Bow Fishing set up

[KentuckyTJ]

Now that's too cool Ozy.

[oneeye]

Wow Ozy!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris Shelton]

cant top the shark, lol.  But I have not seen my set up posted yet, and I dont actually have a picture of just my set up, however in this photo you can see it
 
it is a rhino reel(didnt want to buy a zebco, and didnt have one), and a trad reel aluminum holder.  Works great, I dont use braided bowfishing line, just 50 pound mono.  But I am going to switch to probably 100 pound braided regular fishing line because of its pure strength.  You would be suprised the tourcher that mono can handle, I have had the stinkin reel jam in mid flight once, and the line will just stretch vs the bowfishing line that snaps sometimes.  I want a AMS bad though . . .

the glasses are my most important tool  :cool:  without them I can not see nearly as well.  They are not traditional but the polorized sunglass most definatly cut down on glare

[Chris Shelton]

p.s I think my carp could eat that shark  

[Jerry Jeffer]

Recurve + Bear reel + fishing arrow with slide set up from 3 rivers + nice day = CARP!!!!

 

[frank bullitt]

Yeah, can't wait for the weather to warm and the suckers to run!

That's the neat thing about bowfishing, you can go simple or as elaborate as you want. I have a Bear tape-on, my first, AMS, and a Zebco 88, all work good.

If your into spawning carp, the AMS gets the nod! Quick shots and retrieves, makes this reel superior. Also, if shootin in deep water, or a light poundage bow, the AMS has the least drag and will let you shoot pretty true.

Even a coffe can or 20 oz pop bottle can be used.
My best advice, is put the money in a good arrow set-up, slide or cable, and good pair of Polarized glasses!

[Hawkeye]

I see that AMS has two models.  What's the difference between the Standard and Pro versions??

Daryl

[Chris Shelton]

I was wondering that myself . . .

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I highly recommend the AMS reels. I started using an old tape on model and then a screw in bear model.  I used to shoot off 1-5 arrows an outing. Those were the cheap 4.00 arrows and for a kid got expensive fast. The wind would blow and tangle teh line behind the reel. Even if you were careful you would still have problems. I think the slide systems nowdays may help with that problem.

I saved my money bought an AMS and have never shot an arrow off.  I have taken thousands of shots and never had the string hang up. I like not having to worry about snap back as much anymore.

The arrow I have shot over the past 10 years has a cable down the side. But I think I am going to get one with a slide instead. Just seems safer.

Oh yeah I get more shots from the AMS because it is fast slick and efficient.  I had one piece break on mine and I just ordered a replacement part from the Factory in WI. Since i lived close by I had it within a couple days.

Spend the 100 bucks on proper equipment, it'll last forever unless you shoot a shark. LOL!

[Guru]

AMS Retriever with the strap-on adapter, on a 52# 58" Grizzly...very easy to change bows this way if you want to...

 

 

 

 

 

On Miss Faith Black Mountain....
 

 

[coaster500]

Holly!!@*&^%&^ ozy clint, I don't think I could wrestle one of those giants into my kayak!! I live in what called blood alley on the coast of California. If you come and visit I think I can put you on a Great White     I’ll watch from the beach  

I played with a couple of my spinning reels with some spectra, but they hung up a couple of times. That's not a good thing with an arrow on the other end  :(

I think I'm going to order the "AMS Retriever with the strap-on adapter"....I looked in town for an inexpensive open face but could not find one,,,,Soooooo, it's only money  :(

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Kip, Its only money but, these things last forever plus you loose less equipment.

I have had to cut fishing days short because my friends have lost all their arrows and all my "spare" arrows as well.  Since they couldn't manage to pull back my bow and they were getting bored I usually upsettingly left the water on perfect days to appease them.  Its frustrating.  

Spend the money, it'll come back to you ten fold in many ways you couldn't even think of.

      best of Luck!

[robtattoo]

Here's my rig.....Zebco 888 spooled with Muzzy 150# Tournament line, fitted to my Morrison ILF.
I shoot the Innerlock 3-barb grapple arrows.

 

I switched to a Zebco 888 last year after having endless trouble with the AMS I'd had for a few years. The handle jammed up, then the rubber wheel somehow became offset (???) finally it stopped spooling line into the bottle, it just dumped it all in a big tangle by my feet. I replaced parts, adjusted, cleaned & lubed everything & nothing short of full replacement would fix the durned thing.
Since going to the Zebco, I've also stopped using the safety slides. Having the line attatched directly to the back of the arrow prevents you from forgetting to press the button  

[Chris Shelton]

GURU- u da man!!!  

Say any of you guys eat these carp???

[poison arrow]

I use the large plastic spools. I first started out by mounting a fishin reel on my grizzly. Open the bail and sometimes it would unspool. I got hold of an old Fref Bear bowfishin package for trad bows. I had no idea it was a collectors item then. It was old and came with other components for mounting on a recurve. I still have it. The only prob with that one was you had to have a lot of line on it so it would peel off when shot. If you didn't the line would hang up on the line holder and snap. That spool is set up for a lot of line. I use that when I go far out into the Gulf fishing and snag big ocean fish, barracuda, spadefish, the laws changed and I can't get tripletail anymore. I must have lost a handful of arrows before I put a lot of line on it.. I then tried the $90 retrevier from Bass pro and it didn't work for me. Worked okay for very very short distances. On inland water ways and coastal I have to sneek up on fish and get them from far away, except for flounder. The spools are the easiest for me to wind up too. I have nothing but probs trying to post pictures on this forum so sorry.

[owlbait]

Robtatoo, just remember sometimes when you hear that click from pressing the button, stuff inside don't click like its supposed too  :eek:  Thats the only reason I don't shoot them anymore. I used to shoot with the arrow tied on the back but there have been to many BAD accidents from that. Good luck and be safe!

[riivioristo]

Hi !
First - think again shooting from a kayak. I use a canoe mostly and even it is sometimes bit unstable, when the going gets ruff with fish. And you are so near of the surface, that its more difficult to see beneath the surface. Just visioning one tangled with kayak upside down, line all over and a mad fish in the end of a arrow    
I use a longbow too and have used a AMS for years. And me too have had my share of problems with my AMS - just like robtattoo wrote.
Enyway this thread really makes me wish spring would come quickly !!!

[Lucas K]

What do you shoot in Finland?

[robtattoo]

Originally posted by owlbait:
Robtatoo, just remember sometimes when you hear that click from pressing the button, stuff inside don't click like its supposed too   :eek:   Thats the only reason I don't shoot them anymore. I used to shoot with the arrow tied on the back but there have been to many BAD accidents from that. Good luck and be safe!

That's why I stopped using the slides. You press the button & the pins don't disengange. You can still draw the arrow & you don't realise the pins are still engaged until the line snaps & you lose your arrow! With the line tied to the back of the shaft, you can't actually draw the bow unless the reel is set. I am constantly aware of the possibility of back-snap.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

I've been partial to the AMS Retrievers ever since I bought my first one, which I still use, in the early 90s. The standard retriever is great for carp, while the slotted retriever works better for large fish.

For the standard retriever, I like to replace the bottle so it holds more line. You never know when you may have to reach out and ruin a carp's day.