Bowfishing -- looks interesting

[CaptainMusky]

While I was in Cold Spring getting my tractor fixed I witnessed a young man sitting on the bridge with two arrowed carp. Looks like that would be a good time.

I should gear up my wife's bow (which has never been used) and give it a whirl.

[Stick in Mud]

It seems to be becoming more popular...I've seen a TON of people up near Mille Lacs shooting suckers and carp. I've even seen guys in some of the bays on the west side (especially the shallow one just south of the casino) standing on the front deck and lettin' 'em fly.

Or maybe they were muskie fishing?

[Rick G]

As carmi Sticky said it does seem to be getting more popular. Lots of good smaller rivers and places between the lakes to try around here. I know of one localish lake/pond that if I were a bow fisherman would be heaven

[pushbutton]

Sticky....I like that! The "craze" hit me a few years back and was pretty fun at first as I had not shot a bow in 30 some years. Certainly a little learning curve on how to target a moving object in water. I had some great access spots full of fish, but it was an hour from home,so the problem of what to do with all of them soon arose, as well as transporting a potentially pile of rotting fish. If your going to get into it, one of the first things I would do is find a place to get rid of them......someone like a pig farmer perhaps. Another issue in general for me is wanton waste. Have justified in my head the offing of carp, but if your not going to eat the native suckers, dogfish, paddlefish, ect.....shooting them for the sake of shooting them....troubles me somewhat. That being said, it is certainly is good entertainment strapping on the headlights and running around at night acting like a little kid again

[CaptainMusky]

Since I havent ever done it, i didnt even think of what to do with it once I actually/accidentally shot one.

Here's an ignorant question, but is it considered "wanton waste" if its a rough fish? I guess I always thought it was OK to dump a carp on shore, merely because when I grew up they would put barrels out to put all your carp in and it was just common place. I havent caught a carp in probably 20 years.

I would definitely need to brush up on regs for that aspect before I geared up.

[Rick G]

Yes, it would be "wanton waste" even if it's a rough fish.

I personaly like the fact the CO's are enforcing this law more now than they did 20yrs ago. It cuts down on the number of carp you see/smell on the river banks.

[CaptainMusky]

That is absolutely true. The Crow River was so bad with the 50 gallon barrels filled with carp and all the flies. Ooofdah.

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, I suspect the increase in the numbers of bow fishermen has had a corresponding increase in the numbers of fish dumped on shore. There's nothing worse (except maybe for a drunk guy with a huge cooler of beer) to find on the bank of a river than a big pile of rotten fish....usually somewhere near a good fishing spot.

[CaptainMusky]

I do remember a time when it was "illegal" to release rough fish. I hope I'm not dating myself here.

But definitely it makes more sense to not litter a shoreline with dead fish. I might have to try this bow fishing thing. It might mess up my shooting percentage though and that messes with my confidence lol

[Bobb-o]

If you guys think bowfishing is fine, you should try getting underwater into their territory. I have had a harpoon for several years now and you would be amazed at how skittish they are, I have had to literally lean out from behind weeds at times to get a good shot.

Also, if you get them out of clean water, carp, suckers, and even buffalo, can be downright tasty on the smoker!

[pushbutton]

You'll get the hang of it pretty quick....doinking a $25 arrow off the rocks really hastens the learning curve You will also soon quickly realize why carp are so resilient. If fishing at night, the walleyes will sometimes just meander right up to you "checking out the dude with a light on his head", while one missed shot can spook the subsequent carp into a different cruising pattern altogether.

Also fished the crow when I was young and was taught to not throw roughfish back, yep the carcasses and stink was everywhere. Glad times are changing, as alluded to, catch and shoot as many as you can, but you will not be able to make the slightest dent in the carp population.

[CaptainMusky]

Bobbo that harpoon idea sounds awesome. I think if I were in the water someone would confuse me for a manatee or something.

[Stick in Mud]

LOL. If that's the case, watch out for those boating lanes down in Biscayne Bay. I'd hate to hear that Captain Musky became a speed bump for some guy's yacht.