58 >BOWHUNTER APRIL/MAY 2015AUTHOR’S PHOTOSA
OVER the last 30 years, bow-
fishing equipment has not really
changed all that dramatically. Te
standard fiberglass arrow and typical
barbed head are still the most common
items you will see in use today. Although
there have been some additions and
modifcations, the basics still work, and
they work very well. Some new point
designs, like the Muzzy Alcatraz, have
come about recently that specifcally ad-
dress the sof-fesh fsh (bighead and sil-
ver carp) issues with increased barb size
and/or specifc tip designs that reduce
lost fsh from tear-ofs, but your stan-
dard setups still work very well.
One of the biggest changes in modern
equipment is in the reel system. Previ-
ously, most bowfshermen were limited
to using a hand-wrap/drum-style reel,
a retriever-style bottle reel, or a repur-
posed spincast fshing-type reel on their
bows to retrieve their line and fsh. Now
there are some purposely built, heavy-
duty spincast reels being produced and
marketed specifically for the sport of
bowfishing. In particular, companies
like Muzzy have definitely been the
leader in the spincast-type bowfshingreel market, and they are currently the
only provider of a heavy-duty, bowfsh-
ing-specifc reel. Tese are far more than
just standard spincast reels with heavy
line installed. Tey have been designed
to handle the extra strain of the heavy
Spectra-type lines we use for bowfsh-
ing, along with beefed-up drag systems,
internals, increased line capacity, stron-
ger mounting options, and the ability to
withstand handling heavy fsh as well.
Currently, there are two options in this
feld — the original pushbutton reel that
attaches to a standard reel seat screwed
into the stabilizer hole on your bow and
spooled with your favorite bowfshing
line. And a new model called the XD
Pro, which has a unique lever system line
release to eliminate pushbutton issues
and line hang-ups, plus a rugged, inte-
grated bow-mounting bracket attached
to the reel frame. Te XD Pro comes pre-
spooled with 150-lb. Spectra line, so all the
user has to do is bolt the reel to his or her
bow, tie on the arrow, and get to fshing.
Along with changes in reel design has
been the plethora of ready-to-use bow-
fshing kits that include everything a per-
son needs to start out bowfshing. Tesekits can be found in both compound and
recurve setups, and typically include a
reel, arrow rest, line, fnger guards for the
bowstring, and of course, arrows. Once
set up, the user can hit the water with ev-
erything he or she needs to enjoy a day or
night of bowfshing. Most of these kits
are very good, and they are suitable for all
kinds of bowfshing.
Many new or frst-time users will ap-
preciate the simplicity and light weight
of a recurve setup. With the availability
of some newer model kits, like Muzzy’s
Addict Bowfishing Kit, these can be
great choices that will last for a long
time. One of the biggest advantages to
the recurve systems, besides their ease
of use and simplicity, is the lower draw
weights making them ideal for any level
shooter, from new to seasoned.
Compound setups are also available
that include everything you need, and
many of them ofer a wide range of draw-
weight adjustability, so they can be set up
to ft any shooter and deliver the perfor-
mance needed when chasing those big-
ger fsh species.
Tings to keep in mind when select-
ing new equipment:
Look at proven, tested designs, and go
with those items because they will usually
give you the most consistent performance
on the water. Tere are a lot of gimmicks
on the market, even in the bowfshing
world, so stick with what works.
Keep it simple! Bowfishing is usu-
ally rough on equipment, so there’s no
need to have fnely tuned, delicate gear
that you have to baby, or that won’t
hold up when put through the rigors of
most bowfshing situations. Keep it rug-
ged, sturdy and simple, and you will be
spending more time on the water, and
less time at home fxing equipment.Ask Bowhunter
Q
I HAVE BEEN out of the bowfshing arena for a decade or so and I want to
get back into it. Can you update me on what’s new as far as gear and
equipment? Greg S., GeorgiaYou don’t need a fancy boat or
elaborate gear to enjoy bowfshing, but you
should choose tough, time-tested equipment.
The Muzzy XD
Pro Reel is built
to take the abuse
of bowfshing.