Bowfishing differs from bow hunting on land in a number of ways, which explains the need for specialized equipment – not least of which is the retriever reel, a spool of tough fishing line that is used to connect the arrow to a float. These lines may be immensely tough – for example, those used in hunting alligators may have a weight rating of six-hundred forty pounds or more. Heavier types are also used for alligator gars, whose sharp-edged, armored scales will slice through thinner lines and cause you to lose both your arrow and your fish.
Where a line on a land-hunting arrow would be an immense hindrance – snagging on branches and accomplishing nothing useful for the hunter – a line is absolutely necessary in bowfishing, since there is no other way to retrieve your fish unless your shot happens to kill it instantly. Since bowfishing arrows are fired from a range of a few feet at most, any effects of the line on their flight are basically imperceptible, especially if the line is correctly attached to a safety slide to prevent arrow snapback. …show more content…
Instead, the line is coiled inside a bottle or canister to ensure smooth, rapid feed of the line. The line is often attached to a bright, easily-spotted float which will mark the position of your catch when it finally comes to rest, allowing you to retrieve both your fish and your