Bowfishing Basics - Aiming Tips, Gear, and Targeting Species

Of course, there are some major and obvious differences, especially when it comes to catch-and-release fishing. But if there’s one practice that seamlessly combines the two disciplines, it’s bowfishing. In most states, bowfishing opportunities are limited to a class of fish commonly known as “rough fish,” or “non-game species.”

Best Bowhunting Species
These include carp, gar, suckers, various species of shad, and sometimes bullhead and catfish. Other states have added some surprising additions to this list: northern pike in Alaska, tilapia in Texas, rays, flounder, and shark in the coastal states of the Southeast, the list goes on.

Granted, many of these fishes are not as universally tasty as members of the salmon and perch family, but a competent chef can turn each into worthy table fare.

Hint: fried fish cakes are the American bowfisherman’s best friend.

Most bowfishing is done in clear water ranging in depth from around 2-4 feet, usually along the edges of deeper water or near escape cover provided by aquatic vegetation or overhanging trees and shoreline vegetation. The water needs to be clear enough for you to see the fish and shallow enough that your arrow can penetrate the fish. Water is much denser than air, and slows the arrow dramatically; you could literally catch an arrow once its traveled through about eight feet of water.

Stealth = Success
Silence is important, as the sound of feet scuffling on a boat will spook fish and send them fleeing for cover or deep water. Excessive waves and loud talking can make things tough as well. A quick mind and body are also important, as often there’s just a couple seconds’ worth of a shot opportunity between the moment when you see the fish and the moment it disappears.  The ability to make snap decisions translates to an ability to get fish.

Account for Refraction
By far, though, the most difficult aspect of bowfishing is dealing with refraction. As light passes from one medium to another—air to water, in this case—it bends or refracts. Just think of how a fishing rod appears to bend abruptly at the water line when you stick the end into the water.

This means that submerged fish aren’t where they seem to be from the bowfisher’s perspective as he looks into the water. I’d say that about 98% of all bowfishing misses are fired over the fish’s back. You have to aim low to hit them, but determining just how low can be tricky.

Understanding the Aiming Process
One rule of thumb is that you should aim about ten inches lower than where you want to hit the fish. The best shot placement is in the front half of the fish, along the midline; ideally, you’d punch all your fish through the gill plate.

This is a decent piece of advice, as that would correct a significant portion of the misses that occur. But to really start hitting fish, it’s best to keep in mind a rule sometimes described as  10-4.

10-4 Rule
If the fish is ten feet away and one foot below the surface, aim four inches low. If you double the distance or depth, double how low you aim. Thus, on a fish that’s twenty feet away and one foot below the surface, lower your aim to eight inches. If it’s twenty feet away and two feet below the surface, aim sixteen inches low. If it’s fifteen feet away and one foot below the surface…well, you get the point.