Are you looking for a fun way to bring fish to your table that will require a bit of skill? Well, if you love archery, you can use your bow and arrow skills to help you catch fish easily.
Does using archery for fishing require you to use a special bow? Well, so you don’t lose your equipment in the water, there are going to be a few modifications that you’ll need to make.
There are also bows that are explicitly designed for bowfishing that we are going to look at in this guide.
Best Bowfishing Bow Reviews
1. Cajun Bowfishing Sucker Punch Bow Package
- 50-lb. peak draw weight bowfishing bow has deep cam grooves to prevent derailed strings
- Includes Cajun Winch Pro reel, fishing biscuit arrow rest, and 2 white Fiberglass Piranha arrows
- Constant draw and draw length specific modules and Blister Buster finger pads included
- Bow measures 32.25 inches from axle-to-axle and offers a 17- to 31-inch draw length range
- Features a 60% let off and 7.25-inch brace height for smooth, easy shooting
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is a very aesthetically pleasing bow that is designed to be lightweight and easy to use while fishing. It has a draw weight of 50 pounds at max, and the cams are designed with grooves that will help to keep the strings in the right place when you shoot.
The set comes with two white Piranha arrows that are made from fiberglass as well as an arrow rest that will help you stabilize your shot, and a Cajun Winch Pro reel to help you bring in your prey. In total, the bow is about 32 inches from tip to tip, and it has a draw length that is 17 to 31 inches in length, which makes it easy to shoot.
2. AMSBowfishing Water Moc Recurve Bowfishing Kit
- Water Moc Take-Down Recurve - 45# Draw at 28"
- AMS Retriever TNT with 35 yards of 350# Premium Spectra Line
- White Fiberglass Arrow with Chaos FX Point
- AMS Bowfishing Tidal Wave Arrow Rest
- Green String Things
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The next bowfishing bow that we are going to look at comes from AMSBowfishing. It is a water moc recurve bow that is designed to make taking down your target simple. This bow is designed to come with everything that you need to go bowfishing, so it comes with 35 yards of premium spectra line that is 350 pounds, so it will work well for most fish that you are attempting to catch.
The arrows that come with the bow are made from fiberglass, which is a lightweight material, and they have Chaos FX points, which is sure to penetrate any target with ease. In addition, this is a kit that comes with a rest that can help you keep your shots steady.
3. Gen-X Cuda Bowfishing Kit
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is another excellent option that can be used for either beginners or more advanced bowfishers. It has a draw weight that can easilybe adjusted to meet your needs, as long as they fall between 25 and 40 pounds.
The bow is designed with let-off technology, which will help you to get a smoother draw cycle overall. The bow is about 35 and a half inches in length, which will help give you the stability that you need to make your shot. This is a bow that is available with both a right- and a left-handed orientation, which means that anyone can use it with ease. It is also designed to be ready to use when it arrives, so the kit comes with 200-pound fishing line, a fiberglass arrow, and a bow rest.
4. PSE Kingfisher Right Hand Bowfishing Kit
- Draw: 45 Lb
- Right Hand Only
- All Season Camo Finish
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The next bowfishing bow that we are going to look at is one that is manufactured by PSE. It is a recurve bow that has a camouflage design that looks great.
It has a draw weight of 45 pounds, so it may be more difficult for beginners to use, and it is designed to be a durable option that’s going to last for years. The kit comes with about 50 feet of 80-pound fishing line, a front mounting reel, and a fiberglass arrow that is 31 inches long.
5. iGlow Camo Archery Hunting Compound Bow
- 30 - 55 lbs Draw Weight (Adjustable) with Arrow Speed at 296+ FPS. Hit your Target with Precision Accuracy
- Draw Length: 19" - 29". Axle to Axle: 28". Let off: 70%. Weight: 3.3 lbs.
- Aluminum Riser. Compression Molded Fiberglass Limb.
- The Bow is very Nicely Polished and offer Excellent Performance
- 30" Aluminum / Carbon Arrows are recommended
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The final product that we are going to review in this guide is a compound bow that can work great for fishing. It has a light draw weight, which makes it ideal for fishing; in fact, it can be adjusted between 30 and 55 pounds to fit your needs.
In total, the bow only weights 3.3 pounds, so it will also be a lightweight option that anyone can comfortably hold. The bow is available in multiple colors so that you can choose a style that looks great for your needs.
Types of Bowfishing Bows
When you are looking for a bow to go fishing with, you are going to consider both recurve bows and the best compound bows. They can both be great options to consider but the bottom line on the one you choose depends on which option feels best in your hands.
Let’s take a brief look at each type:
Compound Bows – This a modern take on a bowfishing option that many experienced anglers will choose. This is because the bow is typically shorter, which makes it easier to manage while you shoot because the limbs have a cam system that can provide more energy.
Recurve Bows – This is a more traditional choice that many beginners flock to when they are looking to do some bowfishing. The bow is lightweight and easy to manage in the water, and it is less expensive to purchase, which means that losing it in the water will not be a terrible loss. We have prepared a review of the best recurve bows that you can take a look at.
Features that Should be Considered
When you are choosing your first bow to go fishing with, there’s going to be a few different things you need to look for to make sure you choose the right one. Personally, we like to speak with other bow anglers who’ve tried the products to see what their experiences are like, but some of the other features to consider include:
Weight – The weight of the bow that you choose is going to be a very important consideration to make because if you are not comfortable using the bow, you may have trouble lifting it up and aiming. If you find that a lighter bow work best for your needs, try to select materials that are not as heavy for its construction.
Draw Weight – It is also essential to consider the draw weight that will be required to fire the bow. The last thing you need to do is struggle when you’re fishing because it may scare the fish. With this type of hunting method, you may need to draw the bow much more than you would on land, so a lighter draw weight may be better.
Durability – You are going to need a bow that is strong enough to last the conditions that you are hunting in. Because this means getting in the water, you will want to make sure that any bowfishing bow that you consider is waterproof or at least water resistant, which means that it will be more resistant to rust and corrosion.
Ease of Use –Bows that are designed for beginners are typically easier to use than other bows. The main thing to consider when it comes to how easy it is to use is the hand orientation of the bow. There are some bows that have ambidextrous designs that will not matter if you are left- or right-handed. Others will matter a great deal, which will make them unusable if you purchase one with the opposite orientation than what you need.
The Arrows – When you look for arrows for bowfishing, you are going to want to look for arrows that have more strength and heft than when you are hunting on land. This will make penetrating the fish in the water much easier. Arrows that are designed to be used for fishing will not have feathers or fletchings on them because these features will reduce the speed of the arrow in the water.
The Line – The line that you use will depend on the weight of the fish that you are attempting to catch. Tougher prey will need a line that is 400 to 600 pounds, but in general, for smaller fish, the line can be as low as 80 pounds.
The Reels –When you are bowfishing, you can choose to use a hand wrap, a retriever reel, or a spin caster. The easiest to use is a hand caster that is manually spun during retrieval. A retriever reel is a bottle that holds the line in place as you reel it in. Spin casters have a good bit of speed, so they may be best for more advanced bowfishers.
Aiming for a Fish
One of the biggest things that you will need to know when you are bowfishing is where exactly you will want to aim to kill your fish. This type of fishing can be done in either freshwater or saltwater, so you may stand in the water as you hunt or on a boat or a dock.
Ideally, you’ll want to hunt where the water is relatively shallow so that you do not scare away your target. You’ll want to be about 10-feet from the target before you shoot it, and the fish should only be about a foot under the water. It is best to hit the fish in the front half of its body because this is where the majority of its vital organs are located.
Always aim for the fish’s refracted image to get the most accurate shot.
Tips and Pointers
Be Careful of Your Shadow – This is something that a fish that is swimming near the surface of the water will see, especially in shallow water. Try to avoid sudden movements as the fish approaches you so that you do not spook it.
Keep the Noise Down – When you’re fishing on the water, any loud noises that you make can easilybe heard by the fish. This includes loud thuds and loud talking, so make sure to keep it down when you’re bowfishing.
Large Pools of Fish make Great Targets – When you’re first learning to bowfish, you are going to want to look for an area that is relatively near the shore where schools of fish will be visible.
Take Aim Carefully – Remember, that you’re going to need to take aim through the top of the water, so the fish that you see may not be in the exact location where you think they are. Don’t get discouraged if you miss the first few shots the first time that you try bowfishing.
Final Thoughts
All of the bowfishing bows that we have looked at in this guide are great options to consider for a beginner or an expert.
If we had to choose one that stands out above the rest, it would be the iGlow Camo Archery Hunting Compound Bow because it is a lightweight, versatile option that is great for anyone to use.
It is available in left- and right-hand models. It also comes with everything that you will need for your first fishing trip.
