BAA News
Gear Reviews
How to’s
Volume 1
BOWFISHERS OF ARKANSAS EARLY SEASON WEEKEND MEMBER FISH STORIES STOMP IN THE SWAMP www.Bowfishingassociation.com
Destination’s
June 2011
!"#$%&'%()*+&&",%-.%"(
Bowfishing
Editorial
Volume 1
Fish Dumping
The
Association
June 2011
Editorial Staff Editor in Chief Jeff Sagehorn
Managing Editor Mike McCombie
contributing Editors Joe Nichols Jason Greer Amanda Nichols Justin Harris Richard Vance
Josh Watson Mark Lee Robert Rice Bob Beneteau Brady Miller
contributing Companies Bowfishingcountry.com American Eagle Bows Gulf Coast Archery 5150 Bows CarpBusters.com
BAA Board Members Mark Lee President Alan Yedor Vice President Lisa Dunkle Sec/Treasurer Charles Kupfer Marketing Dir. Jason Greer State Rep Mgr Amanda Nichols Points Chairman Jeff Sagehorn Editor in chief Aaron Senn Record Keeper
Cover Photo by Maglite
Bowfishingassociation.com
.................Again!
I Know we touched on this last issue but since then we have had so many cases of fish dumping I thought it would be worth mentioning again. It seems like every sunday or monday when I log in at bowfishingcountry.com I come across at least one case of fish dumping from someones weekend fish trip, and in many cases the fish being dumped are being dumped right at the boat ramps. This kind of unethical, illegal and pure laziness will be the undoing of our sport. I know most of you reading this are responsible bowfishermen and sportsman, but unfortunately we are all going to get lumped in with this individuals that are either to ignorant or flat lazy to take care of their nights catch. What’s this mean to the responsible bowfishermen? We better get better at educating the newcomers to our sport or we may new up losing our rights to bowfish certain waters. And if you think that can’t happen, you’d be dead wrong! The more people complain, the more the local politicians will think of new and creative ways to restrict us right out of the sport we love. If we all just made an effort to try talk to bowfishermen in our area we might be able to curb this trend that seems to be getting worse at an alarming rate. If some of you are coming across these dumped fish at your favorite ramp it might be worth it to drive by some of these places around dusk on a friday and saturday night in a attempt to find and educate these newcomers to the proper (legal) way to dispose of their fish. I know it might be hit or miss at best but to me it seems worth it to help preserve the sport we love. You might also want to think about making/putting signs regarding the legality of dumping fish in your area.......signed your local Bowfishing club. Something like that would work as an educational tool for the newcomers while showing the general public we do not condone this kind of illegal activity. So Instead of sitting back and doing nothing lets all try to be a little more active in preserving our sport.
The
Bowfishing Association
Volume 1
06 12 16 18 22 32 39 42 54 56
June 2011
s n m Colu
s e r u t a e F
Letter From The President By Mark Lee
Lever Addiction By Justin Harris
Hot Products By Jeff Sagehorn
State Rep Profiles By Jason Greer
BAA News By Mike McCombie
Pro Shop By Bob Beneteau “BowBob”
Recipes
28 36 40 46 52
Stomp in the Swamp By Mark Lee
Bowfishers of Arkansas By Mark Lee
Fish Stories By Amy Young
An Early Season Weekend By Josh Hether
Fish Stories By Travis Goodhue
By Bowfishingcountry
BAA Photo Story
By Redneck Airboats
Quick Draw Product Review By Josh Watson
Members Boats
By Bowfishingcountry
Photo by Crackcorn
Cover Photo Contest To submit photos for cover photo contest send your photos to : jeffs@bowcountry.com by submitting photos you authorize the BAA to reproduce these photos
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
By Mark Lee
Would you believe this is a road!!
Well, here we go again…..Some parts of the country is in drought, and others are bowfishing by their deer stands. This year the weather has taken a toll again on different parts of the country, my state (Arkansas) included. We got hit with a tornado in Vilonia, Arkansas as well as other counties around Arkansas with total devastation to the areas who are still trying to get their life back to the way it was. Within a week of the tornados, we got flooding that reached levels not seen since before the lock and dams were put in on our river systems. The White River came out of its banks and reached places, well, let’s just say that people where parking their boats on the courthouse lawn…..literally…..I went to the deer lease just south of Des Arc on Wednesday, ( a week after the flooding started) and got to within ½ mile of our gate and the waters were over 3 feet deep on the road. Needless to say, I still haven’t seen the gate yet. With our story here in Arkansas, the pattern has spread across the south in different states, including Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, and a few others impacted by either the floods and/or tornado’s. A couple of guys in the bowfishing community saw all this devastation
created by Mother Nature, and decided to try to do something through the bowfishing community to help. David Zaborsk, and Ryan Sparkman. These guys decided to try to put on a benefit tournament to donate all proceeds to the American Red Cross to help with whatever they could acquire from the bowfishing community to help out people in need who do not necessarily bowfish, or who may not even be interested in any outdoor activity. They just wanted to help where they could with the best way that they could. These guys have never put on a large tournament, and quite frankly were a little nervous when I spoke with them considering how much support they were getting from all across the bowfishing world, but as with all things, they will come out fine, especially with all the support that they have received, and with the guys and girls who will attend, they too will help the guys out to make it a smooth event! The Manufacturers and Suppliers really have stepped up with prizes and donations to help raise money, as well as some organizations. The BAA has donated Sanctioning for the event ($75.00), two memberships for the guys ($80.00), one-‐half of the April membership drive proceeds ($400.00), and ten 50% off of Maui Jim Sunglasses Cards redeemable from Maui Jim in Hawaii
Letter From the President Bowfishingassociation.com
www.southernstylebowfishing.com ($1,000.00 min, could go as high as $1,500.00 depending upon the glasses you order!) The total amount donated by the members of the BAA came up to a minimum of $1,500.00 to show that we think David and Ryan are representing the bowfishing community in a great way with a great idea! As a member of the BAA, you may or may not live in an area that was affected, or you may have lost everything being in one of the many affected areas, but monies from the membership goes to events as well as other events throughout the year to help support the sport of Bowfishing. We sponsor as an organization kids to go to camps, we help with the Sportsman Alliance, and we also host different expo events throughout the country during different parts of the year. For the cost of a few arrows, your support in the organization helps fund all these things every year.
to get the word out faster for the Organization instead of me having to try to contact all of them along with the other things I have to try to do. We have a very energetic Points Chairman who is staying on top of all the sanctioned events, and helping with any other problems that may arise. We have a guy who is in the process of listing a current fish records division for the site. And one more important thing we have this year is of course what your reading now…..courtesy of the Editor in Chief and his staff who work hard to put together the E-‐Journal so we can get information out to the members. Having the E-‐Journal done electronically costs the Organization nothing financially, but Man hours are many! These guys feel that the direction of the E-‐Journal has helped tremendously with the lay-‐out ( a color version, and now the video capabilities within a page!) and the content in which we can get out to the members with a click of a button! All of these changes are done for the bowfishing community by BAA members willing to devote their time to make sure that we have a great organization to support the sport of bowfishing! This was supposed to be short, but by now…..well….everyone knows that for me, this is a short one! Good Luck this year, and hopefully your fishing adventures will be prosperous….. and not perilous! Sincerely, Mark w. Lee President, BAA
New this year is our Board of Directors who help expedite decisions to make these things possible, as well as a Manager over the State Reps who is able
Letter From the President Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
On Saturday June 25th. 2011 the Seventh Annual Youth World Bowfishing Championship will be held at Toppers Boat Ramp just outside Wagoner, Oklahoma. Ages 1 thru 18 allowed for this event however kids that were 18 years of age on Jan. 1st 2011 will be allowed to shoot this tournament so you can be 19 and shoot this tournament. We have 3D targets for the youth just to small to bowfish but remember its a bowfishing championship so if a division lets say 4 thru 6 a youth takes a fish but no others in that division takes a fish the youth that took a fish is first place the other places will come off the 3D range. Our age groups are 1 thru 3 , 4 thru 6, 7 thru 9, 10 thru 12, 13 thru 15, 16 thru 18 years of age. Then we have divisions champs with all the girls together then division champs with all the boys together, We also have 4 species of big fish with 3 places in each for Gar, Drum, Carp and Buffalo. Then we have the big part overall World Champs this is all the youth shooters together we give away 1st thru 5th. places. Time is from 7:00 am till 4:00 pm then shooter have till 4:30 pm to check-in. Last year we had 8 states shoot this tournament with 379 shooters we fed over 1200 people. The cost is FREE!!!!!!!! Thats right it cost nothing to enter and nothing to eat come on down this year and join the largest youth bowfishing tournament in the nation.
For better outdoors take a kid hunting & fishing it's our future. Randy
!"#$%&'%()*+&&",%-.%"(
!"#$%&'%()*+&&",%-.%"(
!"#$$%&'(!)#"*(+,-.%//%)& !"#$%&'()(*%)(+ ,"--*./(01(2#)3451(6 789"./(01(2#)3451(6
!"#$%&'%()*+&&",%-.%"(
By: Justin “Anonym” Harris, AREA 5150 Staff
Welcome back to our “Lever Addiction”! These technical articles are designed to help you understand your lever-action bow; whether it’s an Oneida, Firebrand, Monster, or Area 5150; and learn some basic items that you can do to keep your bow in optimal condition. In the past, this style of bow has been greatly misunderstood with many thinking they are overly complicated and difficult to tune and maintain. Lever Addiction is dedicated to debunking these myths and helping to understand this mechanical marvel! In our premiere article, we were introduced to and given a brief history of the leveraction bow and discussed a few ways in which you can adjust the draw weight of your bow. We would like to continue with discussing three other fundamental areas of a lever-action bow ownership: draw length and letoff adjustment, string replacement, and general maintenance items.
With the introduction of the module system with the I-Cam, which has carried over into the K-Cam, changing draw lengths and let-offs within the range of the cam has been a snap! The modules are a molded plastic piece held into recess on the cam by a setscrew. The modules will have a number or letter molded or written in paint pen which correspond to a set draw length and let-off combination.
Draw Length and Let-off Adjustments: Before Oneida introduced the module system to the ICam in the early 1990’s, lever-action bows were not owner adjustable in terms of draw length and let-off. These early bows had a cam, cable, and string configuration that produced a draw length where the “valley” of the draw covered a 2-inch range. Depending on your shooting style determined whether you wanted your bow to hit your desired draw length at the front or the back of the valley. These bows were also restricted to a specific let-off amount with the earliest bows only achieving 50% let-off, with bows starting in 1989 reaching up to 65% let-off.
By using a chart for your specific bow and cam, you can select a module that will give you the desired let-off amount in your draw length. These charts are available online and probably at most lever-bow dealers. Information can be easy to obtain as well on most online forums where members are familiar with these bows.
free. Do not attempt to pry the module from the recess by the “tail” of the module, as this may damage the module or break the “tail” off, resulting in an altered feel to the module. All modules (2 on “pylon” model bows such as the TomCat and AeroForce, 4 on “split cam” model bows such as the Black Eagle and the Osprey) must be replaced at the same time with all modules matching to obtain the desired draw length and let-off. The Oneida Stealth is slightly different in its method of adjustment. Draw lengths are also selected by a module
After selecting the desired module, the swap is as simple as loosening the retaining set-screw, sliding one set of modules out and inserting the new set into the cam it their place, securing with the setscrew once in place. If a module does not slip out easily, applying pressure to the “nose” of the module will usually slip the module
Bowfishingassociation.com
on the cam. These modules are fabricated of machined aluminum and held in place by a small Phillips head screw. The Stealth’s let-off is adjusted by a set-screw in the “cross bar” between the split cams in factory form, or by slight adjustments to the limbmounted draw stops on bows so equipped. Very minor changes in these adjustment points can create significant adjustments in let-off, so adjustment must be approached with caution. By allowing too much cam
rotation (i.e.: adjusting the setscrew or draw stops out too far) will result in
achieving “lock-up”, where the bow must be forced back into the rest position. A properly tuned Stealth is capable of obtaining and maintaining extremely high let-off amounts (over 90%). The camless lever bows, such as the Oneida Discovery, all Firebrand Technology bows, and the Monster Phoenix and Dragon bows, were adjusted in a different manner altogether. An adjustable saddle system mounted on the outboard (recurved) limb allows for various draw lengths on this style of bow . As a general rule-of-thumb, moving the
power cable closer to the string will result in a shorter draw length while moving it closer to the limb’s hinge will produce longer draw lengths. In order to make these adjustments, the draw weight must be reduced to a point where there is slack in the cable system prior to attempting to make the adjustments (remember, 2 turns per limb at a time, alternating limbs). Both
saddles must be in the same position prior to drawing the bow to avoid an undesirable draw and potential damage to the bow. Once the adjustment is made, increase the draw weight to the desired amount and verify the adjustment. Let-off adjustment on these bows is identical to the Stealth using the limb-mounted draw stop, and lock-ups are also possible, so approach adjustments with caution. String Replacement: Lever action bows take pride in giving the owner full advantage of adjustability and maintenance without the need of a bow “press”. In order to replace a worn string on this style of bow, there are two acceptable methods. The first method is by reducing the draw weight on the bow until there is enough slack in the system that the old string can be removed and the new string installed. Once installed, the bow weight may then be brought back to the desired level. The second method is also just as easy, and also eliminates the need for readjustment once the string has been replaced. All you need are two 1-inch wooden dowels, but broom or hammer handles and even similarly sized sticks can work in a pinch! Just make sure they are similarly shaped and sized and you will be good to go. Once you have these items available, draw your bow and have a buddy insert one of the dowels between the power limb and the outboard limb on both sides of the bow. If no one is available, simply step on the string of your bow and raise the riser until the bow is at full draw. Holding the bow in this position, use your free hand to insert the dowels as directed above. As you slowly let your bow down, the dowels will wedge between the limbs and be held in place by the yoke cables, keeping your bow at partial draw. This will allow enough slack in the string to be removed and replaced with the new string. Once the new string is in place, simply pull the bow back to full draw and tilt sideways
to allow the dowels to fall free, or pull the bow back to full draw with the string securely under your foot,
remove the dowels, and slowly lower the bow back the at-rest position. A word of caution using the second method if you’re doing this alone is making sure the string is securely under your foot before drawing the bow. If the string should slip, your bow may be damaged as it would from a “dry fire”. Also be aware of the ground conditions as you do not want anything on the ground to cause damage to your string while stepping on it (i.e.: a sharp rock or edge that may cut or fray the string). General Maintenance Items: As with any bow, general maintenance is an excellent way to keep your bow in top shape and performing as it should. Here are a few tips that are worth the time to do: •
Regularly inspect your string and cables. Look for severed strands or excessive fraying on strings and fast-flight cabling and replace them as necessary. Inspect string loops for severed or excessive fraying on the serving as this may indicate a sharp edge on the limb or cable stay. Be sure to wax your string and fast-flight cabling on a regular basis to ensure longevity.
•
Inspect steel cables by lightly rubbing a cotton ball along them. Any picking of the
Bowfishingassociation.com
cotton by the cables indicates failing or failed strands and should be replaced. Cable failure rarely presents warning and can cause undue damage to other components when they do fail. After inspection, spray the swab with light penetrating oil such as WD-40 and rub over the cables to help with corrosion and friction. •Lubricate your hinges by applying light penetrating oil such as WD-40 to a cotton swab and rubbing it over the “knuckles” on the back sides of each hinge. Wipe away any excessive oil and work it into the hinge by drawing your bow several times. Do not spray or drip oil directly onto the hinge as it will inevitably work between the hinge and the limbs and create potential problems such as hinge “pop” or limb shift. •While the draw weight of the bow is lowered for string/cable replacement or otherwise, take time to wipe clean and add fresh grease to the limb bolts. White lithium grease is a recommended favorite! Summary: We hope you have enjoyed our second installment of “lever addiction. Join us again in our next episode for a complete listing of lever-action bows!
Justin Teaching the next generation
Bowfishingassociation.com
Photo By Cpl.Ryan Carpenter
Bowfishingassociation.com
RedLine Welding and Fabrication Redline welding and fabrication builds customs light housings designed for the tough riggers of bowfishing. • Heavy Duty Mounts. • Fully Tig Welded • Light Sockets Pre Installed
Alpine Archery Mako The Alpine Mako earned its name on a research and development trip to the big blue Pacific Ocean where, during its maiden voyage, it successfully subdued the infamous Mako shark! With the ever expanding demand for bowfishing bows, Alpine has launched into the current bowfishing market. The Alpine Mako is fitted with a CNC machined riser, stylish limb pocket, and CNC machined cam. The cam has 7 inches of draw length adjustment to fit almost any age of bowfisherman. Total mass weight of the Mako is right at 3 pounds, keeping your set-up lightweight for a full day of arrow flinging. Be on top of the food chain when you enter the water with an Alpine Mako. * Mass weight: 3 pounds. * Axle to Axle: 30.75 inches. * Brace height: 6.5 inches. * Draw weights:40, 50, 60 pounds. * Cam: Radial Force C * Draw lengths: 24”-30" * Limbs: Bi-Flex composite limb, Blue, and waterdrops * Cable Guard Straight mounted carbon. * Sight window 8.25” single plane window with Ruckus medalion. * Pocket: LX Pocket Mounting System. * Riser Color: Blue, and waterdrops * Grip: 2 piece rose wood. * Let-off: 65%
Bowfishingassociation.com
Sexy Stick........ steer sticks Distributed exclusively by East Texas Archery, the Sexy Stick will convert your awkward trolling motor foot pedal to a push pull style steering. • No More Sore Backs. • Light Weight Aluminum design • Several Models To Choose From
Fannman Customs
Epoxy rests are the thing of the past!!! The new version of the Fannman rest is fully CNC Machined giving the new version much tighter tolerances guaranteeing your arrow will track true. And unlike epoxy it can easily be removed from your bow. • Easily Removable. • Fully CNC Machined • True Arrow Track
Bowfishingassociation.com
Protecting the rights of Bowfishermen since 1990
BAA
Bowfishing Association of America
State Rep Bio’s BAA Missouri State Tim Hunter
My name is Tim Hunter . I am the BAA State Rep for Missouri, I live in New Madrid in the southeast corner ( Bootheel) of the state. I farm for a living & grow cotton,corn,wheat & soybeans.
I have been bowfishing for about 18 years. I started out bowfishing by wading the backwaters of the Mississippi. The only problem with that is the river has to back out of it’s banks to be able to shoot fish and you have to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. This can be very frustrating because you have to wait on the river to do it’s thing & I had looooong periods when I just could not bowfish . I learned some on my own & made a lot of mistakes. Then one day I got a catalogue from Sullys Bowfishing Stuff !! It changed my life forever !! LOL I called the number on the catalogue & actually got to talk to ole Sully himself. I learned a lot from Lance because every time I would order something I would quiz him about everything I could think of. Then one day he mentioned tournaments & fishing out of boats with lights & generators. I just couldn’t believe it !! I could go bowfishing any time I wanted if I rigged a boat up. He also mentioned some websites on the internet .One was the BAA & the other was what would eventually become Bowfishing Country. These sites had a wealth of knowlege & hundreds of guys willing to answer even the simplest questions. Many of these guys are now the leaders & state reps of the BAA. Well I couldn’t have fallen in with a finer bunch of folks , many of which are very good friends now. They have taught me practically everything I know about bowfishing & I am here now to give back. The BAA is about promoting the sport of bowfishing & protecting the rights of bowfishermen. We have to protect our sport if we would like to continue to bowfish the waters of this country. We are about getting rid of trash fish & envasive species. There are many that would like bowfishing to be banned & they try to put bowfishing in a bad light. It is our job to make the general public understand that bowfishing is good for the environmental quality of our rivers & lakes. And…………………… If we can have a little fun doing it ,that’s ok too !! Tim Hunter MO BAA State Rep.
Bowfishingassociation.com
BAA
Bowfishing Association of America
State Rep Bio’s BAA Pennsylvania State Rep Bill Simbeck Hello to all! My name is Bill Simbeck. I am one of the two state reps for Pennsylvania. I have been bowfishing for about the last twenty-two years. I became the BAA rep in 1991. In that amount of time I have shot tournaments, some finishing good and some not so good. I've set up tables at various archery shoots and sport shows and did a few seminars. Two of the best shoots I did was for the Trail Blazer program for the boy scouts and a benefit shoot for the Hunt of a Life Time. I'm married with two grown kids,and a golden retriever, Cooper. I run a seventeen foot Bass Tracker boat converted into a bowfishing boat. My favorite bow is a 60# pse raven recurve with a AMS reel, safety slides and a muzzy tip.
Bowfishingassociation.com
The fourth annual Jarrod Ashmore kids bowfishing tournament,JUNE THE 19 BARKLEY DAM PAVILLION,LAKECITY KY. This tournament is totally free to all kids under the age of 18,this is not a target shooting event this is a fish shooting event!!!!!!We try to hold this shoot at the best possible time to take advantage of the asian carp,every year these young men and ladies shoot several thousands of pounds of fish,and gain memories for a lifetime!!!!! We break this shoot up into age groups *** - 8 9-12 13-17....... All children who attend this tournament walk away winners! I would like to thank all the sponsors of this tournament without them there is noway we could host this tournament,and the men and women who step up and help us out, thank you........The Bowfishing association of America is a major sponsor of this tournament. Any qustions please contact.......Andy Cardwell 270-836-8550
Bowfishingassociation.com
!"#$%&'%()*+&&",%-.%"(
Upcoming events 2011 BAA Sanctioned Events
March 26—Down River Bowfishing Association (DRBA) 4th Annual Tough Man Patoka Lake, IN April 9—Randy Morder Memorial Tournament April 9th Georgia State Shoot April 16—Possum Kingdom Shootout April 16—Illinois Bowfishers Billy Davis Memorial Tournament Rend Lake, IL April 30-May 1st 12 Annual Muzzy Classic April 30—Illinois Bowfishers Carlyle Lake Tournament May 14—Down River Bowfishing Association (DRBA) Lakes/Tailwaters Tournament May 21—Down River Bowfishing Association (DRBA) 1st Annual Chic Shoot Lakes/ Tailwaters May 21—Illinois Bowfishers Carlyle Lake Tournament June 4—Illinois Bowfishers Wolf Creek Access Tournament June 19th—4th Jarrod Ashmore Kids Tournament Barkley Dam Pavillion, Lake City KY June 25—7th Annual Youth Bowfishing Championship Wagoner Oklahoma July 9—Down River Bowfishing Association (DRBA) Hovey Lake Tournament August 13-14 AMS Big 30 August 27-- Down River Bowfishing Association (DRBA) Lakes Only Tournament
Bowfishingassociation.com
This year has brought many new and exciting changes to the BAA. The Board reconfiguration, the new E-Journal, new website, and new relationships with many dealers and manufacturers.........What? What do you mean relationships with manufacturers? I hear this statement from more and more bowfishermen and it still amazes me to think there are bowfishermen out there(some BAA members) that donʼt realize that BAA Members receive discounts on bowfishing.......and hunting gear through various dealers and manufacturers. In many cases bowfishermen could more than pay for their annual BAA Membership with just one or two purchases. To answer a question commonly heard from many bowfishermen: “why should I join the BAA” “Whatʼs in it for me” Let me give you a quick answer to that question. As a BAA member you get to be a part of a group of bowfishermen dedicated to helping educate and preserve your rights to bowfish( yes itʼs a right) and there is strength in numbers! You also receive Discounts from these fine Dealers and manufacturers ;-) East Texas Archery: 10% discount of all Bowfishing and Bowhunting related gear(except bows) including there world famous Gardgod Strings http://www.easttexasarchery.com Hawglite Products: 10% discount on al hawglite products http://www.hawglite.com/ American Airboats: 10% discount on parts and accessories. http://www.americanairboats.com/ Redneck Airboats: 10% discount on hulls, trailers, and custom aluminum work. 7% discount to regular members. http://www.redneckairboats.com/ Muzzy Products: 10% when ordering directly from Muzzy Products www.muzzy.com Gulf Coast Archery: 10% off on bow builds and film dips. http://www.5150bows.com/ American Eagle bows: 5% discount http://www.oneidabows.net Gar Guys: 10% off all DVDʼs http://www.garguys.com/ And the list is constantly growing :-) I would to personally thank all the great sponsors for there generosity and support. You make this sport great!
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
!"#$%&'%()*+&&",%-.%"(
Your world. See the brilliance.
Welcome to color. mauijim.com
For more information or for a retail location near you, please call 1-888-Maui Jim (1-888-628-4546) or visit us at mauijim.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
UNDER TH For the
D E 12TH ANNUAL L L E C N MUZZY CA CLASSIC
first time since it始s conception the Muzzy Classic had to be cancelled due to the devastating tornados that ripped through the town of Guntersville a few days prior to the event. The Muzzy Classic is no stranger to adverse weather. Last year two tornados blew through right at the start of the event making for some very interesting( to say the least) fishing conditions. And even though this tornado came though two days prior to the event, the amount of destruction was unprecedented. The F-5 tornado blew right through the Guntersville on it始s way up through Georgia and Tennessee destroying everything in it始s path. Houses, businesses, boats and marina始s, nothing stood a chance in the face of such an awesome power! Whole communities were completely devastated by this tornado leaving the city of Guntersville no choice but to institute a curfew starting a dark and restricting much of the incoming traffic to locals only. It was a very tough but necessary decision by the people at Muzzy Products to postpone the tournament until the second weekend of June, giving the city of Guntersville some time to recover from this natural disaster. They realize this decision inconvenienced several teams that had already arrived in Guntersville to begin scouting for the event, but in light of the massive amounts destruction sustained in that area it was clearly the right thing to do. You can find more info on the rescheduling of the 12th Annual Muzzy Classic at http://bow.fishingcountry.com/ forums/showthread.php?7401-Muzzy-Classic-II-Updated-Starting-order-for-June-11-amp-12
UNDER THE LIGHTS Bowfishingassociation.com
E LIGHTS TORNADO DISASTER RELIEF TOURNAMENT The massive F-5 tornado that struck the southern states devastated hundreds of square miles and countless families. The massive tornado left a path of destruction over a mile wide in some places and over 200 miles long. The damage caused by this one tornado is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, but is nothing compared to the loss of human life. With the death toll in the hundreds this tornado is one of the deadliest in history. The number of families and communities effected by this storm is unimaginable. Sitting here typing this........with food, power, running water, internet itʼs easy to forget some only a hundred miles away have lost everything! Theyʼve lost there homes, cars, all their possessions.........But worst of all theyʼve lost loved ones. Itʼs a helpless feeling for those directly effected as well as people on the outside looking in. Many people want to help but donʼt know what they can do. A group of members on Bowfishingcountry.com as well as several manufacturers and the BAA have decide to they want to help! They will hosting a Bowfishing tournament on Lake Guntersville the weekend of .............. All proceeds from the event will go to the American Red Cross. In addition to the many donations that manufacturers have sent, the BAA will be donating memberships, sanctioning for the event as well as 50% of all the membership fees brought in during our April Membership Drive. We at the BAA realize that this tragedy goes far deeper than just our bowfishing community and would like to express our sincerest sympathies to all the people that were effected both directly or indirectly by this disaster.
U N D E R T H E L I G H T Bowfishingassociation.com S
Every year on the 4th weekend of July, the BAA hosts a World Championship for the members of the BAA. Anyone can attend this event, but you do have to be a member to actually participate in the World Championship. The World Championship is the only tournament hosted by the BAA officers for the year. The process starts at the current World Championship meeting when members start talking of places they would like to see the worlds go the following year. In August, the month following the conclusion of the previous World Championship, members start submitting their Worlds Packet in to the officers for them to get set up and prepared to be viewed. Starting the month of September the members take the whole month to carefully consider all options offered. On October 1st, members have the whole month to decide which location they would like to cast their vote for with all the places that were listed since August. Voting ends on the last day of October, and the location most voted for is hosting the World Championship for the following year. If that location has any problems or cannot host the World Championship, the second runner up will host the World Championship for that year. As the case of last year with the oil spill down in Louisiana, the World Championship was moved to the location that was picked 2nd. This was the first year in the history of the BAA that the Worlds had to be moved. I know this process seems complicated at first as to how best pick the location of the Worlds for the next year, but as with all ideas, the initial run of this idea was done without the different months leading up to the voting month, and there were issues that arose during the month of the voting. Those issues made the process start in August now, with the voting month being October, with September being the month for members to spend deciding where they want to vote in October. Now‌.Once you vote in October, that is where your vote will stay. There is no going back and changing your mind, or contacting an officer
Bowfishingassociation.com
and stating that you meant to vote A, but pressed B., mainly because you have had 2 months to decide where you wanted your vote to go. This year, the Worlds was voted to return back to Lafitte, Louisiana, one year after the oil spill by a majority of the members. This body of water is unlike any other in the country with the vast amount of water, and species of fish to hunt! The waters in the marshes of Louisiana provide pristine conditions for anyone who enjoys the sport of bowfishing! Hosting a World Championship in this region of the Country allows people a chance to experience waters where fresh and saltwater species co-mingle within a short drive of each other. This type of waters is referred to as brackish. Only down here will you have the opportunity to harvest hundreds of small garfish in the same waters where you may see an Alligator Gar over 7 foot long, with shrimp swimming in your light field! The opportunities are unlimited! Registration for the World Championship started on May 1st, and will continue until the day of the Worlds. Entry fee will be $200.00 for the World Championship which will enter you into both the Numbers and Big 20, and there will be an additional $25.00 entry fee for the overall largest fish harvested during the event. This is an optional entry for the overall big fish, but most enter into the big fish pot simply for the fact that anyone has the opportunity to harvest the largest fish in the event! The Worlds pays out 3 places for Numbers, and 3 places for Big 20 both being crowned as World Champions in their respective class. For more information concerning the World Championship 2011, go to www.bowfishingassociation.com , www.bowfishingcountry.com or contact one of the Officers -Mark Lee mwl5025@yahoo.com -501-730-3169 Alan Yedor yedor@cox.net 504-382-0767 Lisa Dunkle bowfishinchick@yahoo.com 479-280-9805
Bowfishingassociation.com
2011 BAA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOWFISHING TOURNAMENT “LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER!” (LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!)
July 23rd from 6pm – 8am
•
Location:
•
C&M Fuel Docks Lafitte, Louisiana
•
•
•
Trailering Allowed 10 Gator Gar Limit per team for big 20. Redfish will not count or be weighed Entry fee gets your team entered in both divisions 2 or 3 person
TWO FORMATS: CAJUN ARCHERY NUMBERS AND AMS BIG 20 MUZZY OVERALL BIG FISH POT(OPTIONAL) *Teams will leave in the order they register *Entry fee is $200.00 Per team (up to 3 people per team) *An optional $25-per team big fish pot for the largest fish of the tournament will be collected separately. *A minimum of 3 places will be paid back in each division and a winner crowned in both. *Participants may win both divisions
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
Cam's Part 1 by Bob Beneteau
Two things on a compound bow that generate a lot of feedback from buyers are risers and cams. A good friend who spent most of his career in archery said if your riser is not sexy, it won't sell. He also said the more aggressive the look of the cam, the “gotta have it factor” goes up. We will leave risers for another day and take a look at cams in the industry and how it relates to the bow fishers needs. If we think of a cam as the middle component in a system that has on one side a storage component, the power limb. And on the other side a power producer, the archer. The job here is to get a device that will take the raw power, pull from the archer to transfer through the cam and be stored by the power limb until the archer releases the energy stored back to the arrow. Sounds like a traditional bow would fit the same scheme so why would we add those extra parts? Cams give us mechanical advantage is the simple answer. It allows for two things, a smaller power storage system and a nice break for the power producer called let off. Cams have morphed from basic round wheels to all shapes, sizes and tracks through the years. Today catch phrases and names seem to be growing faster than the actual perfection of the cam technology itself in some cases. I will use the word tracks and some basic nomenclature instead of feeding the copyright egos to explain. I will also use my terms and my views on each. Definitions are from various sources; • Cam; a device for converting circular motion into rectilinear motion, consisting of a disk fixed somewhat off-centre to a revolving shaft, and working freely in a surrounding collar. • Track; on a cam for archery it is a depression cut into the perimeter of the cam to guide the feed of cable either in or out. • Anchor; a machined or attached post that allows cable or bowstring to be attached at fixed points on a cam. • Bearing or Bushing; used to keep consistent rollover of cam without wear to the axle and to keep the rotation of the cam 90 degrees to the axis or the axle. • Idler; on a single cam set up the idler is round and only acts as a leverage point to compress the top limb. It has no cam effect on the system.
Bowfishingassociation.com
• Axle; carries the cam system and intersects both sides of the limb to actuate compression of power limb. • Profile; cam profile affects the draw feel of the bow system and how the bow stores energy and upon release uses that stored energy in relation to the arrow. There are only two true systems of cams in my books, dual cam and single cam. Every other system out there is a modified version of these two basic designs. The dual cam which includes round wheels, hatchet cams and one to one track systems (dual three tracks). The single cam which includes single cam with single track idlers and single cam with dual track idlers (track and a half systems and force multiplier systems). Now there are a lot of folks that will disagree with my view and they are basing their argument on looks verses actual mechanical design. Basic dual cams have two tracks and three strings (Main string and two Buss Cables). One track is a main string feed to the archer and the other track is a draw track that takes in string to compress the power limbs and the actual draw length that the bow will break over into let off on some designs. Each cam will have two connection points for strings called anchors. One connection is for the bow string and will store around the track enough string to complete the feed back to the archer. The other draw track will connect from the track to the power limb either to the inside axle or to the axle split between the outside of the limb. The system is a mirror at both ends. The one to one system has a third track that takes up string but in essence still draws against the axle to help compress the power limb system. The reasoning here is that the cams are locked to each other so there is no way timing can be out. Variables that fly in the face of this are string stretch, system tolerances and limb deflection rates..................there is no perfect system....yet. Single cam bows by design should take away the timing issues that for years plagued dual cam systems. The problem with the dual cam systems was not the cams. It was effected by string stretch, low tolerances in production and limb deflection inconsistencies. Many people do not have bow presses and or the knowledge to time a bow. Single cams in theory fixed this issue because only the bottom cam actuated the system. True to a degree but even single cams fall pray to the same issues that plague dual cam bows. True single cam bows have a 3 track bottom cam and a single track idler at the top limb. They have 2 cables to make the system work. The long cable acts as the bowstring and times the upper and lower limbs compression, and the second cable draws the top limb down to the bottom limb. Problems that come from this system are vertical nock travel and bottom limb level (twist) compression issues. Still this is a good system and in my view still has not been pushed out of the market by the track and a half
Bowfishingassociation.com
systems out there seen so much on the present offerings. In fact the track and a half systems are really just two track idlers with 3 strings instead of two. With this extra cable again brings into effect more timing issues. Some believe they are an advancement, I believe they will see a decline as the basic systems become in fashion again and technology in materials and machining methods advance.
What does all this mean to a bow fisher? Most of the advancements above were directed towards the Target and Bow Hunting community, little if any input from criteria needed to evolve the bow used to fish. I believe there are set needs that directly affect the type, design and function of a fishing bow. We need a system that creates better energy because we have a more restricted medium to fly our arrows through.........air and then water. After that there must be penetration value to get through the fish. Most bow fishers are finger shooters and most do not use sighting systems on their bows. Bow fishing is brutal on equipment, water, salt and being banged around a boat when the action is on. Big cams with large cut outs would be bent or broken in a heartbeat and bow strings would be open to abrasion. Which cam system fits the needs for power production and shooting style to fish? In part 2 of Cams we will look at the present offerings of cam systems on fishing bows, draw curves, profiles and are they doing the job needed to give you a top rate system. Bow fishing is a fast growing market for tournaments and its time manufacturers give it the same priority as hunting and target archery.
Bowbob
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
By Mark Lee Around the time of the formation of bowfishing organizations were coming together, there were a few already in existence, one being the Bowfishers of Arkansas (BOA). These were guys who enjoyed the sport of bowfishing and wanted to get together every so often to try their skills against each other in a friendly competition for a night to see who was the best for that event! As word spread, and people were seeing boats rigged with lights and generators in aluminum boats heading out for the night, more and more people were getting into the sport of bowfishing in Arkansas. When the BOA was formed and was growing with each year, there was no internet, only form of communication was by word of mouth. There were some that would travel from state to state to shoot different tournaments with different people who shot usually only locally. This was the way basically people got word as to what was happening in other states with bowfishing. Although these guys didn’t realize it at the time, but they were very instrumental in forming the laws regulating bowfishing today, as well as forming the grass roots of State and National Organizations of the promotion of the sport of bowfishing.
Bowfishingassociation.com
The Bowfishers of Arkansas was formed in Little Rock, Arkansas close to 30 years ago with tournaments being held in different parts of the State. They were also instrumental in getting night time bowfishing legalized in Arkansas. As with all clubs, they grew quickly, and became very competitive. Arkansas has always been known to harbor some of the best competitors in the Country, and it still holds true today. BOA members perfected the fan boat to the point of having boats built by F & F, with weight in mind, and also fine tuning fans to the amount of push they had given various weights placed with both fan mounts and fuel weight for tournament purposes. In the earlier days, some of the best in the country were Bob Brown, Danny Nichols, Lance Sullentrop (Sully’s bowfishing stuff), Mark Woods, to name a few…. Today we have Shawn Holezeman, Nick Sanders, Josh Dunkle, Jason “Gibby” Gibson, Jeff Jester, Craig Wardlaw, Marcus Hays among others who are helping to hold the tradition of being the Best of the Best in the Country by winning the World Championships over the last few years. Back in the late 90’s, as with all clubs, the BOA was suffering from lack of participation, with only 5 boats showing up at every tournament, as opposed to 25 or more in the early 90’s, due to what we call the cyclic effect of the BOA. People come in all excited in starting a new sport, and after a couple of years venture on to other sports. No real issues with as far as why they leave bowfishing, just either It’s too late at night with too much recovery time the next day, or family reasons to as much
as just moving on to other hobbies. We have noticed that people come and go and come back with bowfishing, especially in Arkansas with the BOA. We tried different things to accommodate new people getting into the sport with tournaments to help us grow again with our participation over a few years, some working, some not. One of the best ideas born was to split the divisions from the experienced tournament shooters from the ones just getting into the sport. We would lose new people who would show up for their first tournament coming in with 30 or so fish in a 6 hour shoot, only to see the experienced ones coming in with over 200 fish in the same timeframe on the same waters. Needless to say the new guys didn’t want to come back since they felt they could not compete, felt that they had no chance to win, and felt that their equipment and boats were not able to compete with the airboats and equipment used by the experienced tournament guys. What was decided was to split the experienced shooters into their own category and the new guys coming in into their own category, with each placing their entry fee into their prospective group. Within one year we doubled our boats in competition. We started off with 5 teams in the “open division”(experienced) with 4 airboats and one fan boat (Jim Bebee and myself in the fan boat), and the “sportsman division” (new teams, fans, and trolling
motor boats excluding me and Jim) with 5 teams coming to shoot each event. In two years we had over 15 sportsman boats compete and 5 open. It became apparent that although we were all in a 6 hour tournament together, the competition was prevalent more so with the sportsman, with as little as a few fish making the difference of placement . The open division guys were competitive, but we travelled to different states on a regular basis, and we are all good friends, so tournament time, we would end up in pockets together, and would fish out of each other’s light fields, check out each others barrels to see who was doing better throughout the night, and basically cut up. There were times that people would see shawn and nick following within a few feet behind jim and I shooting the fish that we missed, and times that when jim and I broke down, nick would come up into our light field and shoot all the gar out of it, then see what we may need to get going…Jim and I would point out the ones that they couldn’t see from our angle and when they felt that they had shot all the gar out of our light field, they would come up and help. After a few tournaments, the sportsman guys realized that a lot of the tournament was not so much competition, but more of guys getting out and having fun! In the process, they learned that the guys in the open division were competitive, but also good friends,
Bowfishingassociation.com
and we do things away from bowfishing. Most of the modifications on boats were done by the guys that we shot against within our open division, and also that there was a tight bond with whatever is needed to help each other in out of state shoots. Prime example is the number of times other teams have come by the house and parted something from my airboat for a tournament. The Latest was a carburetor for the last shoot, but I have had lights removed, generators, as well as arrows and line, and reels. A lot of times I have to work on the weekends we have tournaments, and /or my bowfishing partner also has an airboat, so mine is left sitting defenseless in the driveway. I have gone to tournaments and seen parts of my boat show up, with a smile on the owners face, snickering as they pull up, saying ……thanks!!! They always put it back, but it has become a habit over the years…and with airboat parts, sometimes you can’t just get them right then, especially in Arkansas, so you borrow….and I cannot tell you how often I have heard possession is 9/10ths of the law……or stealing only counts if its not returned within 30 days….my all time favorite is ……hey…..at least a “Part” of your airboat will be with a winning team…..something its been wanting all its life… As of 2011, we now have 3 classes in the BOA. Open, Sportsman, and Traditional. Traditional is for the new guys getting in with small boats with trolling motors, and we only use this class when we have enough guys with these types of rigs to form a class. Usually taking around 3-5 showing up to form this class. We have 12 airboats in the open class, 5 Alumitech’s, 4 Silver Dollars, Red Rivers, 2 Diamondback’s, and 1 Air-Ranger.
Bowfishingassociation.com
We also have some of our guys who volunteer their airboats for any rescue/hazardous water conditions when needed, as well as the club offering use of our airboats for the same to city/state/government in our area. Our first tournament every year usually has over 25 teams enter with over 17 teams competing throughout the year on average in all divisions. The BOA has grown both with guys and gals now with every BOA shoot with teams consisting of up to 3 man teams. Women and kids are encouraged to shoot with teams, and are free in tournaments and not counting against the number towards a team. In other words a team consisting of 3 guys and 2 kids will only pay entry for the 3 guys, and their team mates numbers will officially count as 3 guys to allow kids 16 and younger, and wives the opportunity to shoot without penalizing a team. This has worked well for the club, with some really good shooters coming about from some father /son teams, and husband/wife teams being able to join. We also have a women’s only tournament with kids invited one night a year, with the guys driving them all night, but not being able to shoot, or assist. ( I don’t trust my wife and son with my airboat!!!! I’ll never get it back if I do!) In all the BOA is a great group to be a part of with long time friendships formed from it, and the airboat part of the club can be linked to Lance Sullentrop, and Danny Nichols for going that route in the 90’s with our club, and Shawn Holezeman and Randy Messina bringing them to Central Arkansas in the early 2000’s and fishing most tournaments. Our yearly dues for the Bowfishers of Arkansas are $40.00 per year, with teams being able to fish 2 tournaments before joining, and the entry fee for our local tournaments are $15.00 per person up to a 3 man team, divided out as $10.00 for entry, $5.00 for big fish. For more information about the Bowfishers of Arkansas, go to www.bowfishersofarkansas.com or contact the President Josh Duke at 501-882-9380, or the Vice –President(Owner-Agent of the BOA) Shawn Hoelzeman at 501-269-1714 .
Gar Fishcakes By Robtattoo
You'll need....... Gar fillets (obviously) Cooked & cold Mashed potato (coursely mashed, not too creamy, half the weight of fish to be used) Salt & Pepper Parsley (fresh if possible) 2 teaspoons Lime zest (grate the 'green' rind from the lime, stop when you get to the pith. Save the juice to garnish) 2 big limes or 3 small Fresh celantro (coriander) about 6 leaves Fresh red chilli (to taste) Zatarains Fish Fry Very quickly, flash-boil the fish (1 minute MAX) Leave the fish to cool. Once cool, flake it into a bowl & mix in the potato, celantro, parsley, chopped Chilli, S & P & lime zest. Mix it all together well & then scoop out portion sized lumps (a good dessert-spoon should be about right, per patty) Roll the mix in your hands & then flatten into a patty about 他" thick. Coat with Zatarains & shallow fry until golden brown on either side. Serve hot, with a squeeze of lime juice. I generally serve with either Fries or a nice, fresh, green salad. If you make them into thin sticks, rather than patties, they're PERFECT for fish tacos!
Stuffed Backstrap By Tcarter
I use deer but I guess you could use any backstrap you want ingredients 1 whole backstrap 1 l/b bacon 1 l/b sasuage pepper jack ceese jalapenos favorite maranide Take and butterfly the backstrap and place it and the bacon in the marinade overnight after it has marinated slice the cheese and place in the bottom of the backstrap. then put the sasuage on top of the cheese and pour some marinade over it. put jalapenos on top of the sasuage. then put some more cheese on top of them. wrap the whole thing with bacon. place in oven at 350 for about 30 min (or you can grill it if you want too) enjoy!! (you will also have some bacon left to just cook and eat while you are waiting ):-)
Bowfishingassociation.com
By Amy M Young Going out on the boat last summer just to take pictures sparked my interest in bowfishing. I was offered the use of a bow many, many times. I kept shying away from it because I honestly didn't think I could do it and just kept on with my hobby of taking pictures. I never was one to stray too far from my comfort zone anyway and I didn't want to tear anything up that wasn't mine. So, the season came to an end and I made up my mind that I would try it next year. I wasn't expecting the warmer days that we had back in February, but the day came that I said I wanted to give it a go. So, off we go to Rend Lake Spillway one day and after going over the do's and don始t始s I took my first shot. The only thing I managed to stick was the mud, but hey what do you expect? I had never shot a bow before, but by the end of the day I was confident that I knew how. Just had to work on the aiming. Needless to say I didn't shoot one that day or the next several times that we went. I jokingly made the comment that if I were on the boat at night I bet I could get my first fish. Well, the opportunity finally came the weekend before the Billy Davis Memorial at
Bowfishingassociation.com
Rend Lake. The plan was put into motion to get my first fish. I had my mind made up that we were not coming off the water until I shot one. With three guys telling me "There, there, look, shoot it!", I was feeling just a little pressure. The more I shot at fish and the more I missed the madder I got. At one point I suggested that if I
just threw the bow I would be more likely hit one because I obviously couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. After that remark we all had a good laugh and were just kinda cruising along checking things out and the guys were well being guys when lo and behold I saw a fish. Not just one but three! I figured what the heck, it's not like I'm going to connect with one anyway, so I draw back, release, and bam! I stuck my first fish! I let out a little scream of joy and they thought I had fallen in the water. Apparently the guys hadn't been paying too much attention to what I was doing on my side of the deck or what was happening on their side as we were surrounded by carp and gar. Anyway, I got him in the boat and had to have help getting him off the arrow into the tub. All the attention was focused on me, and not being one that likes to be the center of attention I said "I don't know about you guys, but I'm here to shoot fish not to shoot the s**t." All in all it was a decent night. I ended up shooting 8 that night. Now that I have stuck my first fish I'm hooked, addicted. I'm always jumping at the chance to go again. Amy M. Young
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
2072 Ribbed Hull
Bowfishingassociation.com
Heavy Duty Transom 2072 Ribbed Hull
Enclosed Elevated Deck
Bowfishingassociation.com
2072 Ribbed Hull
Bowfishingassociation.com
An Early Season Weekend By Josh Hether
Here I am setting in my forest fire management class and all I can think about is the upcoming 4 day weekend. It has been 3 weeks since I have had a weekend off due to military obligation and I was really looking forward to this one. A couple hours on the water here and there wasn’t cutting it. My longtime friend Matt that is stationed here in NC, not 2hrs from me was coming up Saturday night to join me for a night fish sticking. The weather hasn’t been the greatest in NC this month with all the normal spring rains. Last weekend we were hammered by some historical storms that produced over a dozen tornados across central and eastern NC. It just some happens that my buddy Matt had gotten caught in the middle of the worst one. Matt, His Wife and 7month old Son had just walked in the Tractor Supply Company in Stanford, NC when everything had gotten really
Bowfishingassociation.com
loud. He explained it as a very loud roar just seconds before the roof of the building was ripped off above them. His wife dropped to the floor covering their son Hunter and Matt covered them both. Matt said he held tight as he saw watched 50lb bags of feed being ripped out of the store front along with shelves and other things around the store. From his voice you could hear the fear and adrenaline that was felt. When it all came to an end just a couple min later the few ppl in the store stood up in complete shock. Matts Military instinct kicked in and he assessed the situation. Quickly he hurried over to help a woman from underneath a shelf and made sure everyone was ok. The biggest shock was when they walked out the store and Matt’s truck was on the other side of the parking lot, upside down and completely totaled. They had parked not but a few yards from the front of the store. Some of you may have seen this destroyed Silver GMC on Good Morning America and several other news stations around the Country. I thank God that everyone was ok. Material things can be replaced but lives cannot. With all of this, I was looking forward to getting my
buddy on some fish and showing him a good time. Friday night I took another Mclovin as we call him, out to a reservoir north of me and ended up having a bit of success with a fish that would soon haunt me. As we rounded a shallow shoal, Mclovin took a shot at a good sized common and missed. At that time, I caught glimpse of a fish to my left coming straight at me. When I released what It was I quickly reacted but instead of making the shot, I knocked the long barbed tipped Cajun yellow jacket arrow off of my string and the fish bolted right under the boat and out the other side as he headed to the next county. My jaw dropped as I estimated the behemoth grassy to be 55-‐60lbs. I was sick. The rest of the night all I could think about is what I could have and should have done different. That occurrence was like your first time on stand and blowing the chance at a Pope n Young Whitetail in the first hour of the hunt( which I have done as well ). Just my luck! We ended that night and fished the next at a different lake but all I could think about was that fish. My buddy Matt rescheduled until Easter Sunday night because of the rains we had had. My plan was to take him back to the Reservoir to see what we could make happen. This place doesn’t produce numbers but makes up for it in pounds. Sunday came, Matt rolled in my driveway precisely at 5pm. I hooked up the boat and off we went, on the 50mi drive north. We arrived early enough to check out the rest of the miles of water that we planned to explore as darkness fell. Cruising around on full plane, the G3 was purring at 32mph yet all I could think of again was that missed opportunity on that trophy fish just two night prior. The sun settled below the horizon, I fired up the generator which lit up the water with 4000 watts of light. We slithered around the shallows with keen eyes awaiting that ever so familiar glow of the big ol’ common carp or slender silhouette of a long nose gar. With no success in the first cove I anxiously lifted the troller and fired up the outboard to go and try the shoal where my misfortune found me just the other night. As The boat slowed and the wake settled I dropped the troller with my Area 5150 Angler in hand. We made quick work of the first cove and moved to the point of the shoal where we spotted movement in the grass. Keeping an eye on the moving grass, we were n stealth mode creeping ever so closely. To our surprise and excitement there was yet another huge grass carp that was all of 50lbs. Matt shaking with excitement, He was ready to sling an arrow. I quickly said WAIT, we need two arrows in this fish. I said, “Lets inch forward and count 1, 2, 3”. Moving in, the fish never knew we were there. Ready?, “I said” 1….2…..3 GO! Both Cajun arrows met there
Bowfishingassociation.com
mark in the back of this huge fish as it completely flipped out and raced toward deeper water as they often do. Me being the most experienced Bowfishermen, I told Matt to let it run and don’t horse the fish. After just a few minutes we had it tired out and close enough to gaff. Matt grabbing the gaff with his free hand, sunk it into the underside of this behemoth fish and pulled him aboard. A quick look at each other and the high fives started flying. We could not believe what had
Bowfishingassociation.com
just transpired in front of our eyes. This was the biggest fish that Matt had ever held in his hands and he made that VERY clear with the smile on his face. I don’t know if this was the same fish as last Friday night but my dream of another chance was answered. I was ecstatic to just be able to experience this with my longtime friend, especially after the stress that he and his family had yielded this past week. The rest of the night proved to be a good time as well. We boated some good fish and had an action packed short night. I can’t wait until Matt and I can share another night on the water.
THOSE WHO KNOW BOWFISHING
KNOW CAJUN!
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
Bowfishingassociation.com
This heavy hitter is such a light weight… We thought it just might float! We knew bettering the original Hydro-Strike™ was going to be no easy task. So we started from the ground up when designing the all new Hydro-Strike Pro™. Our primary goal was to shed weight and gain comfort and mobility. The result is impressive. You will know from the first time you hold one, you will be able to shoot it all night without tiring. A new "water-friendly" checkered rubber grip will fit just right in your hand. Next, you will notice the light weight and balance of the new riser and limbs. It aims right where you look every time. And we kept all of the great features of the original: Rapid-Fire™ fish cams, 36" finger friendly axel to axel, stainless hardware, integrated dovetail on riser front for optional pin sight, included line pull and quiver stands, limb bolt pivots, lifetime warranty and a striking blue camo finish. You will be thinking bowfishing bow perfection the first time you shoot the new Hydro-Strike Pro™. Dovetail for CNC Sight - Stainless Limb Bolt Inserts CNC Accessories Included - Axel to Axel: 36” Brace height: 7 1/8” - Let Off: Zero or 70% Draw Lengths: 21 to 30 - 15 Lbs. Draw Weight Adj. 25-40, 40-55, 55-70 - Weight: 3.55 Lbs.
AT RED NECK AIRBOATS WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE BEST BOAT POSSIBLE TO THE CUSTOMER. What we build -Airboats-Flats Boats-John Boats-Fan boats-Any custom aluminum boat hull you can design
We offer boats built to the customers specs. We can provide bare hulls or fully rigged boats to meet your needs. Custom options include
Red Neck Airboats, LLC Sales Team: Garrett B. - 817-319-9522 Chad C. - 817-312-9245 Management: Shawn - 405-514-5836 Deanna - 903-357-0604
-light rails-side or center consoles-seats-walk arounds-fan stands-aluminum tanks-front steering-
By Travis Goodhue It was late in May and with turkey season over our minds had shifted into high gear and we were focused solely on bowfishing and being on the big water. With several average trips behind us for the year my buddy and I debated on whether or not to make the 2hr ride to our favorite spot. My brother Josh is a regular in my boat and could not go and finding out the weather forecast in that area was iffy, I called the trip off. After several menacing calls from my buddy Chad I changed my mind and we started out. The night started off really slow and with only a couple fish in the boat in the first 3 hours I was beginning to regret the whole endeavor. Around 2am things started looking up as the 110gal. tub was filling up with nice bigheads and the occasional silver. Chads 12 yr old son Cody was living it up and had posted himself in the front right corner of the deck and would not take a break for food, drink or rest! We had just switched batteries for the lights and Chad sat down for a break so I took the lights and troller over. Little did I know the next time I hit the light would mark a time that would nearly rival my first
Bowfishingassociation.com
born child. As I reached down for the troller handle I could see the mouths of several bigheads feeding at the surface. I tapped Cody on the shoulder and told him to get ready and when he got to full draw I lit up the water and thatʼs when the party started. Now I donʼt know why but Cody was so startled at the size of the fish in the middle that he could not move.
In a split second I had my recurve at full draw and let that muzzy fly. The shot was perfect but even with a dead center shot in the top of the head I had hands full. The giant went straight for the troller shaft and made several wraps and at one point I thought it was coming off the boat. Keep in mind my “friend” Chad had a Marlboro red in one hand and a dr. pepper in the other he is in no hurry to get up and help, still not knowing what I have shot. After quite the battle I managed to get the brute to the side of the boat and thatʼs when Chad realized why I had been screaming for the gaff. After several intense moments trying to gaff the fish
we finally managed to get him over the side of the boat. As soon as the fish hit the tub I noticed my line sliding of the side of the boat and falling into the water. Apparently at the exact moment we gaffed to the fish my line broke. Talk about timing. Knowing that I had a couple other friends on the water that night I started dialing numbers and a small gathering took place with a lot of laughs and shouting. We managed to shoot quite a few more fish that night but none seemed to matter as much as the slob hanging outta both ends of the tub. The best scales we had dialed in at 69lb 4oz almost 6hours after the fish was landed. Theres not much more fun to be had in the summer than bowfishing with good friends and family and when you can top it off with a fish like that..well it just doesn始t get any better.
Bowfishingassociation.com
Straight Shooting with the Quick Draw!! By Josh Watson The Equipment… Quick Draw Arrow Rest
As bow fishermen we’re always looking for products that will stand the abuse and harsh conditions we so often put our equipment through. One of the most vital pieces of equipment that often gets overlooked is a good arrow rest. Thanks to Quick Draw Bowfishing there is finally an arrow rest that meets the requirements we’re all searching for! The Quick Draw Arrow Rest is about the finest rest on the market, and once you open the package it’s easy to see why. CNC machined from 6061 aircraft-‐grade aluminum with stainless screws and a slick satin finish you can’t help but fondle it in your hands! The Quick Draw is also fitted with a rubber gate for quick and easy arrow loading. Just drop and shoot. It’s an ambidextrous rest so even lefties can take advantage of its superior design! The Quick Draw is a fully enclosed rest so there is no need to worry about arrows falling. It’s perfect for bank shooting as you don’t have to constantly keep a finger on the arrow. It’s great for beginners due to the fact that the arrow is always going to be pointed in the forward direction. In addition, it’s great for quick shots when you only have a split second to throw your bow up and sling an arrow at a vanishing fish.
Bowfishingassociation.com
Warranty info provided from…. www.QuickDrawOutdoorGear.com My only preconceived concern with the Quick Draw rest was in that it was a fully enclosed rest. I was afraid that the very design that makes it great would also be its down fall. When looking down the arrow shaft would the upper half of the rest get in the way of the sight plane? The answer… No!! After hitting the water and busting some fish, I found the Quick Draw to perform flawlessly. I could see down the arrow shaft and use the top of the rest as a reference for those longer shots. The best part of the Quick Draw was the consistent deadly accuracy!! All in all, the Quick Draw is a fantastic choice for any shooter looking for a do-‐it-‐all rest. Setting up and tuning the Quick Draw is as easy as the turn of two stainless screws. Once mounted, the Quick Draw can be easily slid left or right to fine tune your shot and canted forward or back to your desire. To fine tune your vertical adjustment simply loosen the mounting screw and adjust. After tuning to your liking, tighten both screws and it is rock solid and will not move! Slap on the provided slick tape in the arrow trough and you’re ready to go. With the Quick Draw you can shoot bullet hole after bullet hole and there’s no need to worry that dropping your bow or hitting your rest will warrant re-‐tuning like with some other plastic rests on the market. LIMITED WARRANTY: All Quick Draw products are guaranteed against breakage of metal parts for a period of one year from date of purchase provided the product has not been altered or misused. (The Original owner must send product directly to Quick Draw Outdoor Gear enclosing name, address, reason for return and proof of purchase.) Warranty does not cover cosmetic blemishes or fading defects in grain of metal. Warranty does NOT cover screws, rubbergate or quick slick tape.
The Quick Draw Arrow Rest is reasonably priced at $45 and the folks at Quick Draw Bowfishing are great to work with and they stand behind their product. They are supporters of our sport and the customer service is top notch! The Quick Draw rest is of the highest caliber and the quality & durability is evident the moment you open the package. This thing is built to last!! I would highly recommend the Quick Draw to anyone looking for a tough, accurate rest! You can try one for yourself by going to www.QuickDrawOutdoorGear.com and be sure to check out their photo album to see who else is using a Quick Draw. You can also find them on Bowfishingcountry.com
May your arrow R.I.P. with the Quick Draw!! Thanks for reading, Josh Watson
Bowfishingassociation.com
BAA
Bowfishing Association of America
Butch Samson-The Breeze Crafty
Rmartin
Tail&Scale Bowfishing
Pigsticker Bowfishingassociation.com
Sheriff Brady-WBG444
Cody-454
Adam Harper
NightShift
CarpJizzm Bowfishingassociation.com
It all started out on Friday the 15th the wind was blowing 50+ and the fires started to pop up everywhere a few bowfishers started coming in and everyone was meeting each other and sitting around visiting with each other. All the ones that came Friday was not able to scout much because of the crazy wind that was worse than we have ever seen it. So they all gathered at Tim Jackson's cabin for food, fun and some drinks. Then Sat. morning all the winds were calm but the fires had spread bad on the west side and the south end of the lake. Through out the day more teams arrived and as everyone was sitting around visiting this huge helicopter came in right in front of the cabins to fill up with water to put on the fires it was awesome. Around 7pm we had our meeting and wished everyone luck and everyone started leaving at 8pm in 1min. intervals. As we head down the lake the smoke and ash hit you and was very thick at certain points in the lake. As the sun went down you could see the glows of 2 to 3 different fires off in the distance. The fish were hard to find and it got colder as the wind began to pick up again. Some gave up early and some stayed out to the very end and suffered all the elements. At 8am the bowfisherman had a hot breakfast waiting for them supplied by the ladies of PK Lodge, as we started weighing in everyone it was surprising that no one had very many because in years past the bowfishers brought in 2000+ fish but this year they were few and far between. The winners ( Skin it Back) team brought in 97 fish and second place (Fishwackers) had 64 fish. Big 10 was won by ( Skin it Back) with 141.6lbs and second (Brazos River Bowfishing) with 130.2. Big fish was won (Bozo bowfishing) with a 16.6lbs buffalo. A total of 492 fish was brought in and the turtle farmers from Oklahoma came to get the fish again this year. Over the past 4 years we have had our tournament on Possum Kingdom Lake they have killed 6500 fish to help clean out our lake. The family here at PK Lodge would like to thank everyone for coming and all the sponsors for supporting this great sport. Every year it has been great and we love having everyone, we hope that each year it grows and is better than the last. Thanks again, Brandie Slater & PK Lodge Family Brandie Slater With PK Lodge L.P. www.pklodgelp.com 940-212-0237 Watch our video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhDOcN1aiwU&feature=youtu.be
Bowfishingassociation.com
Videos Of the Month DRAY6036 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MpLF7Gzo3Q&feature=player_embedded
STRAIGHTSHOT PRODUCTIONS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQqhknJY5L4&feature=player_embedded
DRAKETOWN PRODUCTIONS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kIAZo_qICk&feature=player_embedded
Bowfishingassociation.com