Types

• Bow fishing is categorized as either day fishing or night fishing. Night fishing requires high power lights to spot the fish, thus setting up a boat for night fishing is expensive. Day fishing is more common and is the easiest entrance into the sport, providing many opportunities in most locations.
  
  

Time Frame

• Bow fishing is best at early dawn and dusk throughout the year, as this is when it is easiest to spot fish. During normal daylight hours the sun casts a glare on the water, making it almost impossible to spot fish. Spring is the best season for daytime bow fishing due to the fish bedding in shallow water for extended periods of time. Nighttime fishing is also best during the early spring spawning times. This keeps the fish on the beds throughout the night and are thus more easily approached.
  
  

Geography

• Bow fishing is not limited to any geographic region. All you need is a body of water and fish. Obviously, the bigger the fish the better, because small fish make hard targets. Carp are found throughout the U.S. and are a favorite fish of bow fishers due to their large size. You will probably have the most success in shallow waters such as pools off rivers and ponds. If fishing a river, look for an area of shallow, slow-moving water.
  
  

Benefits

• Bow fishing is a good way to practice archery during the hunting off-season. Many deer hunters will bow fish to keep their archery skill sharp year-round. Bow fishing is known to be very demanding in accuracy and will improve an archer's shooting ability.
  
  

Warning

• Laws regulating bow fishing vary by state. Check your state's laws for season dates, licenses needed and general rules before bow fishing. General boating laws apply as well.