I want to get into bow fishing. I have my compound for hunting but I do not want to use that. I need a new bow but I don't know wether to get a stick bow or cheap new compound. I have seen people bow fishing and it seems to me a compound may be more of a hassle than a stickbow. What do you guys think and what would be a decent bow to start. Not looking to spend a fortune to shoot carp.
Stick? Stick? Where you at? No idea ck3....but there are a lot of knowledgeable bow fishermen on here. I'm sure Christine will see this and help you out.
ck, where are you located? First, you're definitely on the right track by looking for a separate bow for bowfishing. Using your hunting bow can be done, but it's far from ideal. Picking a recurve or compound just kind of depends on your preference and situation. If you can find one cheaper than the other, then that's a consideration. In a compound you don't want a lot of poundage. I think 25-45 is ideal. Some prefer slightly more, but I shoot almost all my fish with my bows set a 28-33lbs. The AMS Fishhawk is good, inexpensive bow. It only has 20% let-off, which means it 'snap shoots' easier. I like to have more let-off than that but I still keep a Fishhawk around for a back up bow. I shoot an oneida so I can still snap shoot even with 80% let off. Some of my friends have been getting the Mission menace and craze bows and using them for bowfishing. They're very good, sturdy, inexpensive and very adjustable bows.
See I didn't know the lingo. (stickbow - tamato tomato) The snap shot is what I was getting at. I don't think you can do that with a compound. Also I would think the release would be a pain to deal with when shooting fish. Funny I just bought my 8 yr old a menace maybe I should commandeer it for the summer. Still a bit much for me to shoot carp ($400 for the menace). By the way I live in Lockport and probably have run into you guys at the various shows (Illinois bow fishing).
You can use a compound without a release. Which is what I'd reccomend doing, unless your going after flying silvers. Then a release would be safer.
