It may take a while to hone your bowfishing skills, but once you can shoot better, you’ll quickly want to look for ways to take your bowfishing to the next level. From gear upgrades to alternate shooting methods, we have the best tips for more successful bowfishing.
Invest in Polarized Sunglasses
One of the biggest killers of the perfect shot is glare on the water’s surface. Ideal polarized sunglasses remove glare effectively, but you may need to spend some money to get them. Cheap seven-dollar sunglasses that advertise polarization will not cut it out on the water. Head into a sports shop and try out high-quality polarized sunglasses to get a sense of their usefulness.
Try Snap Shooting
If you’re confident in your aim, it might be time to give snap shooting a try. Instead of fully drawing back your bow, steadying your shot, and firing, you fire off an arrow before you draw your bow back fully. This allows you to shoot more quickly, which is essential when firing at quick fish. Not all bows are suitable for snap shooting, though. Only try it with recurve bows or bows without let-off.
Use the Right Tips
Ensure your tips are fitting for the fish you’re targeting. Tips with small prongs won’t work against large carp, as they’ll just rip free of them. Flimsy blades won’t pierce big gar because they’re too tough. So try two- or three-pronged tips with hardy spring-loaded blades.
Scout Better Spots
It’s no secret that bowfishing is best when you find the perfect spot. As you scour maps and internet forums for potential locations, what should you look for in them? Make sure the fish species in the area are legal for bowfishing, for starters.
Next, you should scout out the location and see if there are the telltale signs of fish. These include splashing, ripples, and V-shaped patterns in the water. Lastly, ensure the water is clear enough to see through. Bowfishing doesn’t work when you can’t see an inch past the surface.
With our best tips for more successful bowfishing, you’ll be spearing fish in no time!
