Bowfishing: Recurve vs Compound

[coltergeist99]

Hey everyone I need some opinions. I've been bowfishing for years and always used an old recurve of my grandpas. I've had awesome luck with it and like the recurve for bowfishing. Thinking about buying something new and I wanted to know who uses a compound or newer recurves and why you like it.
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[TheGrovBone]

I really like using a compound for bowfishing for it's mobility. I feel like the recurves are typically so long that in gets a little cumbersome and inhibiting in deeper water or up close. I also love the let off of a compound, sometimes I have to hold for awhile for just the right angle.
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[66Birdman]

I shoot both and I like both for differant reasons. Compound bow for the letoff and power. Recurve for the snap shooting. I am much faster at the draw with the recurve than the compound. I would check into Oneida bows if I were you. They are like the best of both worlds.
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[BOWFISH]

Recurve all the way. Snap shots quick moving fish. To many thing can go wrong with a compound bouncing around and boatful of flopping fish. My brother has thrown the string on his compound twice and it can ruin a day of shooting.

[hizah]

I use a recurve. Pros is mine is 3 pieces so it is easy to transport and store, plus I don't have to do a full draw to shoot a fish close or on the surface. Only con I have is it is hard to hold drawn. I also like the curve because I think it looks cooler, but if I was going for game it would be with a compound.
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[drowning_flys]

The wife and i shoot both, we fish mainly at night so that being said you can beat the snap shot of a recurve. It is also really light compared to a compound and when you have it in your hand all night it makes a difference. Dont get me wrong the compound is fantastic when your shooting long distance from cliffs or bridges And i really love mine because its an older hoyt target bow [cool] . I think besides the bow the best thing to come along to bowfishing is the retriever makes the recurves so much better when there not pulling line off the drum. If you decide to look into a compound Look at oneida like suggested above, there easy to change stings on and can be snapped like a recurve. I have an arroforce i use mainly for hunting but i love it. They make one just for bowfishing called an osprey.



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[FNA]

I like the compounds built for bowfishing. Some have 0% let off so they have the feel of a recurve for snap shots and the extra speed to reach deep fish. Go out test a few. I'm sure if you showed up at some of the tournaments guys would let you test drive a few.
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[lucabrasi]

Great thread. I had started looking at bows and never considered a recurve for bow fishing but now I really am. I like the idea of the relative simplicity, weight, and never thought of the "snap" shot benefit.
Does anyone use a laser sight and if so can it be mounted on a recurve? Why or why not would you want a laser site? What other kind of sights would you use for a recurve?
I hope this does not hijack the thread. I thought it would add to it which is why I replied but if I am wrong I apologize.
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[drowning_flys]

well you could but you would feel funny aiming it up to 2 feet below the fish to hit it on the deeper shots . It would work OK on fish on the surface if it was at the exact point to where you sighted the bow and laser in. There is an arc that the arrow follows to get to a given point that's why bow sights have multipal pins for different yardages. If you learn to shoot instinctive you will be a much better bow fisher and make the faster shots. remember if you miss aim lower [laugh]
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[Duck-Slayer]

I shoot both and I like both for differant reasons. Compound bow for the letoff and power. Recurve for the snap shooting. I am much faster at the draw with the recurve than the compound by 66birdman.

I agree with this statement, along with many others on here that have been said, the weight is also a good point somebody brought up, last year I shot the State Carp shoot at CJ, I used a recurve and it had its advantages and divantages, one advantage is that you can shoot it alot faster, also it is very light, and holding it all day two days in a row can put a damper on your shooting with soar shoulders and neck, but I won a bow-Compound- at the state shoot that I am going too use this year, its a smaller light weight bow, if it does not work out i'm going back too the recurve, some advantages of the compound are pretty obvious is the power, you can pull and hold alot more with a compound if you so choose, there is only about a 10 lbs. difference in my recurve too the compound, but it makes a difference when your shooting deeper water and longer distance's with that heavy arrow, I hope this helps, if you have any specific questions please feel free too PM me or ask in this thread,
Matt
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[Bmarsh]

[quote drowning_flys]well you could but you would feel funny aiming it up to 2 feet below the fish to hit it on the deeper shots . It would work OK on fish on the surface if it was at the exact point to where you sighted the bow and laser in. There is an arc that the arrow follows to get to a given point that's why bow sights have multipal pins for different yardages. If you learn to shoot instinctive you will be a much better bow fisher and make the faster shots. remember if you miss aim lower [laugh][/quote]


lower is right! Took me a while to learn to aim on carp.

As far as shooting instinctive vs some kind of site I would go that route. Ive shot pins for years on my hunting setup but it doesn't work well for fishing IMO. Learn to shoot instinctive since the shots rarely are over 20 yards, I prefer a recurve since it is light and the ability to snap shoot with it is a huge plus when your slowly gliding in a boat and fish come into view and you have a small window before they spook. Also If you don't have high end polarized glasses youre going to want to get some. Difference make between having enough time to getting a shot and not getting one.
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[lucabrasi]

I have seen some fishing bows on ebay and other places with a laser site on them. Now I think about it.....that's quite a bit to follow and concentrate on for a quick shot.

What is considered "deep" water for fishing? The fish I see and am thinking of are all around 12"-24" deep.

I have got me some new stuff to go check out and shop for. Unsupervised and unchaperoned sporting goods store trip in the big city coming up. [angelic]
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[FNA]

Lasers would be a waste of money. 4-6 deep is what I shoot at CJ etc and consider "deep".
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[coltergeist99]

Thanks for all the replies. By the sounds of it, I may as well buy a compound so I have both types in my arsenal. I've been checking out Oneida bows and PSE Wave. Still looking at others as well since I have a while until I'll need one.
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[coltergeist99]

[quote FNA]I like the compounds built for bowfishing. Some have 0% let off so they have the feel of a recurve for snap shots and the extra speed to reach deep fish. Go out test a few. I'm sure if you showed up at some of the tournaments guys would let you test drive a few.[/quote]

Probably a silly question, but where would I find out about bowfishing tournaments in Idaho? I'm from the southeast area so I doubt there are any near me, but who knows. If there isn't, there should be I think.
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[FNA]

Pm sent.
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