Equipment

As a newcomer to the sport of bow fishing, it will be necessary to purchase the basic equipment: a bow, arrows, fishing arrowheads, line, a reel, an arrow rest and polarized sunglasses. Gear can be purchased at many sporting goods shops, hunting and fishing retailers or through mail-order catalogs and the Internet. In addition, used equipment can usually be found at reduced prices through newspaper classifieds, at garage sales, pawnshops, and even on-line auction sites.

Bows

There are two types of bows commonly used in bow fishing: recurve and compound.  Each of these bows has advantages and disadvantages.

Many bow fishermen prefer recurve bows because they allow for quicker shooting and easier execution of snap-shots. These bows also have less cabling, reducing the likelihood of becoming snagged. The principal drawback of recurve bows is that they may not exert enough force to pierce a large fish such as a big gar.

The advantage of compound bows is that they have an adequate amount of energy to shoot a large fish. To ensure this, however, one is required to exercise a full draw of the bow to shoot accurately. In this situation, cabling can become a nuisance, especially for an inexperienced bow fisherman.

There are some bows that even combine both kinds of bows into one model.

The most important criterion when selecting a bow is individual comfort. For many, price will also be an important consideration. Any bow that is capable of launching an arrow with adequate force will work. When purchasing a bow, keep in mind that each type has advantages and disadvantages and seek a bow with which you are comfortable and can afford and maintain.

Arrows

In order to bow fish successfully, one must select a proper arrow. Experienced bow fishermen prefer fiberglass rather than aluminum arrows because of their additional weight. This heavier arrow is able to more effectively pierce the water.

The exception to this standard practice comes when using a compound bow set at over 45 pounds. Using a fiberglass arrow in this situation could be dangerous because of the tendency for these arrows to explode under that much pressure. When using a bow set at this level, an aluminum arrow should be used. For most beginner and intermediate bow fishermen, this isn't likely to be an issue, but one should be aware of this danger.

The aspect of bow fishing that raises the most questions is whether to use a cabling system. Using an arrow without a cabling system can be dangerous because it increases the chances of the fisherman getting ensnared in the line, a potentially dangerous event that cabling systems usually prevent.

A cabling system on a bow and arrow works by utilizing a cable with a strong swivel that runs from one end of the arrow to the other. One ties the line off on the swivel, and when the bow is pulled, the line remains in front of the bow's riser. As the arrow is released, the swivel moves to the back of the arrow ensuring the line does not catch on anything. The drawback of a cabling system comes when using stainless cable because it will not stretch when reeling in a fish. Using a monofilament cable can minimize this problem.

In contrast, a conventional arrow without a cabling system possesses a hole at the back of the arrow where one ties the line. The consequence of doing this is that the line is behind the riser and probably resting on the arm when the bow is pulled. The danger comes from the fact that the line must slide past the arm, riser and sight without becoming caught.

There are a number of well-cabled arrows on the market. Some come with a heavier fiberglass shaft inserted into a stronger aluminum shaft. This reinforced arrow comes pre-cabled with both a collar and Uni-nock systems and may be used with high-poundage bows. Although this arrow is heavy, strong, collared and cabled, it is not indestructible and one should make every attempt to avoid shooting rocks, trees and other hard objects.

Arrowheads

The remaining component of the arrow is the arrowhead. Because fishing arrows travel through water instead of air, arrows used in bow fishing encounter more resistance than those used in bow hunting. As a result, arrowheads with the least amount of surface area tend to bring more success to fishermen. There are a number of good arrowheads available for purchase, many of which are designed for specific fish. There are two primary types of tips: fixed blade broadheads and mechanical broadheads.

The original bowfishing arrowheads were the fixed blade broadheads. Because they have less overall surface area they encounter less resistance when impacting their target. As a result, they generally penetrate farther into fish than mechanicals. They are most effective when used for shorter shots and where accuracy is not as critical. The consistency of their flight declines with increased flight speed.

Mechanical broadhead tips have blades that are folded flat along the shaft that open to lock into the fish's flesh upon impact. The advantage to using mechanicals is that they are more accurate as distance increases and in crosswinds. They are often selected when the desire is for a quick kill with less concern about damage to the fish.

The blades enable mechanicals to hold on to fish more consistently. In general, however, they do not penetrate fish as deeply because the blades significantly increase resistance. There are also questions about how consistently the blades open upon impact. Mechanical broadheads are best used for large fish.

Line

Of course, in order to reel in a big catch, every bow fisherman needs good line. Although there are several new lines on the market, there are basically two that are used by bowfishermen: monofilament and braided line.

Almost all monofilament line is made of nylon. The advantages to using monofilament line are the ease with which it can be worked, its ability to stretch and good knot strength. While some anglers do not like line stretch, it can be an advantage because it absorbs the energy of a strong fish and minimizes the chance of a hook tearing loose.

The problems associated with monofilament line are that it can stretch too much, is more susceptible to wear and tear, may lose strength in water and can be damaged by substances such as insect spray. The problem of wear can be critical to bowfishermen who shoot often.

Braided line used to be more widely used, but its propensity to tangle and need for special knots make it more difficult to use for some anglers. In addition, it tends to be more expensive. However, because it is more resistant to stretch, it offers greater "feel". In bowfishing, this is not an important consideration.

Reels

There are several types of reels one can select to attach to a bow. The standard drum reel is a common choice. With this reel, line is wrapped around the outside of the drum and strips off the drum when a shot is fired. However, the line must be wrapped around the drum manually as the line is reeled in. At about $10, this reel is very economical. There are several varieties of the drum reel. One screws into the bow's stabilizer mount. Another, built for a recurve bow, simply tapes on.

Another type of reel is the closed-face reel. The Zebco 808 is an example of a closed-face reel. This type of reel rests on a special mount placed in the stabilizer-mounting hole. Line is spooled on the reel, and before a shot is fired, one must press the bail release button to avoid injury. After a shot, the line is then reeled in just like a spin-cast reel. These reels sell in the $45 to $55 range.

A reel specifically designed for bow fishing is the AMS Retriever. A container attached to the rear of the reel houses around 25 yards of heavy bow fishing line. The line is fastened through the front of the reel and tied to the arrow. When fired, the line comes spilling out without any drag, reducing the drag on arrow speed. Reeling in the line is as simple as squeezing a lever and turning the crank. Reloading is very quick, reducing the need to worry about the gear while shooting. The AMS Retriever requires no hand winding, has no buttons to push, and the line does not tangle or twist inside the container. It is considered reliable and priced at $45 to $55.

Rests

If you are using a fiberglass arrow, a standard rest used for lighter arrows will not support this heavier arrow. Several manufacturers offer rests specifically designed to hold fiberglass arrows. Prices for these rests range from $8 to $10.

Polarized Sunglasses

It may seem odd to include sunglasses in a discussion about bow-fishing equipment. However, when you consider that this fishing technique relies heavily on vision, it becomes clear that sunglasses are an important piece of equipment for bow fishermen. A quality pair of polarized sunglasses can make the difference between a satisfying excursion and a disappointing trip.

Polarized sunglasses are important because they filter out sunlight reflected by the water. In addition, the use of wrap-around sunglasses will prevent sunlight from penetrating from the back or sides and reflecting off the interior of the lenses. Amber tints are preferable to gray tints because they lighten the environment's colors, making fish more visible.

There is one safety consideration with all sunglasses. It is very important to ensure that the string of the bow does not touch wrap-around sunglasses to avoid injury to the face or damage to the glasses.