Well, January has finally arrived. For those of us here in the north, that means deer season is over and hard water (that's ice for our southern friends) is upon us. Although we still have ice fishing and small game hunting, I use this time to do inventory of my bowfishing gear and determine what upgrades I want so I’m ready by ice off.
Ice off is hands down some of the best shooting you will have all year. Fish are still schooled up and coming in to feed in warmer, shallower waters. That means it’s one of the best times to get on some of the biggest fish you will shoot in one location. As an added bonus, the water is so cold the fishes' metabolism is slowed down enough to make them sluggish. Often times, you can get multiple shots at the same fish without moving the boat.
Anyone who uses a foot controlled trolling motor knows that the Captain Morgan stance isn't comfortable. Steering with one foot and standing on the other goes out of favor within an hour or two. This is where the sexy stick comes in to help. The sexy stick (also referred to as a steer stick) attaches via a plate to the foot pedal. The plate has a welded stick that protrudes up in order to let the operator steer the boat comfortably while standing.
Fishing in a new area can be an extremely exciting venture, from spending time on the water to learning about where to fish and what to use to catch them. This experience can be even better when you're bowfishing. But what if you are completely new to the area and just don’t have time to figure it out where the fish are found? If you only have a day or two to go bowfishing, there is a very good chance that you could go home emptyhanded.
When it comes to bowfishing, the most important piece of gear for any outing is your bowfishing bow. And we’ve written about types of bows people use for bowfishing before. Unfortunately, many people do not have the money to go out and buy a brand new bowfishing setup. Fortunately, this isn’t a big problem because if you have an old hunting bow laying around, you can easily convert it into your new bowfishing bow!