Also known as archery fishing, bow fishing is a sport that requires your skills at fishing, archery, and hunting all at once.
It is a very challenging sport. However, whether you're a beginner or a professional, a good quality set of equipment can definitely make the sport much easier to learn and fun too.
This article will review some of the most popular bow fishing bows on the market.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Bowfishing Bows
- OUR TOP PICK: Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package
- RUNNER-UP: iGlow 30-55 lbs Hunting Compound Bow
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Cajun Fish Stick Take-Down Bowfishing Bow Set
Comparison of the Best Bowfishing Bows
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What is Bowfishing?
Bow fishing is a form of fishing which uses archery skills and equipment. You use archery equipment such as the bow and some hunting skills to catch and hunt fish. This sport basically does not use traditional fishing equipment that you would normally expect. It rather uses a bow and an arrow that you use to spot, target, and hunt the fish in the waters.
Because it does not use traditional equipment and requires specialized archery equipment, it is considered to be much more complicated for that reason. You need efficient hunting skills with your aim being strong and accurate. Therefore, for a good bow fishing experience, a good quality bow is essential since that will determine your overall performance.
Can You Use Any Bow for Bowfishing?
For bow fishing, there are three pieces of equipment that are essential. These include a bow, an arrow, and a reel. A bow and an arrow are very important and need to be chosen wisely.
For bow fishing, any bow can be used. As beginners, many people choose to purchase second hand or used ones so that they can first learn on it. Any type of archery bow that has good construction is economical and is durable will do the work for you. There is not a specific type for this activity.
While buying your arrows, it is necessary to ensure that you have a specific kind of arrow that will meet specific needs of bow fishing. In bow fishing, the arrow has to travel through denser mediums such as the water; therefore, they should be made with heavier fiberglass.
What Makes a Great Bowfishing Bow
Before you go ahead with purchasing a bow for bow fishing, it is necessary to understand what features and qualities make a good model. Here is a list of things you may consider before you buy one:
Adjustable Draw Length
An adjustable draw length will let you use arrows of different lengths and sizes. It is better to go for a bow that features an adjustable draw length. This will make bow fishing much easier and versatile for you. This is why it is one of the desirable and beneficial features of some models.
Moreover, a fixed bow length of an otherwise good bow may not fit you well. This can hinder your accuracy and performance. Therefore, either find a bow that fits you perfectly or go for an adjustable draw length one.
Weight
The weight will influence the convenience, comfort, and travel-friendly nature of the bow. The heavier it is, the more inconvenient it may be.
Accessories
Accessories can be really important to complete your archery set up. It is possible to find many bows and other archery equipment that come with accessories along with them. Look for one that comes with accessories such as a carry bag, finger tabs, and gloves.
Different Types of Bows
There are several types of bows on the market. You will not be able to fully make use of it if you don’t select the right type for yourself. There are compound bows, crossbows, and longbows. Crossbows don’t use a lot of strength; meanwhile, longbows are good for professional level tournaments.
Reviews of the Best Bowfishing Bows
Here, we'll look at some popular and trusted models for bow fishing. Each product on the list has its own unique features that qualify for the category they are listed in. Have a look!
Best Overall:
Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers love this bow, especially for its accuracy. They love how the stabilizer provides greater control and balance, leading to better performance. It’s also very versatile, which makes many users appreciate the value it adds to their money. In short, very few or rather no complaints have been recorded regarding the product. Yes, it may not be the best for beginners, but it still makes a great choice!
Why it Stands Out to Us
The reason why this stands out to us is how versatile it is. Not only does it come with loads of accessories such as the stabilizer and the solid back wall, but it is also available in 3 different colors. This allows you to select the color that better suits your personality. Moreover, this versatile product is also available for right-handed and left-handed shooters.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a great professional level bow since it requires tuning. It’s great for both left-handed and right-handed people. It's also suitable to be used in tournaments and other professional uses.
What Could Be Improved and Why
The only problem we could find in this Diamond archery bow is that it does not have the best grip in the market. Therefore, improving the grip of the bow can probably be the only improvement that can be made to this overall great product.
Bottom Line
This is the overall perfect bow for bow fishing we could find. We love it for its versatility and strong, durable build. Other than the average level grip of the bow, we think that the product is great for professionals.
Runner-up:
iGlow 30-55 lbs Hunting Compound Bow
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers loved this product greatly for its accurate aim and target. They love the grip and also find it more affordable than most other similar products on the market. Other than some complaints about the lack of accessories and how it’s not suitable for left-handed archers, the product is otherwise loved by its users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The reason why we have added this bow on our list is that it is very versatile, strongly built, and is still available at a good price. We also like how it is available in so many colors to choose from; this way, you can select the color that goes better with the rest of your set up.
Who Will Use This Most
It’s a great bow for professionals and beginners both. It’s also a good pick for those who don’t want to spend much but want a good quality bow for bow fishing. However, this is not the right choice for left-handed people, which may be the only drawback of this product.
What Could Be Improved and Why
Since the only major inconvenience that we see in this bow is the lack of adjustable length and lack of availability for left hands, both of these things could be worked upon. This will make the product more diverse and will be able to sell to a greater range of customers.
Bottom Line
Overall, this runner-up bow for bow fishing is a great option. It does need to have a version that can be used by left-handed people; otherwise, it a great choice for those who want to improve their performance and complete their archery set up.
Best for the Money and Best Recurve Bowfishing Bow:
Cajun Fish Stick Take-Down Bowfishing Bow Set
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The best thing that the users appreciate about this is that it comes fully assembled and ready to use. This makes it a great bow for beginners, and therefore, people who are first timers love this bow.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The best thing about this bow that stood out to us is that it is specially designed for bow fishing. It is designed and is even named as a bow fishing bow. Moreover, considering the versatile features it has, it comes at a convenient price.
Who Will Use This Most
This bow would be used the most by right-handed people. It’s an appropriate choice for beginners and professionals both, as it features all the essential functions and is designed to meet specific bow fishing needs.
What Could Be Improved and Why
If this same model with the same quality is made available for left-handed people, it will be much better. The only complaint and major inconvenience that we could see being reported is that it isn’t available for left-handed people.
Bottom Line
It is a great bow for bow fishing overall. It’s great for people who have a limited budget but want an equally good bow for bow fishing. Other than the fact that it isn’t available for left-handed people, it is not a bad choice to invest in.
Best for Left-Handed People:
Fin-Finder Sand Shark Recurve Bowfishing Bow - 62'
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers love how the bow works great for left-handed people. There are very few products on the market that are available for both right and left-handed people. Therefore, this product is loved by consumers. Moreover, recent buyers also like the smooth draw. This ensures accuracy and improvement in performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us the most because of its high-quality water-resistant build. This makes it great for adventurous, traveling people. The water-resistant build also makes it stand out from other products as very few have such a strong and durable build.
Who Will Use This Most
This is obviously a great choice for left-handed people; hence, they will use this product the most. However, it is also a great product for people who are just beginning with archery and bow fishing.
What Could Be Improved and Why
We did not find anything that is majorly wrong with this bow. However, if only the color variety is increased and made more versatile, that would be a better improvement. This would allow people to easily choose the color that better suits them and their archery set up.
Bottom Line
This is a great bow for bow fishing. It is specifically designed for left-handed people, which is very rare on the market. All and all, it’s a great choice and is also good for beginners.
Best Youth Bow:
Barnett Vortex H2O Youth Archery Bow, 31-45-Pound
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers have complained about the product not being available for left-handed people. They have also said that the bow is not good for big games and professional-level archery. However, other customers have loved this beginner-friendly bow. They also like how it comes with accessories and has saved them extra costs.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us due to its good variety of accessories that come along with it. This adds great value to the buyer’s money as they don’t have to spend on those accessories separately. It is a youth bow, but it is also great for adults.
Who Will Use This Most
Since this bow is obviously for right-handed people, it will be used by them the most. The draw weight of 45 pounds makes it perfect for beginners, but it can also be great for professionals too. It may not be recommended to be used in big games. It can also not be used by people who have a stronger left hand.
What Could Be Improved and Why
We could not find any huge problems with the bow. However, if the color variety and the left-handed availability could be worked upon, this would make the perfect equipment. It should be improved in terms of build quality so that it’s also suitable for professional-level archery. Other than that, left-handed availability would be a good place to begin with.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, this youth bow is great for young users as well as adults. It’s good for beginners considering its draw weight. Moreover, it is also a simple and sleek looking bow. However, it is not possible for left-handed hunters, and we would love it if it was!
Best Women's Bow:
Muzzy Bowfishing Vice Compound-Bow Package
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers and people who have used this bow before love this product for how safe it is with its accessories. They love the finger guard since it allows ease of use and safety too. It is also very lightweight, so it’s easy to use. Moreover, users have also commented on how easy it is to use it right out of its packaging since it comes ready to use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This bow stands out to us because it’s specifically designed for bow fishing for women. This makes it specifically for women archers and is also of equally great quality. Therefore, this outstanding bow has made it to our list.
Who Will Use This Most
This is specially designed for bow fishing, keeping in mind women and their arm strength. It is specifically made such that it is easy for them to use. It is also a highly recommended product for people who have a stronger right hand. However, it may not be the best choice for people who have a tighter budget.
What Could Be Improved and Why
This is a great option for women; otherwise, the only thing lacking is that it is not available for left-handed people, and it also does not have a color variety. These two things can be worked upon to ensure better use for people. Moreover, the price tag is also inconvenient for many people, so that should be improved as well.
Bottom Line
Overall, for women bow fishers, this is a great model. However, left-handed people and people with a tight budget may have to look for other options. It also lacks color variety which may not be suitable for many people who want their archery setup to match.
Best from AMS:
AMS Bowfishing Hooligan Bow Bowfishing Kit
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent users of this bow love the accurate, precise, and strong draw of this bow. They love how smoothly it works and improves their overall performance consequently. Users also like the construction material of the bow and say that it’s pretty durable. It's also designed to ensure the safety of use, which makes it a good option for beginners and professionals both.
Why it Stands Out to Us
AMS has been in the market, making and selling some of the most efficient and high quality bow fishing equipment. This is one of their best products, and hence, we love it for its high quality build and efficient design. Therefore, we have added this on our list of best bow fishing bows.
Who Will Use This Most
The best part of this bow is that it can be used by anyone. It is suitable for professionals and beginners both. It’s a great bow to be used in professional-level sports, strong games, and hunting. It has a strong quality build and has versatile features which make it good for anyone who is good at bow fishing.
What Could Be Improved and Why
There is no specific mention of any functional accessories that come with the product. Moreover, the bow is not available for left-handed people. Therefore, these two things can be worked upon and improved. This will allow more users and customers to avail this otherwise great bow fishing bow.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, its great product from AMS. AMS has a greater variety of products and therefore gives you a wide range of options to choose from. Also, it is a reliable brand, and therefore, this product can also be relied upon.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality Bowfishing Bow
Now that we have looked at some of the best bow fishing bows let’s move on to why you should definitely invest in one. The benefits are limitless, so we have made a list of a few major ones.
Good Start for Beginners
Investing in a good quality bow may come at a high price tag, but that also means that this will be a one-time investment with lots of benefits. With the right quality of a bow, you can work easily upon your performance by improving your aim and accuracy. Therefore, for beginners to get a good head start, it is preferable to invest in a good quality bow.
More Challenging and Fun Than Traditional Fishing
While the traditional fishing method of throwing the hook in the water may still be used, it is not so much fun. It requires lots of waiting around. Archery fishing is more skillful and is fun as well. It can be adventurous as well and can be made into an actual sport.
Ensure Good Performance
A good quality bow ensures accuracy and better aim. So, if you're looking for alternatives for improving your performance, a good quality bow will be the way to go.
Conclusion
We can say that a good bow for bow fishing can be found easily. Whether you're a professional looking for a bow for a big game or are a beginner, a good quality bow will have an influence on your performance and hence should be chosen wisely. The final decision will hugely depend on your budget and personal preferences, such as which hand is stronger.
People Also Ask
In the end, we would not like you to have any confusions and questions left. Therefore, to ensure that all your questions are answered, we have answered a list of questions that customers often ask. Take a look!
Do You Need a License to Bow Fish?
The need for a license for bow fishing varies from one state and area to another. Every area has its own legal requirements and restrictions regarding bow fishing. Some states see bow fishing as deadly and may ban it completely. Others may require you to bow fish with a license since it is a specialized skill and needs to be carried out carefully. In Florida, for example, you do need a license.
Can You Use a Crossbow for Bow fishing?
There are several crossbows on the market that you can use for bow fishing. It is completely fine to use a crossbow for bow fishing. However, the drawback for using these for bow fishing is that it is very complicated and challenging to use. It is better to first always practice on a simple compound bow and then move on to a crossbow.
Is Bow Fishing Dangerous?
While bow fishing is a flexible and exciting sport, it has its own dangers. Other than the usual fishing hazards that may include safety risks on the boat or a ship, the equipment can also lead to accidents if you are not fully trained. Archery is a tricky sport; therefore, it needs lots of practice. However, many people suggest that archery is not as dangerous as it may look like. It is said that in every 2000 people involved in archery, only 1 is likely to get injured. Most bow hunting injuries come from getting cuts from the razor.
What is Needed for Bow fishing?
A reel, a bow, and an arrow are three of the most important equipment items needed for bow hunting. Other than this, you can also get accessories like gloves and finger tabs.
Can You bow Fish in Saltwater?
Bow fishing is great for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it allows greater accessibility. You can definitely bow fish in salty water whether you are on a yacht or a small boat, cruise along the sea and bow fish anywhere. The only problem is that you need to make sure that wherever you bow fish, you must know the rules and laws of that area to stay out of unintended trouble.
Where to Aim When Bow Fishing?
You need to closely monitor the water in order to make a good catch. With the right bow and the right equipment, you will be able to catch the fish you want to target accurately. You need to aim directly at where the fish is.
What Pound Bow for Bow Fishing?
On beginner level, you may not want to go for a bow that weighs for more than 45-50 pounds. A 45-pound bow will have the right amount of force and strength to work for you. This will also mean that your equipment will take less space and will be easier to carry.
