Bowfishing Mississippi Delta Waters

For the outdoorsman there can be a real lull during the months between the close of spring turkey season at the end of April and the opening of dove and teal seasons in September. Fishing some of the outstanding Delta lakes in search of game fish as well as hitting the links helps pass the time in sportsman style. Also, of course, scouting out new potential duck holes, planting food sources and building blinds is a priority. Bowfishing is another fun sport that combines fishing skills with the thrill of the hunt and, who knows, you might even discover a new secluded duck hole.

As I was becoming acclimated to my new Delta lifestyle about 4 years ago, a group of friends took me on my first bowfishing adventure. I only shot a few that night but was hooked. Bowfishing is not only exciting, but it is also inexpensive. With the costs of my other hunting habits, this was a real plus.

Any longbow, straight or recurve, or compound bow can be used for bowfishing. Don’t use your best bow because bows get a lot of rough treatment with this sporting activity. Fiberglass or aluminum arrows need to be equipped with the heads designed so that barbs can be reversed or removed to permit removal of the arrow from the fish. One end of a line having a minimum breaking strength of forty (40) pounds, and a minimum of forty (40) feet should be attached to the arrow being used, and the other end of the line should be attached to the bow or some type of reel which is attached to the bow. My set up is on an old compound bow with a BMS retriever reel and Trophy Ridge bowfishing rest. I use fiberglass Muzzy arrows that can be found in any local hunting store carrying bowfishing supplies.

The Delta is full of places to bowfish. You can hunt during the day or night, from a mounted platform on a boat, a bridge or raised bank. I prefer night because it seems that the fish feel more secure and come out more. Bowfishing at night can produce some excellent fish. The best way is to use a spotlight to shine on the fish. This method prevents the fish from spooking very easily. Grass carp are the most jittery of the non-game fish and take more patience and hunting savvy. Our lakes, rivers and backwaters are full of this species, which were originally stocked in catfish ponds to control weeds and algae. Fish can be shot at depths of five or six feet.

Non-game fish such as buffalo, carp and gar are all legal to bowfish and many lakes and waterways are overpopulated with these varieties. The alligator gar is a predator high on the food chain, capable of consuming abundant non-game forage species too large for most predators to eat. They can live up to 50 years. The Mississippi Department of Wldlife, Fisheries and Parks has recently stocked alligator gar into Bee Lake in Holmes County in an effort at controlling Asian Carp that entered the lake during flooding. If you harvest a tagged alligator gar , report the catch by phoning (601) 432-2400.

I have already enjoyed some productive outings this spring, bagging a gar weighing 25lbs and another weighing 18lbs along with some decent buffalo. When the water is muddy from runoff, the fishing is difficult. Summertime bowfishing trips have come to be an event I look forward to. The thing that keeps me coming back is that I never know what I might shoot. Getting a fight from a big fish that I just stuck is a huge rush and will keep me coming back for more. There are always locals who treat the fish as a delicacy and consider them good to eat when prepared the proper way. I pass them on and don’t dump them out or throw them away.

Enjoy all the sporting activities that the MS Delta has to offer. Stay tuned for our summer activities.