Ahhh, what’s not to love about the sport of bowfishing? My natural affinity for water and Aquaman-like appearance – only miniature – naturally led me to this fascinating sport. If you’re just getting started or have some years under your belt, I’m here to help you choose the best bowfishing bow, regardless of skill level. In this guide, you’ll find budget options all the way up to the best bowfishing kit to get you rocking and rolling right out of the box.
If you’ve already tried to convert your current bow to a bowfishing setup, you’ve most likely realized that it’s better/easier to upgrade to a designated bow fishing bow. The best bowfishing bows combine elements of compound bows and recurve bows for the silkiest smooth draws with almost no recoil. Once you get the hang of using one, you’ll be hooked (no pun intended).
Before we look at the bows, let’s quickly go over several of the key features to consider when choosing a bow.
How to Choose a Bowfishng Bow
Important features to consider:
- Reels – Bowfishing bows use specialized reels, and not all bows include reels. Be sure to check whether the bow you choose includes a reel.
- Arrow Rests – Similar to reels, bowfishing bows incorporate special arrow rests that typically come with bowfishing kits. You’ll find options in this guide that are complete kits.
- Arrow Speed – The faster the top speed the faster the arrow gets to the fish with a more devastating impact (use this calculator to determine your arrow speed).
- Draw Weight – If you’re new to bowfishing, look for bows with larger draw weight ranges to work your way up the ladder.
- Draw Length – Tall fishermen with long arms want to opt for bows with high maximum draw lengths and vice versa for short fishermen & youth.
- Orientation – This may sound obvious, but always be sure to choose the right orientation for your strong hand. In this guide, you’ll find the best left-handed bowfishing bow to complement the more common right-handed selections.
Those are the most important features to consider. Now that you’re in the right mindset, let’s get cracking with the bows.
Reviews: Best Bowfishing Bows
In my reviews, you’ll quickly discover the key highlights of each bow, plus the reasons you may or may not want to choose a particular model.
#1) Oneida Eagle Osprey
The bow that every bowfishing bow wants to be like is Oneida’s Eagle Osprey. Built & designed in America by professional bowfishermen, this bow is will take you from zero to hero. In other words, when you invest in this bow, you don’t have to worry about buying another bow, ever. First, as I mentioned in the introduction, the best bowfishing bow blends compound & recurve bow elements into one.
As a result, you get a silky-smooth draw that allows you to release at any point. Clearly, you see the advantage of being able to release at mid-draw rather than having to sit at full draw. Make no mistake, bowfishing is a fast-paced sport. Next, Osprey’s Lever Action Design absorbs recoil like a champ.
Several final highlights are the customizable draw weight & length, ultra-light magnesium rise for a 3.4lb total bow weight, and Oneida backs its bows with a limited lifetime warranty. However, the warranty is non-transferable, meaning you must be the original owner.
Pros
- Designed by professional bowfishermen
- Made in America
- The smoothest draw
- Adjustable draw length & draw weight
- Right-handed and left-handed models
- Super lightweight (3.4 lbs)
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not the most beginner-friendly
- High cost
#2) Muzzy LV-X Bowfishing Kit
Do you prefer everything included? If you answered yes, this is the best bowfishing kit. Unlike the Oneida bow above, this kit includes a pre-spooled XD Pro Push-Button Reel, an integrated reel seat, a Mantis II Arrow Rest, finger guards, and a fiberglass arrow with a Muzzy Carp Point. Additionally, the bow itself features premium Oneida limbs.
Next, Muzzy combined the Oneida limbs with its billet-machined aluminum riser to create the Frankenstein of bowfishing bows. Expect an exceptionally smooth draw with enough adjustments to fine-tune the LV-X to your liking. Since bowfishing is all about comfort, you know you’re getting that from the LV-X.
Regarding adjustability, the LV-X features a 25″ to 29″ draw length adjustment, 25 to 50lb draw weight range, and an adjustable let-off of 0 to 60%. Consequently, you’ll have no limits when it comes time to dial in this bow to your liking. Plus, once you get dialed in, the 320 fps max arrow speed delivers all the power you need to hit your mark.
Pros
- Made with premium Oneida limbs
- Pre-spooled reel with Tournament Test Line
- Mantis II arrow rest included
- 25 to 50lb draw weight range for beginners and experts
- Powerful 320 fps max arrow speed
- Adjustable 0 to 60% let-off
Cons
- 1-year warranty is shorter than Oneida’s
- No left-handed model yet
#3) Cajun Bowfishing Sucker Punch Bow Package
Now for the best bowfishing bow for beginners and youth, the Sucker Punch by Cajun Bowfishing. If you’re familiar with Bear Archery, Cajun teamed up with them to design this unique bow. First, the main reason this bow is great for beginners and youth is the extra-large draw length range of 17″ to 31″. Plus, the draw weight range of 17 to 50lbs allows for just about anyone to jump on this bow.
Compared to my first two picks, this bow works differently in that it comes with different cam modules. To explain, one set is for a constant draw, and the other set features a 60% off. With the let-off modules, you’re able to get those wide draw weight and draw length ranges. Then, once you gain experience, it’s easy to switch to the constant-draw module.
Lastly, the Sucker Punch kit comes with everything you need to get started. You’ll find a Fishing Biscuit arrow rest, Cajun Hybrid reel, Cajun Blister Buster finger pads, and two fiberglass arrows with Piranha points for bowfishing. All in all, this is my favorite bowfishing kit for beginners who want to grow into the bow.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Big 17″ to 31″ draw range for youth and adults
- The package includes everything you need to get started
- Includes two sets of cam modules for constant draw and let-off
- Lightweight at 3.2 lbs
- No Refraction Warranty
Cons
- Could be easier on the wallet for the beginner
- You might prefer the compound/recurve limb style
#4) CenterPoint Archery Typhon Bowfishing Kit
Another great bowfishing kit is CenterPoint’s Typhon package. First, the good news for left-handed people is that the included spin-cast reel allows for ambidextrous retrieval. Secondly, of my first four picks, the Typhon kit is the most affordable at the time of this writing. Third, it offers adjustability similar to the Sucker Punch kit which makes it a good choice for all skill levels.
In detail, the draw length range is 19″ to 29″, and the draw weight range is 15 to 55 lbs, which you may like if you wanted a bow with a higher max weight than 50 lbs. Next, it’s important to note that, unlike the Sucker Punch, this kit does not include multiple cam modules. However, it does include all the essential bowfishing gear you need to get started.
In total, there’s a whisker biscuit, spin-cast reel, double-locking aluminum reel seat, Cajun ACS system, a 33″ fiberglass arrow w/ carp point, and rubberized finger savers. Additionally, CenterPoint backs its bows with a competitive 5-year warranty, and this bow is lightweight at just 3.3 lbs.
Pros
- Good affordable bowfishing kit for beginners
- 19″ to 29″ draw length makes it suitable for youth
- Complete accessory package
- High 55lb max draw weight
- Weighs just 3.3 lbs
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Does not include multiple cam modules like the Sucker Punch
- You might prefer the accessories in other kits
#5) AMS Bowfishing Water Moc Recurve Bowfishing Kit
Last up is the best bowfishing recurve bow by the experts at AMS. Firstly, this kit won’t set you quite as far back as most compound bow kits. Plus, you might find that a recurve bow is more beginner-friendly for you, or just more your speed in general. Similar to the previous three picks, the Water Moc is a complete bowfishing kit.
In total, the AMS accessory package includes 35 yards of Spectra line, a white fiberglass arrow w/ Chaos FX point, AMS’ Tidal Wave arrow rest, AMS Retriever TNT, and AMS Green String Things finger savers. One accessory I really like in this package is the AMS Retriever. Next, the bow is super lightweight at just 2.5 lbs.
However, keep in mind that this bow does not have an adjustable draw weight. Instead, the fixed draw weight is 45lbs at 28″ with a brace height of 7.75″. A couple of final highlights are the fully laminated limbs, a quick-takedown function that allows you to quickly break down the bow for storage, and there’s a left-handed version available.
Pros
- Good value for the money
- AMS retriever + all necessary gear to get started
- Easily breaks down for storage
- More user-friendly than a compound bow
- The lightest at 2.5 lbs
Cons
- The 1-year warranty is shorter than competitors
- Non-adjustable draw weight
- No let-off
Bottom Line
In conclusion, to get the best bowfishing bow, stick with the best bowfishing brands. Oneida is at the top of the mountain with its top-notch quality, American-made bows designed for professional bowfishermen. However, if you’re completely green, you might want to stick with a bowfishing kit or recurve bowfishing bow.
For youth, always look for a large draw range with a lower minimum range to ensure compatibility. Plus, the good thing about a large draw range is that you’ll be able to grow into the bow without having to make another large investment later. Lastly, I really like what the Sucker Punch kit brings to the table with its interchangeable cam modules. That’s a unique feature you won’t find offered by many other brands.