The tremendous splashing immediately got my attention. I was fishing a backwater area on the lower Rappahannock River when the weeds started moving, the water gurgled and swirled. Something big was in those weeds and I was curious. With the trolling motor on low I crept towards the weedline and began scanning the water with the Costa Wave Killers plastered on my face.

Two hulking shadows silently floated out of the weeds and then nosed back into the aquatic jungle and began thrashing around causing silt to cloud the water. The first fish was a solid thirty inches. The second was not far behind.

The huge scales told me that the fish were carp but unlike many anglers I actually smiled. I knew how I could have some fun with this situation but first I would have to go home and get some equipment.

The next day found my boat sneaking along the backwash again. Only this time instead of a bass rod in my hand I stood poised with a compound bow. On the front of the bow I had removed my stabilizer and replaced it with a rod insert and a stubby rod. Attached to the rod was a Mitchell spinning reel spooled with thirty-pound mono line. The bow was set to fifty pounds. Once again I was wearing my Costa del Mar fishing glasses and stood ready to send an arrow into the water.

As with the day before the fish were cruising the same area. All I had to do was wait for the tell tale splashing and thrashing and mind you it did not take long at all! I watched the weeds jiggle, shake and bend leaving a telling trail where the fish were headed. Therefore it was easy to position the boat ahead of the fish. When the fish popped out of the weeds I was standing silently on the back bench seat of the duck boat ready to draw. As the submarine creatures turned parallel the arrow was drawn and then quickly released after I sighted the tip of the arrow below the fish fudging for the water refraction. It was no surprise to me that the white glass arrow that I sent downrange shot forward and then away from me in darting moves leaving a trail of blood and muddy water behind.

I flipped the bail over and leaned back into the bow rod. The line tightened and the fish began struggling against my leverage. The fight was spectacular to say the least. It was a real battle to keep the fish away from the trolling motor prop, the weedline, a nearby duck blind and a sunken log but it was a real thrill.

The fish fought spectacularly and was tough to land. This was partly due to the side of the fish being stuck and having to pull all that resistance towards me. After what seemed like ten minutes I managed to pull the fish alongside the boat and net it. It was several inches thick, had a tough armor plating of scales and was still very much alive. However, I was glad to see that one more carp was removed from the water.

Carp have been in our waters for a long time

but they are not native. In fact, a case could be made that they are destructive to other game fish and native fish. Their habit of muddying spawning areas and turning up the bottom is not good for other fish at all. Unfortunately not many other fish prey on carp and because they grow so large their population goes unchecked most of the time. This is where anglers come in.

We can thin out the population much like hunters do deer by taking an afternoon and going bowfishing. Bowfishing is great fun and knowing that you will be aiding other fish by removing a few carp is a bonus.

So what equipment do you need? Any bow will work although recurves or older compound bows that can be adjusted down in draw weight tend to be easier to work with. My experience with higher end bows and high draw weights is that the arrow tends to snap off the line as the bow is released unless braided or very high test line is used and no obstructions or snags on the line are present as it peels off the reel.

By removing the stabilizer and installing a bowfishing rod you can add a little leverage to use against the run. However, you do not need to use a rod. Some bowfishermen use a spool and wind the line around the spool by hand with gloves on. The line that is used varies from a woven line to heavy mono. I personally use a Bear Whitetail compound bow, a rod attached with heavy mono in the forty-pound class. The white fiberglass arrow I have used for more than fifteen years and it is still doing the job. A jon boat with a shallow draft that is stable enough stand up in, a solid but quiet trolling motor and a billy-club for putting the fish out once you get them in the boat are good tools to have. A large landing net is also a necessity. Polarized sunglasses that wrap around or are close enough to your face so as to not allow the sun to sneak in at the last second and ruin the shot is a good idea too.

Bowfishing is a lot of fun. If you know where there is some shallow water, mud bottom and weeds along a river or in a lake or pond, chances are that there are carp in those areas this month. Get your bow changed over and have some springtime archery fun while on the water. At the very least take the setup with you in case you get the opportunity to do a little ‘huntin’ while on the water!

Tips for bowfishing
1. Aim lower than the fish. Most of the time I put one fish width of water under the fish and my arrow tip but that varies depending on the distance and angle.
2. Take shots twenty yards and less. Personally I limit myself to ten yards unless I have a high angle on the fish from the bank.
3. Take your time fighting the fish. Carp are powerful fish and do not die easy. Carry a nightstick or billy to keep them from flopping all over and scaring other fish.
4. Wear sunscreen and a hat!
5. Make sure you have the appropriate fishing license. In most states that is all you need.