Obscure Tips and Hidden Secrets for Bow Fishing Success
Feature Story by DUSTIN VAUGHN WARNCKE
LISTEN: (3 min, 40 sec)
BOW FISHING IS A THRILLING combination of archery, fishing, and hunting which offers those who brave the waters with a bowfishing bow a unique opportunity to target species such as carp, gar, shad, buffalo among other non-game fish species.
The Lone Star State is a haven for bowfishers of all ages and skill levels and a hidden gem in many ways. With all of the waterways in this great state, there is an abundance of opportunities to enjoy a very fun and challenging sporting adventure on the water for the first time ever or want to hone your expert “ninja skills” even further.
Refraction Reaction
One of the most challenging aspects of bowfishing is understanding the water’s refraction, which makes fish appear shallower than they actually seem to be from above the surface of the water. While the “aim low” rule may be common knowledge, the importance of tailoring this adjustment to water depth and angle is sometimes overlooked.
For daytime adventures, a good tip is to use polarized sunglasses to reduce the glare on the water and get a clearer view of the fish you are targeting, which will help you in gauging the exact distance between the real position of the fish and its perceived location from above the water.
For nighttime bowfishing excursions, you obviously won’t need sunglasses but a good set of LED lights on your boat, or if bank bowfishing, a good CREE LED bow-mounted flashlight will help you see fish deeper in the water and make more accurate shots. The idea is to penetrate the water and get a better view of your targeted fish.
Timing
Another tip is to plan your bowfishing time during the spring spawn. Veteran bowfishing guide Marty McIntyre of Garquest Bowfishing Adventures invited me on a 24 hour 4-lake bowfishing marathon in March one year and we experienced quite the target-rich environment, especially with the longnose garfish spawn which was about as wild as bowfishing gets!
Chumming Around
Most seasoned traditional fishermen know that chumming an area for species like catfish is a great way to get more fish in the area you want to cover. One trick I have learned is to “chum the banks” with cattle range cubes you can commonly find by the bag at your local feed store. The secret here is that while these feed cubes are designed for cattle, they slowly dissolve when submerged in water and they make for a long-lasting fish attractant for bottom feeding species like carp, buffalo and other fish. Throw out some range cubes along the shallow water areas, especially along bulk heads, the edges of coves, and other areas close to the bank that you can later troll and wait for around 30 minutes to an hour. Then gently approach that area of water and get ready to shoot. If there are fish in the area, they usually can’t resist coming to your chummed areas to feed on the dissolving cubes.
Creeks & Coves
Creek inlets and coves provide great hiding spots for big fish and can be a hot bed of activity when you approach them.
In the Wind
Play the wind and remember that low and no wind is your friend. We are talking about finding clear and relatively undisturbed water wherever possible.
Bad Vibes
One thing many bowfishers do not keep in mind is that fish are highly sensitive to sounds and vibrations. When navigating shallow waters, minimize noise whenever possible, think stealth-mode, keeping your sound and any potential vibrations to a minimum.
Aim Low, Think Big, and Have Fun!
—story by DUSTIN VAUGHN WARNCKE
DIGITAL BONUS: Bowfishing with a Crossbow
