Top_Heavy's World

We talked about the basics in equipment,so I thought we would take a look at our quarry. In most states it is legal to shoot rough fish, in some it is also legal to shoot catfish and several of the coastal states allow harvest of multiple species of saltwater fish. I live in Iowa and at it is legal to shoot rough fish only. Be sure to check your local laws before pursuing fish with a bow or a spear. German carp, those yellow colored fish that live about anywhere, are the most commonly found fish in traditional waters. White Amur, also known as Grass Carp have grown in population by leaps and bounds. They were believed to be sterile and were stocked in many lakes and ponds to help control aquatic vegetation. They are actually not sterile at all, they just need somewhat specific temps, oxygen levels and water conditions to hatch. I hunt a few river areas that have almost as many grassies as germans. Buffalo, quillback, suckers and gar round out the list of fairly common fish in Iowa waters.

German carp like this 40 plus pounder are not common, 5 to 15 pounders will be the norm in most locations. Germans love muddy, warm water. Backwaters, oxbows, shallow marshes and other low current areas are the best for old rubber lips. Often times the fish will be seen tailing and rolling in less than a foot of water, locations like this offer fantastic shooting.

Grass carp prefer current and clearer water. Many times these fish will be on the edges of the muddy water in the clearest water they can find. Grassies don't usually tail like the Germans but they do tail occasionally. They are seen rolling on their sides very often, but they are most often seen when they lay very near the surface with their fins and tails actually stickin out of the water. If you float onto a flat and the water boils in a bathtub sized wake, it was probably a Grass Carp. This fish is extremely powerful, requires good arrow penetration and big barbs on your arrows. We have taken many over 50 and a few over 60 pounds. The average for my marsh areas is about 20lbs and for my big lakes, average would be closer to 30lbs.
When the water is rising or the first few days of new water are best for bow fishing. The fish swarm to the newly covered grass and bushes, and the water is usually a little clearer in these areas. After a few weeks of high water, the fresh grass has been picked over and covered with silt, thus not nearly as productive. Great days like this one can be had regularly after a rise in the water depth. This is a mixed bag of Grass and German Carp.

This 20 foot john boat requires very little water to float silently, the foot controlled trolling motor, on the front, allows for hands free stealth, and the Beaver Tail mud motor is the best there is to get to the good spots. You don't need this much specialized equipment to enjoy a day of great fishing, but it sure makes it easier! I will move into more night fishing options in the next bowfishing journal. I hope you are as excited about spring bowfishing as I am!