Eric Kraetsch: Now that warmer weather has arrived, it's time for bow-fishing
With the arrival of summer comes bow-fishing season.
Now that warm weather is finally here after a delayed spring, the carp are really starting to get into the shallows. In normal years, this comes much earlier. But this year, the water temperatures have stayed low for long enough that bow-fishing hasn’t been getting good until recently.
An advantage to this year is the high water levels. A lot of areas of northeastern South Dakota have been getting enough rain this spring to cause some flooding. When the water spills over the riverbanks and floods grass or road ditches, this can often provide a prime opportunity for archery fishing. Rough fish also like to stack up below dams and spillways, making for a target-rich environment. Culverts connecting large wetland areas are known hangouts for large carp.
Bow-fishing is an excellent activity to get kids involved as it can be action-packed when conditions are right. It is also rewarding for the kids to be able to see a large fish. Even if they miss, it provides excitement.
The culverts and flooded road ditches provide public access and good shooting, but there are also many options if you have access to a boat. Most of the waters of South Dakota have an ample supply of rough fish. When the water and skies are clear, this provides the best visibility to see fish, but keep in mind this also makes it easier for the fish to see you. A good pair of polarized sunglasses are a must.
The basic set up for bow-fishing is simple. It involves your preference of bow, be it compound or recurve, and preferred reel. They all work well. Some like the recurve bow for a fast shot, but many bow anglers prefer to simply get dual use out of their deer bow. There is nothing wrong with that either.
Line is important as well, as you want something that floats. Brightly colored line helps as well.
Arrows must be bow-fishing specific as regular hunting arrows will not be retrievable and do not have a pivot point to keep the arrow from pulling out of fish. With bow-fishing arrows, once the fish is reeled in, the tip must be screwed out to allow the retaining barb to reverse and be pulled back through fish.
When shooting at fish in the water it is important to aim low. Water refracts light so the deeper the fish, the lower you must aim. Most rough fish, especially carp, are very tough to penetrate because of their heavy scales. It is important to wait for closer shots to ensure a pass through shot and good retention.
Another specialty target is paddlefish below the Gavin’s Point Dam. South Dakota is one of very few states that provides a paddlefish archery opportunity, but you must draw a tag to participate. Paddlefish are very fast and make for a challenging target. They are good to eat, so they offer a bonus reward upon success. They do not have scales, therefore they are not as tough to penetrate as rough fish and can be shot at farther distances.
As with any outdoor activity, make sure to be ethical and responsible when bow-fishing. Make sure and dispose of rough fish properly and not to leave them littered all over the banks where you are shooting. Also, do not dump them in road rights of ways or on private property unless you have obtained permission from the landowner to do so. Make sure to obtain permission form landowners if you plan on bow-fishing on or crossing private ground to do so.
Eric Kraetsch is a wildlife damage specialist with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Bow-fishing is a option now that summer is here is fish can be found
