BOWFISHING ?

I've always wanted to try this, I am not an archery guy though. How much would it cost me to get set up ? And what kind of equipment should I get ?

I'm considering taking it up as well. I just got into archery hunting and absolutely love it. I've been fishing since I was less than 3. So why not mix them. I plan on rigging my Dad's old bow up, since I don't want to beat my new one up.  Bows can range greatly in price. I would consider buying a cheaper bow or finding a used one.  I think you can really beat up a bow in a boat.  I know the kits which includes arrows, a real, and instructional video runs around $100.

Anyone living the Erie PA area?  I am going to bow fish in the spring and am working on equipment over the winter. I shoot a Hoyt Reflex Growler with a mechanical release and don't want to use this bow for fishing. Almost any bow can be rigged up for bow fishing.  Price? - cheap tape on reel with line and one or two arrows on an old bow to a full blown $600+ rig.  Keep length of bow in mind as this can be a problem esp in a boat.
 My biggest problem is switching from release shooting with sight  to instinctive finger shooting. Also, finding a suitable practice arrow simulating the fiberglass clunkers used for fishing.
 

you don't need to buy expensive equipment to do it....we shoot suckers/carp all summer long....we got a couple old recurves from yard sales/pawn shops and mounted the arrow, string spool, etc. to it...between the 3-4 of us we usually take anywhere from 10-50 carp/suckers a night when we go...it's great fun...get a cheap old recurve from someone for 50 bucks and the arrow/mounts are at gander for 24.99....it's all you need...if you go at night in a boat with a spotlight, your success rate increases by 200.....it's awesome.

Several buddies and I do this quite a bit in the spring.  It is not expensive at all.  You have been given some good advice.  One of the funnest things to do is find a small creek and surround a pool full of them.  If anyone is downstream, they will think that the second coming of Christ has begun... The water will turn red in a hurry when 4-6 guys open up on a school of 100+ carp.

i honestly don't want to start an arguement... and will leave ethics and personal opions out
and i know its legal
 
but,
why would you want to shoot a carp?

#2 is NOT true.

You stated they are invasive, so how a about you postin' some specific evidence that common carp are invasive in PA waters.
Fact is, the PFBC consider common carp a gamefish.

ORIGINAL: griffon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carp


OK... before you call me out, you better make sure you know what you are talking about!

No Soup For You!  NEXT!!!

It mentions cc were introduced in the same sentence as invasive is mentioned.  Introduced is a better term.  Anyone that knows anything about the history of carp in the states, knows that US govt. stocked cc in public waters, they didn't invade.
States nothing about PA waters, tho.................................

ORIGINAL: griffon

  Sometimes the facts aren't worth the effort or frustration of posting...  Regardless, I will shoot several hundred next year again and do my part to assist our fisheries. 

LOL.  I know what ya mean.
Trust me, I've read plenty of them carp studies, so I've researched this topic, and I know what I'm talkin' about too.  Those studies don't prove carp are invasive.

Carp are the biggest member of the minnow family and are forage (that's a positive) for other gamefish obviously, before they grow too big to be more than baitfish.  If a water doesn't have enough predators to keep them in check, cc can become overpopulated (Pymatuning is a good example of this) and be a symptom of a much larger problem----over-harvesting of predator fish, water pollution, bad fishery management, etc.  In a balanced fishery though, carp have their place.  Course, you probably already knew this.

Bowfishing can help a fishery sometimes I guess in waters where carp are over-populated.  I have nothing against those who enjoy archery sports.  Just don't like seeing common carp unjustifiably bashed.  You enjoy your sport and I'll enjoy mine.

Oh and here's a link: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/carp/carp_fishing.htm

on could argue that rainbows are and invasive introduced population...
they push out native brookies and wild browns

I've read/heard all that before.  Someone certainly has been brainwashed into believing the many of out-dated "carp studies" that are out there.  While some of what ya state can occur on a unbalanced fishery, it certainly doesn't apply to every water.  I'm sure catfish (which, btw, you are allowed to bowfish for in PA now), another bottom dweller, don't display any of the same behaviors as carp and cause some of the same symptoms.  Why the carp (or any species for that matter) become over-populated in certain waters is the real crux of the situation.  Too many times carp are made the scapegoat for poor water quality, when as I mentioned previously, there is likely a more significant cause to the problem.  The carp are just doing what they were brought here to do in the first place------they're a hardy, tough fish that are superior to many other fish at adapting and surviving in adverse conditions when other species can't sometimes.  Many waters were already polluted(man-made) and native fish were being over-harvested, when carp were first stocked here.
This thread was started discussing the sport of bowfishing by those that enjoy that activity, which is fine.  But all too often, these kinda threads turn into carp-bashing, let's eradicate the evil carp, they're the cause for all the water problems.  I was waitin' for this thread to take the same turn and it did, big surprise.  All it takes is for one person to stir the pot a little.  And here I thought this section was for discussing angling for carp and catfish, at least that's how it's labeled.

As for the invasive, introduced, non-native, exotic, nuisance stuff, it seems that according to the PFBC, all those terms are inter-changeable---it's all semantics I guess.  See here: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/ais.htm
Whatever term ya want to use for them, I don't see common carp listed on PA's ANS list so........................

Having fun fishing for common carp should be in the best interest of every angler.

KJH,  Try a Muzzy fly, they hit them every time as long as you make a good cast

Watch out, the pro-carpers are coming out now in force. 
Yinz guys have fun with this thread.
Hopefully, I'll get out this weekend and get a Thanksgiving carp----- aahhh, on a hook and line, just so there is no cornfusion.

ORIGINAL: griffon

KJH,  Try a Muzzy fly, they hit them every time as long as you make a good cast

these are what i throw...