Anyone have advice on wooden bowfisahing arrows?

[Long Arrow]

I have bowfished once or twice with ordinary solid fibreglass arrows.
Is it possible to use a heavy wood arrow instead?

I have a bit of ipe flooring which may make some heavy hitters.
Do you think it is dense enough to shoot into water?
Must I stick with the ten grains maximum per pound of
DrawWeight or is it better to be over?

What about using linen for the spool string?
What kind of breaking strain would I need?
I know linen remains strong when wet.
Would a wet string weigh down the arrow?
Would it be better waxed?

Thanks,

LongArrow

[JackCrafty]

Do you think it is dense enough to shoot into water?

Yep.

Must I stick with the ten grains maximum per pound of
DrawWeight or is it better to be over?

Doesn't matter. You should be shooting at less than 15 feet....yes, feet.

What about using linen for the spool string?

Sounds good.

What kind of breaking strain would I need?

About 30lb or twice the weight of your fish.

I know linen remains strong when wet.

Depends on the quality.  Most linen string is weak and made from short strands of linen fiber.

Would a wet string weigh down the arrow?

Nope.  Not too much.

Would it be better waxed?

Yep.  Anything to help the string stay untangled.


Just my opinions......I'm sure others will chime in.

[madcrow]

Buy a spool of fly line backing.  It is made for the water and very strong.

[Long Arrow]

What is flyline backing made from?

The reason I want to use linen is I know it works,
it is a natural fiber and I can braid it myself.
I am not completely adverse to buying gear.
I would still rather make it myself.

I am pulling fifty pounds at 30 inches with this bow.
For safetys sake I imagine a 31 inch arrow or more is needed.
I have never used ipe yet .Still it must be about 900 grains in weight.

LongArrow

[Little John]

I have heard of people just using their cull arrows with broadheads and no line.  Dead fish float and you can pick them up.  Never tried it.

[Timo]

I've used hickory arrows with good luck,but big fish are hard on them.Be sure and take more than one. I've had fish break the solid glass ones..They cas so lots of  power.

Not sure on the line, I always used fastflight.I always wonderded about braiding up some b-50 ?

[predatorcaller]

yes a good heavy hardwood arrow would do the same as a fiberglass, ive hunted and killed a carp with no string. i "tracked" the fish down and wrassled it to shore where i finally finished it off.

[Auggie]

Ive made a few from cane,they work good and they float,which is desirable in case you miss. ::)I would think ipe is comparable to FG in weight/density,ipe will sink,there still may be a peice of ipe at the bottom of Justins pool. And if linen got tangled,and you made a shot while tangled it will snap and probably be unpleasant to boot. So give it a try,but be careful.

[hawkbow]

I have shot loads of fish with primitive equipment.. my favorite is to get in my canoe and use my regular hunting gear... broadheads are great for carp.. but those buggers will shear off a cedar shaft just from the force of the drag in the water. cedar are great with lightweight head because they float but you will break a few.... Ipe will probably sink.. nothing worse than an arrow with a broken string laying on the bottom just waiting for you to take the plunge and retrieve it.. a wounded carp will usually let you get another arrow in it because they tend to head for the bank when shot... god luck brother.. you will havea great adventure I am sure.. Hawk a/ho

[koan]

They cane/bamboo that Auggie and I use works great! Less than $1 a pce. at Lowes(tomato stakes, tonkin bamboo...sshh, they might raise the price) Dont require much straightening cuz you got a string tied to the back that corrects the arrow flite, and as was mentioned before, if your shootin over bout 15' your just hoping on a lot of luck . Inexpensive trot line string is what i use mostly. I get 80# test, several hundred feet for just a couple dollars.....Brian

[SteveO]

 I posted pictures quite a while back of one of my methods for bowfishing with wooden arrows.

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,2376.msg32675.html#msg32675

 

[uscg4good]

I have heard of people just using their cull arrows with broadheads and no line.  Dead fish float and you can pick them up.  Never tried it.

Only problem here is...missing.  Bye broadhead and arrow.   Also, it would be easy to get a pass through, and the fish may die and float up, but again you've lost an arrow and broadhead.