Bow Fishing

On this week’s edition of FOX10 Outdoors, it's time for something a little different. Michael Dorie with Five Rivers Delta Safaris invited me out on a nighttime bow fishing trip. It’s a lot of fun to get out on the water at night and see everything in the water, even alligators.

 

This type of fishing involves a typical compound bow with a line attached to the arrow.  A generator powers large halogen lights, so you see fish and other well ahead of the boat. This particular pontoon style craft also used a fan motor to glide through shallow grassy, areas. Local expert outdoorsman Tom Boatwright was also on the trip as a guide. Tom also started the night off right with the first big hit!

 

Our primary target was an invasive species of carp. The fish eat vital aquatic vegetation and have no natural predators. While they are not great table fare, they are overpopulated and make a great target for bow fisherman looking to sharpen their skills.

 

Tom and Michael both hit one fish as it swam into the lights. After a number of misses, I got a good fish as he darted through the center of the lights. 

 

It takes a little practice to get better with the bow. We are just eyeing them up, most of our shots are 10, 15, maybe 20 feet. And one of the things I found is, you need to aim a little low. You also have to account for refraction which is a little bend in the water.

 

By the end of the night, we had a an impressive haul of carp. For more information on bow fishing in the delta, check out Michael and Tom’s website 5rds.com or call 251-259-8531.