Bowfishing...who's ready?

[econnell]

Who's ready to deplete the rivers of some carp and gar?...nothing better for me than wading out there with my trusty recurve...
I just moved recently to the Delphi area and man are there some nice rivers...wabash and tippecanoe, anyone that's close wanna go?

What rivers do y'all bowfish in your area and do you get in the river or use a boat? Anyone got any pics to show off?

 

[38special]

You have no idea!

I'm so ready for this crap weather to be over with so I can get on the water!

Actually, I just posted up in the "let's see your boats" thread with my setup: https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...-lets_see_your_fishing_boats.html#post3972387

I'm heading to KY next weekend to start the season off and hang out with my grandparents.

You ever get around Indy? We'll be heading out from Indy to Terre Haute to shoot some jumping Silver Carp on the wabash several times this spring/summer.

 

[econnell]

I have never bowfished out of a boat or even shot them jumping out of the water but man does that look fun!

 

[38special]

I have never bowfished out of a boat or even shot them jumping out of the water but man does that look fun!

Take a look at this video of my brother shooting one in mid air last summer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa6xIjWnzKk

 

[dekeshooter]

Damn straight I'm ready!

There is a new (to me) boat in the driveway with a Prodrive ready to rid Indiana's lakes and rivers of carp, gar and other assorted rough fish!

 

[Max Volume]

I used to go all the time but haven't for awhile. I've been thinking of getting one of my recurves ready to go. A now deceased friend of mine and I used to get monsters from the shores of Lake Michigan all the time.

 

[Hookeye]

My Hoyt isnt super expensive, but is too nice to subject to the risks of bowfishing.
I'll snag a beater recurve hopefully before the action heats up.

 

[38special]

My Hoyt isnt super expensive, but is too nice to subject to the risks of bowfishing.
I'll snag a beater recurve hopefully before the action heats up.

Even a cheap old compound does the trick. I got a backup compound at a pawn shop for $35.

 

[Jbondmonroe]

My first time bow fishing was in the Illinois River. I went with a couple buddies and that Josh, the camera man for Chris Brackett. That was the most fun I have ever had. I shot 14 fish in about 6 hours but probably seen 40,000.I can't wait to go back.

 

[pitbulld45]

Im big time ready. I usually bowfish down at Turtle creek but am going to be fishing the Wabash this year also. I have a 15 foot jon boat.

 

[nighthawk80]

Just out of curiosity, what do you guys do with the fish when you shoot them? Just wondering? It sounds like fun, just trying to figure out what to do with the fish?

 

[Max Volume]

We always left them on the bank. A DNR guy watching us once said that's exactly what to do with them if you do not have a penchant for eating them. Racoons or seagulls will take care of them in short order.

 

[jath08]

We always left them on the bank. A DNR guy watching us once said that's exactly what to do with them if you do not have a penchant for eating them. Racoons or seagulls will take care of them in short order.

Ya and thats also called wanton waste whether its a rough fish or not and you can be fined for it. He could be setting you up. Sorry just dont beleive in killing something if your not going to eat it.

 

[38special]

Ya and thats also called wanton waste whether its a rough fish or not and you can be fined for it. He could be setting you up. Sorry just dont beleive in killing something if your not going to eat it.

Maybe you need to gain a knowledge of the eco-system some more. The asian carp in the rivers NEED killed whether you eat them or not. If there was a demand for them or homeless shelters would take them, I'd leave them there. Since there doesn't seem to be a demand, I dump them in the river.

I don't leave em on the bank because it would probably bother people.

But the fact is, the asian carp need to be killed - WAY more than I can ever kill.

 

[Max Volume]

Maybe you need to gain a knowledge of the eco-system some more. The asian carp in the rivers NEED killed whether you eat them or not. If there was a demand for them or homeless shelters would take them, I'd leave them there. Since there doesn't seem to be a demand, I dump them in the river.

I don't leave em on the bank because it would probably bother people.

But the fact is, the asian carp need to be killed - WAY more than I can ever kill.

^^^^^ exactly

 

[jath08]

Maybe you need to gain a knowledge of the eco-system some more. The asian carp in the rivers NEED killed whether you eat them or not. If there was a demand for them or homeless shelters would take them, I'd leave them there. Since there doesn't seem to be a demand, I dump them in the river.

I don't leave em on the bank because it would probably bother people.

But the fact is, the asian carp need to be killed - WAY more than I can ever kill.

Im well aware of the eco system and what the Big Heads and Silvers are doing to it. Ive had many talks with DNR fisheries biologists about it. I agree that these two species should be removed from waterways by any means necessasary. However when I was referring to the wanton waste and leaving them on the bank I was referring to common carp not Silvers and Big Heads, as the poster did not specify. Common carp do not have a "must kill if caught" law imposed upon them and do fall under the wanton waste laws of the State of Indiana.
DNR law states:

The intentional waste and destruction of fish is prohibited unless the fish is required by law to be killed. Fish must not be mutilated and returned to the water unless the fish is law fully used as bait. Fish parts, including entrails, must not be discarded into any state waters, but should be disposed of in a sanitary manner that does not pollute the water or become detrimental to public health or comfort.​

As you mentioned you dump them back in the rivers so therefore your breaking the DNR law that states, If any of these fish are caught, they must be killed immediately and not returned to the water. In specifics BigHead, Silver and Black Carp fall into this rule not common carp. Once you shoot it it becomes your responsibility to dispose of it properly.

So IMO maybe you need to gain some more knowledge of the DNR rules and regulations before you tell someone to gain knowlede on the eco system.

And yes I am an avid sportfisherman of common carp and have had many run ins with bowfisherman about it. Kill all the Silvers and Bigheads ya want just leave the 20, 30 and whats left of the 40 pound common carp alone.

 

[Hookeye]

Even a cheap old compound does the trick. I got a backup compound at a pawn shop for $35.

I used to run a High Country Sniper I water camo'd and a PSE Mach 5X.

For me nowadays it's a recurve or Oneida.

 

[econnell]

I will cut the tail, and use it to catch snapping turtles, but what I don't use I just dig a hole and back to the earth they go

 

[38special]

And yes I am an avid sportfisherman of common carp and have had many run ins with bowfisherman about it.

Ahh you're one of those.

Carp anglers never did like bowfishers.


I stand corrected about the river dumping. I didn't intend to sound so snarky there. You did just say "Sorry just dont beleive in killing something if your not going to eat it." and then agreed that it's OK to kill asian carp :/

 

[Hookeye]

Leaving them on the bank changed years ago. I take a big rubber tub, with holes in the bottom and toss mine in there. The tub stationed in the water, in the center of our wading area. When we fill it up we just put it on the hitch haul and take it to a nearby farmer's field for fertilizer (that's the idea anyway). The yotes, possums and coons leave nothing but a few scales.

BTW, where we bowfish, they are "no bottom feeders edible" areas.

As for eating what we kill.................I kill rats and possums, don't eat them. Have no problem arrowing their aquatic counterparts.

I like rod fishing for them too, but kill every one I haul out. The areas I fish, there is no short supply. Most go in the 5-10# range. Shallow waters, no real big ones around, and I've rod and bow fished these same ponds/rivers/streams for 30 years.

I'd love to arrow a 30+# carp