Staring bow fishing

[AWS]

Back in the 1950/60s I used to bow fish with a longbow and a line holder made from a 2 lb coffee can.

Im thinking about getting into it again but have no idea, I did do some hunting with an early compound in the late 1970s but haven't had anything to do with bows since.

What weight bow would you suggest just for fishing, I have no desire to bow hunt. 

[cbond3318]

40# is plenty. There have been some great advances in bowfishing gear. You can pick up a ready to shoot setup for 200$. Or spend 75$ on a retriever and arrow set up, and throw it on any old bow.

I fished forever with an old goodwill Bear Compound with an AMS retrieve, pulling 45#'s....

[Special T]

If I were to do it over I'd probably buy the complete setup for $200 ish. I bought an old pse nova  and put a bow fishing kit on it for a total of about $150.  I LOVE Shooting carp and there is no licensing.

[huntingfool7]

I have two bows set up with AMS retriever reels.  Give me a buzz in the spring and we'll go whack a few.

[AWS]

sounds good, I should be set up by then.

[Bofire]

Would you go compound or Recurve?
Carl

[AWS]

The more I think about it and all the reading I've done a recurve is looking like the candidate.

[Stickers]

A recurve bow is definitely fun for bowfishing. AMS also makes a nice non marking conversion kit to attach a retriever reel to any recurve. The only problem that you'll run into is that most recurves are long tip to tip. They can be a burden on a boat. And they are less efficient than a compound so you'll have to draw more weight to get equal pop.