Hunting & Specialty

Bowfishing

Bowfishing is archery with heavy arrows, a reel and a lot of refraction to account for. Learn how a bowfishing rig is built, how to aim, and how to stay within local fishing regulations.

Bowfisher on a grassy riverbank shooting at a fish in shallow water — Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie

Bowfishing articles (8)

Simplified diagram of four bowfishing points, a carp point with a six-sided tip, a gar point with a sharper three-sided tip, a four-barb point whose barbs fold on the shot, and a big game point with line tied to the point and a ring, above a complete fibreglass fish arrow showing the nock, cross-hole, safety slide, shaft with no vanes and barbed point

Gear

Bowfishing Arrows and Points Explained

What are bowfishing arrows made of? Mostly fiberglass, with barbed points, a safety slide or ring for the line and no vanes. What makers list, and why.

August 6, 2026 · 5 min read

A river researcher on a boat holding a longnose gar, one gloved hand gripping its long, narrow snout, during fish sampling on the Wabash River

Guides

Bowfishing for Gar: Gear, Shots and Rules

Bowfishing for gar: how to tell longnose from alligator gar, which points get through their scales, Texas's alligator gar limit, and handling their teeth.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 5 min read

Simplified top-view diagram of a crossbow rigged for bowfishing: a heavy fibreglass bolt with a half-moon nock and barbed point, a reel on a mount below the barrel, and line running to a ring near the front of the bolt, beside AMS's crossbow kit contents and notes that Texas allows crossbows for bowfishing while Minnesota allows them only with a disability permit

Gear

Crossbow Bowfishing: Rigs, Reels and Rules

Crossbow fishing explained: how a crossbow bowfishing kit mounts a reel, why fish bolts use a ring for the line, and which states allow it.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified diagram of a compound bow converted for bowfishing: a bowfishing rest in place of the hunting rest, a bottle reel on a bracket below the arrow, a heavy fibreglass arrow with a barbed point, and line running from the reel to a slide on the arrow, beside notes on draw weight, let-off, legal bows and changing back

Guides

Can Any Bow Be Used for Bowfishing?

Can any bow be used for bowfishing? Yes, with a reel, rest and fish arrows. What makers say about mounting them, draw weight, let-off and changing back.

June 2, 2026 · 5 min read

A muskie lying over a silty bottom, lit from above by a night bowfishing boat's lights

Gear

Night Bowfishing: Lights, Boats and Setup

How to set up a bowfishing boat for night shooting: light types and power, deck layout, generator safety, navigation lights and night bowfishing rules.

May 10, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified diagram: light from a fish underwater bends at the water surface on its way to an archer's eye, so the fish appears higher and shallower than its real position

Training

How to Aim When Bowfishing: Refraction Explained

Bowfishing how to aim: why refraction makes fish look higher, published aim-low rules of thumb, how depth and angle change the hold, and polarised glasses.

Updated October 7, 2026 · 4 min read

Bowfisher in waders drawing a compound bow with a blue reel mounted on the riser, aiming down into shallow water

Gear

Bowfishing Reels: Spincast vs Bottle vs Drum

Bowfishing reel vs bottle vs drum: how each reel type stores and releases line, line strength, retrieval, and the safety slide rule every reel needs.

June 5, 2025 · 5 min read

Bowfishers working from a lit boat on a river at night

Reviews

Cajun Sucker Punch Review: A Complete Bowfishing Package Explained

Cajun Sucker Punch bowfishing package review: 17–31 in draw, 50 lb peak, Hybrid reel, fish rest and fibreglass arrows, aiming low, safety and the law.

May 7, 2025 · 6 min read

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