Have you ever...

[sir huntsalot]

Bowfished out of a canoe? I was curious because my roommate and I were thinking about rigging his old one out to bowfish some shallow water, but we can't find much information on how to go about doing it. We really need a cost effective way (college students), and any information/pictures would be appreciated.
What are the laws about boating at night in a canoe (running lights)? Is it legal to carry a sidearm?

Thanks in Advance
Allen

[Coach W]

Have you ever tried standing up in a canoe? None the less drawing, and makind a precise shot. Would have to have some out riggers for stability. I would attach lights to front of canoe, back of canoe, and both front and back of out riggers.

Heres what I have done in college and it could fwork for you. You might be better off finding a small bass tracker with a trolling motor and and extra battery or two for the lights, generator would be a plus.

Whatever you decide to do get it on video and put it on youtube... I wanna see this!

[PSD Ryan]

I almost wouldn't consider my jon boat stable enough. I'd never attempt it in a canoe.

[sir huntsalot]

Coach W,
We considered the bass tracker idea, but the water is too shallow (we scoot over the tops of fallen trees as it is). As for the standing up, we both fish out of it standing up with no accidents yet, but i could see how having a thrashing fish attached to an arrow might rock the boat. And we'll at least get some pictures to post if we don't get video.

[flyby]

Forget the video. Doubt you'll be able to salvage it from a wet videocamera.

Should be fun though. Don't take anything you don't want wet.

[bowhuntertex]

I bowfish out of my jonboats all the time on the Pedernales River in shallow water. We just stand on the seats........I don't think a canoe would be stable enough without some type of pontoons on both sides....

[sir huntsalot]

I like the pontoon idea, but i don't know if we could work with something that wide. Anything wider than 3 1/2 feet would have to be readily detachable and lightweight, and would probably still put us at a disadvantage. Lots of exposed trees, narrow cuts and sharp turns.

[ayo7311]

I don't thnk I'd try bowfishing a canoe... sounds like something I'd come up with, therefore I guarantee it wouldn't work

[sir huntsalot]

Well now I definitely have to do it.

[txcountryboy86]

would be interesting to watch!!

[Patton]

yeah i have done it out of my old timer canoe with a friend and it worked fine. its a little shakey but you get used it, much easier if only one person shoots at a time. never had any success but we took shots at fish and had a blast!

[sir huntsalot]

How did yall have the canoe rigged?

[Mudslinger]

Back in the early 70's we bowfished exclusively out of canoes. We rigged up holders for 2 Coleman lanterns and had braces we attached them too that were on the front of the canoe and used these for lights. Bowfished many an hour out of a canoe and never did fall in the water. Fell back onto a stack of dead or semi dead carp and gar many times but never out of the canoe. We got real technical when we rigged 12 volt flood lights and used the batteries out of our vehicles as power. You had to have pretty good balance though.

[SATX]

It can be done very easily. You just need a set of outriggers. These aren't extended as far as they can go. Makes it extremely stable.

[sir huntsalot]

Thanks guys! SATX, what do you use for lighting?