Cheap bow fishing kit

[Crittergetter]

Anyone have any experience with this set up? I tried some bow fishing years ago with a compound. Now I want to try with trad gear. I was looking for a cheap but effective setup that I could throw around in my boat without worrying about scratches and such. Its got good reviews but looking for some tradgang input!    

[Skipmaster1]

I've killed a ton of fish with that set up. It's not fancy but it's great for fishing

[sheepdogreno]

I've killed a lot a bunch of fish with a PSE kingfisher. I always recommend this kit to get ppl started and then if you really get into it update the reel. This kit gets you sticking fish cheap. The only reason to upgrade a reel is to get line back in and follow up shots off quicker. Wind up reels aren't that fast

[Crittergetter]

Good deal, thx for the input!

That is the exact bow I use for bowfishing. I bought the bow only from Cabela's (for $120) because I already had a reel and arrows and did not need/want that set up that comes with that kit. That bow works just fine for bowfishing!

Bisch

[Crittergetter]

Sweet. I realize the reel may be less than ideal for the serious fisherman, but I doubt I'll be doing a ton of fishing. Maybe a couple times a month thru the summer. I'm also curious about the arrow rest.

[Stone Knife]

Your money would be better spent getting a beater bow and an AMS retriever reel, just my humble opinion.

Originally posted by crittergetter:
Sweet. I realize the reel may be less than ideal for the serious fisherman, but I doubt I'll be doing a ton of fishing. Maybe a couple times a month thru the summer. I'm also curious about the arrow rest.

I tried an arrow rest off of mine and did not like it. I glued leather to the shelf so I can shoot off the shelf. I also would recommend getting a Zebco 808 or AMS retriever reel. I have both, but use the retriever reel on my bow.

Bisch

Originally posted by Stone Knife:
Your money would be better spent getting a beater bow and an AMS retriever reel, just my humble opinion.

While I agree about the reel, to me the Kingfisher is a beater bow. It is cheap and works well, and I can toss it around in the boat without worry of hurting it.

Bisch

[Crittergetter]

Well, I went by a local archery shop just to look. I had been there a few years back when they was new and they had very little in the way of trad gear. I met the owner and he shoots traditional and now he has more trad stuff than before. Not a lot but some. He was very knowledgeable and very helpful. Long story short, a couple hrs later I walked out with a cheap but functional setup. I really liked the idea of the magnesium riser an fiberglass limbs on the pse but what can I say      . I'm an impulse buyer! Thx for all the input guys.

[Crittergetter]

[attack]

You can also just use a plastic half liter water bottle for a reel. Use heavy fishing braid and wrap the bottle then use rubber tubing to attach the lid to the stabilizer bushing So the bottle sticks out like a stabilizer. The line can unspool from the bottle and if its a big fifish, when the line runs out the bottle pops free from the bow and becomes a dragfloat.

[Roy from Pa]

So ya can't catch em with a rod and a hook and now your gonna just shoot em?  LOL     Nice setup Randy Dandy..

[finkm1]

Looks like a great set up. I think you will use it more than you think. Bow fishing is addicting.

[Crittergetter]

Bisch, you was right about the rest! I'll be shooting off the shelf as well! Thx for all the advice!
Finkm1 I hope your right!

[Skipmaster1]

I have an ams on mine but sometimes switch back to the stock reel. When I'm fishing in heavy weed mats, it is much quicker. I can push all the weeds down the string as I'm reeling and then just shake them off the arrow. With the ams I end up with the bow between my legs to use one hand to reel and the other to get rid of the weeds.
You can get very quick with a drum reel and practice

[sheepdogreno]

anyone have much luck with the muzzy reels or zebco 808? ive used a muzzy once and liked it but didn't get to put it thru its paces...I like my ams reels but im thinkin about putting a muzzy reel on to give it a shot this summer. the time I used the muzzy it seemed like the arrow came out better compared to the ams. depressing the button wasn't as big of an issue as I thought since I always double checked my ams to make sure the line wasn't wrapped around the reel anyway