna. Just the peaceful afternoons spent out on the deck fishing for a meal that the whole dive crew could enjoy was reward enough.

Recently a friend of mine took me on a nigh time adventure to try bowfishing. Now just to get the story straight I never shot a bow in my life.

WOW it was the next level of fishing. Exciting beyond all belief. Not to say that I'm a good shot but it still took us awhile to limit out on red fish. My two sons amped up from the thrill of the hunt was priceless. Smile from ear to ear. Oh, and the comments they make like 'When can we go again. Darn, we already have our limit.'

So as a family man you can see that being outside and away from all the Nintendo is the best experience to offer your family. Time spent together having fun. Using what you already have will also save you money in the long run.

You don't need two boats to maintain anyway! The only boat in the family is the brother-in-laws. It's no surface drive or air boat. Having to lean over the engine about every five minutes to clean out the water intake can be a tiresome and daunting task. All is not lost. Time well spent with your family.

Grab About ten 300 watt to 500 watt halogen lights, four 2"x4"'s, half a dozen 'C' clamps, wire end connectors and a generator. One good afternoon spent building your night bow fishing rig. First you have to fit the 2"x4"'s around the perimeter of the front of your vessel and secure them together with wood screws. Be sure that the wood screws are short enough to not damage your boat.

Mount your lights so they can be adjusted. Wire them together in a custom fashion to split the cir cut into two sections. About four to five on each cir cut. This is to not overload your cir cuts on the generator. Test lights for position in the dark of night before you go. Secure the light bracket with 'C' clamps to the rails. Ready to go! Miltie purpose fishing/bow fishing vessel!

You'll be lighting up the banks like New York's Time Square!

Bow & Pole Fishing!

So your just like every other American who like to fish on there time off from work. Sharing your greatest fish stories by the camp fire. Paddling down the river in a raft or canoe to your dream fishing hole. Excluded from all the hustle and bustle of city life.

Fishing is your relaxation. Fishing is in your blood. Fishing is your life. We all enjoy fishing whether it's salt water or fresh water. It never really matters as long as we can go fishing.

Some of us have discovered a new way to fish and it seems to be catching on. Leave the fishing poles at home and learn to use an archery bow. What? You may say! Learning to hunt for fish brings a new twist to the whole fishing arena. Your arrow is tied to your bow so you don't have to go chasing it down. The fish don't even need to bite. You only have to know where they are. Most bow fishing is done in shallow waters or new the banks for the easier sitings of the fish.

Sometimes you can fish at night. With a boat and a generator to run a few lights.

Always check your local fishing regulations before you go. I live near the coast of the Gulf Of Mexico so most of my fishing is done in salt water and adheres to salt water regulations.

But no matter how you fish we all enjoy it for the same reason. We enjoy the outdoors with a good meal.