Warmer temperatures, longer days and sleepless nights means only one thing to a Wisconsin angler, Spring fishing! I must admit I have had many sleepless nights lately dreaming of a monster walleye but what really gets me excited is the thought of fighting a 30+ lb carp on the end of my bow fishing rig. Bow fishing was introduced to me when I was about 13 years old by a neighbor that couldn't get enough of bow hunting during the fall so he turned to bow fishing during the spring and summer. I was immediately hooked and now enjoy introducing others to the sport, especially youth.
So what does it take to get into this sport? A lot less than you might be thinking. Believe it or not most bow fishing enthusiasts utilize a youth bow with a 25-40lb draw weight. Lighter draw bows are safer, are easier to hold for long periods of time, yet still provide the punch to bring in a 30+ pounder. Next you need a retrieval system which are numerous with most ranging in price from $40-$100.00. For beginners in Central Wisconsin, I recommend the Biron Dam in Wisconsin Rapids. It is a great place to shoot because you can easily navigate on foot from pool to pool looking for the spawning giants. Just like bow hunting move slowly as these creatures feel even the slightest vibration and often see you before you see them. If you decide to try from a boat you have endless possibilities such as Lake Wausau, the Eau Plaine Reservoir or the Mosinee flowage. Moving slowly in the shallows during the day with polarized glasses are the key. If you're a die hard like me the best time to shoot large numbers is from a boat at night. Night shooting is by far the most expensive to get into but once you try it you will never venture out during daylight hours again. I routinely shoot between 500-1000lbs of carp at night and always have the water to myself.
If you decide to give bow fishing a try I strongly recommend utilizing a guide service such as mine for your first outing. Guiding services provide the boat and equipment so you'll get a good idea of what you'll need to get started. Aside from providing the equipment a guide has no "secret spots". Carp are an invasive specie and are plentiful. Your buddy may not tell where he caught his limit of walleye but be assured bow fishermen will always tell you where to hunt the giants. With our short springs and summers you owe it to yourself to try something new, this year try bow fishing and don't be surprised if next spring all you can think about is giant carp!
Nick Simonis
Muddy Waters Bowfishing Guide Service
Mosinee, WI
www.muddywatersbowfishing.com