Want to start bowfishing but need your help

[2Blade]

Hey guys my girlfriend just bought a bow so we are thinking about taking up bowfishing to hone ourselves for deer season. I have a buddy with a boat who is willing to go at anytime I just have to get the gear. I have my heart set on a AMS reel but dont know what to purchase as far as bowfishing arrows and points.

Im not trying to go broke but I dont want to buy junk either. If you guys could provide some links to some gear id really appricate it.

 I will be using a 50lb Gamemaster and my girlfriend has a 40lb compound could we use the same arrows? And how does the safety slide work??? Thanks in advance    

[KentuckyTJ]

What kind of fish are you shooting? Is the bottom rocky or mud? Definitely use the safety slides.

[stevemfwills]

just buy them already made with the slide and all,i like the muzzy carp point,you can get a combo with arrows and ams reel pretty resonible price.most important have fun and be save.......

[KentuckyTJ]

Do learn how to tie a slide knot before you hit the water, here's the one I use.

 

Also I like the heads that you can simply twist with the fish on it and you don't have to touch it at all to release it like this.

 http://www.backwaterbowfishing.com/onlinestore/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=625

These wire type work well on gar but if you plan on shooting softer fleshed carp use one like this, as the wire type will pull out on bigger carp.

 http://www.backwaterbowfishing.com/onlinestore/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=113

[2Blade]

We plan to hunt carp on more of a rocky bottom. Thanks for the video TJ ill check it out! How many arrows should we buy?

[owlbait]

If your shooting rocky bottom get replacement tips for your arrows(the trocar tip on many bowfishing points are replaceable). Learn how to tie good knots and have some good gloves handy if you have to pull off out of wood or plant roots.

[toddster]

Well I have been bowfishing and in tournaments for 10 years, from the people I got into it and my experiance, let me tell you.  First, you will need two or four arrows, get the regular white fiberglass arrows, cheap and last for years, the point for the money and from my experiance, either go with a Talon, lil stinger or sureshot, ensure that your arrows have saftety slides.  Now here is the choice of reels, alot of people like the bottle side reel, for the money, I don't.  I like a shakespears T10 or catfish size reel can get at any walmart, rural king for 15 to 20.oo dollars and last about year or two, had one last for four years.  You will need line, just get the regular white line.  I would reccomend going to "Backwater Bowfising" online and you can order everything you need, except the reel, like i said can pick that up at box store.  You will also need a reel seat, to mount reel to bow, just get the "Sully's" one will work great.

[KentuckyTJ]

Two arrows per shooter is fine just to have a backup. I've never actually broken an arrow but they can snap off and more often than not something goes wrong with the point that's epoxied on. In rocky bottoms do get the muzzy style replaceable tips and a few extras for the boat.

[Bobby Urban]

I always take a 1/2 dozen or so arrows all made up.  I would at least have 3 ready to go.  Nothing ruins a good day of bowfishing quicker than loosing your last arrow.  Things happen - string snaps and arrow is gone.  Be prepared with extra.  You will not regret it.  Slides or Cables for sure.

Bob Urban