Bowfishing is quite different in that fish are first spotted and then shot at with a bow or crossbow. Because water refracts bends light waves, connecting with a fish is harder than you might think. The deeper the fish is in the water, the more distorted it will appear and the harder it is to tell its exact location.
The angler must compensate for this refraction, making the shot more difficult. Fish can be successfully pursued during the day, but many people bowfish at night when fish are often more active and more visible than in the daylight. Today, halogen lights powered by a gas generator or LED lights are commonly used. Bowfishers without boats use handheld lights along the banks or other vantage points.
Moonlight alone does not provide sufficient light for locating and properly identifying fish. The moon phase and water clarity play an important role in bowfishing. During a full moon, fish are typically more skittish because they feel more exposed, which can make it more difficult to get close to them.
During a new moon it is often easier to get close to them as they feel more hidden in the dark. The same goes for water clarity — the clearer the water, the more difficult it can be to get close to fish even though you can see them better. The opposite is true of murky or turbid waters. Because fish are pursued by sight and most legal fish are bottom feeders, slowly cruising the shores and still backwaters are generally most productive for bowfishing.
Fish will typically be seen feeding in the substrate, along the shore, or just loafing. Smooth, still water is most conducive for proper fish identification and shooting; choppy water makes it more difficult.
During the day, the use of polarized sunglasses reduces glare on the water and enhances visibility. Nongame fish are pursued and harvested at significantly lower rates than game fish, so their populations are typically abundant.
MDC conducts some dedicated management for species like alligator gar, working to restore these fish to their former native habitat in southeastern Missouri in recent years.
Invasive species control helps to protect native fish species in Missouri waterways. These invasive species include:. Regulations and other public awareness initiatives to prevent invasive species from inhabiting new waters are ongoing. Regulations permit unlimited harvest with few restrictions on these invasive species since their total eradication would be ideal.
Access to large lakes, reservoirs, and rivers provide the best opportunity and success for bowfishing. Try large waters by way of MDC accesses, or consider one of the suggested areas below. Choose from traditional recurve bows , compound bows and crossbows to find what tools best suit your purposes, and add a sense of stealth and finesse to your hunting skills. Before heading out into the wild, it's important to get the necessary amount of practice in for learning or for maintaining your skills.
Archery games like archery targets and other archery accessories provide simple target practice and help you focus on aiming with precision and accuracy. Bull's-eyes, animal replicas and block targets are all available to help you hone your skills. Use youth small frame bows to help train younger archers.
Hunting Accessories.
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