Northwest Reel Life August 2023 Volume 2 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 32
If you own a high dollar bow,
there’s a good chance you don’t
want it getting banged and
bloodied up in the boat, if that’s
the case then there are plenty of
options out there for bows built
specifically for bowfishing.
Technique
Bowfishing is essentially a spot
and stalk hunt through the
shallows. You can drift slowly in
a boat, covering the ground as
you move though the water, or
you can anchor in a spot where
the fish are present and actively
feeding on vegetation. Another
method is to simply wade in the
water and get on your fish that
way. Whether in a boat or on
foot, the key difference between
bowfishing and land hunting is
that you won’t be using sights
when you aim at your target.
Bowfishing, for the most part, is
done with instinctive aiming. This
means that you look at the target,
aim, and shoot. This method
takes a bit of practice to become
proficient at, but most bow
fishermen will find that instinctive
shooting comes quite naturally
and is a quick and effective way to
get off shots.
Light refraction might be one of
the biggest challenges you face
when first getting started with
bowfishing. When light traveling
through air hits denser water,
it slows down and bends. This
causes the perceived image of
the fish we see in the water to be
above where the fish is actually
located. Because of this, you have
to aim low to get your shot on
target. Like instinctive shooting,
adjusting to light refraction takes
practice, but as you miss time
32 | NWFISHING.net
and time again, you’ll eventually
find that sweet spot and gain an
intuitive understanding of where
the arrow needs to go.
Common carp can be found all
over Washington state, but as with
many Washington fisheries, east
of the cascades seems to hold the
bulk of the hotspots for these fish.
Below is a list of lakes and ponds
where you can find common carp
throughout Washington State.
So, whether you’re an archery
hunter who’s spent a little too
much time day dreaming about
the fall hunt and is just itching
to go fling off some arrows, or if
you’re an angler who wants to
both diversify and add excitement
to their outdoor lifestyle,
bowfishing for Washington
common carp might be exactly
what you’re looking for.