5 Locations to Travel to for Prize Bowfishing Opportunities
If you're tired of bowfishing in your local vicinity, it may be time to venture out to some other areas. If you aren't sure where to travel to, here are five popular spots for bowfishing where you're sure to find what you're looking for:
1. Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is more than 2,300 miles long, so it's hard to pick a specific spot of the river where bowfishing is most ideal. Ultimately, it doesn't matter where you're at, you're in a good spot for prime bowfishing. If you're not familiar with the river and bowfishing, then you may want to bowfish at the northern parts of the river because it tends to get more dangerous and larger as you go south. Here, you'll find plenty of gar (yes, some alligator gar if you're brave enough to tackle the treacherous southern waters), Asian carp, common carp, drum, buffalo and paddlefish.
2. Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas
In the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas lies Bull Shoals Lake, which is perfect for any bowfisher – especially those who want to fish in under-utilzied waters. The lake is 45,000 acres and is best known for walleye and bass. The clarity of the water is superb and you won't have much competition, which is always a plus. Here, you'll find gar, common carp and plenty of catfish.
3. Louisiana Gulf Coast
Southern Louisiana is home to bowfishing. This is probably because there is saltwater and freshwater for hunters to seek adventure in. Here, you'll find drum, catfish, flounder, gar, sheepshead and redfish.
4. Gulf Coast of Florida
Whether you want to start at the Keys and work your way up to Panama City, the entire stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast is full of prime bowfishing opportunities. The best part of it all is that the sandy beaches and warm temperatures work any time of year. Here, you'll find sheepshead, catfish, drum, flounder, stingway and spade fish.
5. Trinity River in Texas
As large as Texas is, there are plenty of areas where bowfishing is ideal. However, the Trinity River is a cut above the rest. This is particularly true if you are after an alligator gar. There's other types of fish that are commonly hunted in the Trinity River as well, including drum, buffalo, bowfin and common carp.
If you have other suggestions for other great bowfishing spots, let us know!