Bowfishing Club....

[Ðe§perado™]

What are your thought on starting a bowfishing club here in Ohio? The states around us have one and why shouldn't we have one. I was trying to get one going before the Buckeye Classic , but not sure what happened. What do you guys think?:)

[spencerstub]

i would not mind being part of a club , i dont know much about them, or what i could do to help but it sounds like a good idea

[Ðe§perado™]

I'm hoping to spark some interest. I know some local shops that just might help us out if we get enough interest.;)

[zfish]

I would be interested it sounds like fun and always wanted to try it. :)

[Steve]

Feel free to use our forum and calendar to organize it.

[Caribou Dreamer2]

That sounds great let me know what it all involves and what has to be done to join but count me in, i also have a buddy that will join also

[Q2XL]

oh yea count me in .lets get this thing a rollin

[ohioguy]

hey clarence just like everything else.people talk alot about getting something started but that is about as far as it goes!are we going to have another shoot this year? mark and i have been kicking around some ideas? if we are going to have one we should start thinking about where and what kind of format?

[LookMa-NoHands!]

I'm game as far as a club goes. I really enjoyed the Buckeye Classic last year, hopefully it gets off the ground this year. I thought it had a good turn out for being a first year tourney. I would like to see it just a little earlier in the year-but it's not that big a deal if it isn't. The big 15 format was also nice-a lot easier transporting 15 fish rather than a few dozen or hundred!

[ohioguy]

anyone that shot in the buckeye classic let us know if you are interested in having the tourney again this year? and if everyone liked the big 15 format?? the idea of getting a club off the ground is to organize and and increase the interest in the sport. one of the ways this accomplished is by having "club shoots" these are designed to be FUN! getting together to meet other guys and check out other peoples rigs and gear and for new people to learn things to make them a better bowfisherman.the idea here is for it to be fun. whit-1 and desperado and myself would love to put the tourney on again if there is interest

[CARPN-JAKE]

I liked the format.....With a big 15 forat it made it possible for anyone to win..not just the guys with the big boats...
Also, I'm up for some sorta state club....I'm just not sure how we could get it to work...Its a great idea but with all of us spread across the state it'd be really hard for everyone to meet up....I'm also curious how amny of ya'll are memebers of the BAA...For those that aren't familier the Bowfishing Association of America is pretty much the only national organization that is dedicated to bowfishing.

[Ðe§perado™]

I would love to have another tournament , but this time keep it in a general area and not state wide or across lines. Maybe pick a section of the state at a time and everyone has to stay in that area. But I wanted to get the list of guys that was in the last shoot so I can try to contact them too. We need to at least keep trying to get things going then just sit back on our hands and say we are going to do this . I want this to happen and It will if we don't give up.

[Caribou Dreamer2]

sounds great about picking a lake or general area and staying in that area,I did not make last years tournament but i am going to make some this year.i really like to mich one.

[LookMa-NoHands!]

I really liked the fact that we could go wherever last year to get our fish. I would like to see it stay in Ohio, but not really in a given section of the state. That would give too much advantage to the 'locals' who may know the area better than others. It gives everyone a fair chance I think. Plus if guys w/o boats want to compete, they can.

As far as getting it organized, what do we need to do? What about having a sanctioned shoot with the BAA? What is involved in that? I think if we can get this thing rolling now it could be very big this year. Another thing that would draw people is the money. Didn't the winner last year recieve $450 or so? Advertise that and it would get a few peoples attention. Just my thoughts.

[Ðe§perado™]

Having the tournaments in different areas on the state will give the locals a better chance. But when the next one comes in another area, they don't have the uppr hand. But keeping it in the state of ohio would be better. I'm going to check with some shops to see what they would like to do this year for a tournament. I'm going to be looking for a partner this year since I didn't have one last year. I like the format of 10 fish and would like to pick 5 lakes in a given area. Then the next tournament in a different area. Like cutting the state up into four sections. each corner being a section. Please send me your e-mail addresses if you really want to help out and I will see what you can do in your area and we will get this thing going.;)

[CARPN-JAKE]

I like the idea of having one big shoot in a central location of the state and letting folks go where they want...I think you'll get a better turnout that way, otherwise alot of guys will just wait for the shoot to come to their area and you'll end up having 4 shoots with 4 teams per shoot instead of one big one....I know if the tournys are broke up into small shoots I'll have a hard time makin em....

[Caribou Dreamer2]

Good point there jake

[Ðe§perado™]

That's a good point Jake. But having it move around could draw in more members. Most guys don't want to travel that far to shoot since some don't have boats. But having a central shoot is good , just need to organize it. But we can't have people come from out of state to an Buckeye shoot and not get the fish in the state of ohio. But travel out of state to get them and bring them here. C'mon that is why the rules of having it down to a few lakes in different sections. But will look at all the options. ;)

[CARPN-JAKE]

I agree that the shoot should be held to Ohio, no doubt there...and I agree also that having small shoots would definetly draw more members for a club....I guess I was just looking for a way to get maximum turnout for the Big state shoot so it could actually be more competitive and attract some of the big shooters from other states...

[Ðe§perado™]

I see your point about bringing in the big shooters for the tournaments. But I feel as some of the shooters I spoke to we should have different classes. For your skill level. Pros, and amateurs. But will need to see what everyone wants to do. But as we get the tournaments started we can get more input for the guys about what they want to do in a tournament.

[Whit_1]

How would you divide between "PROS & AMATURES"??
What would be the criteria??

[Ðe§perado™]

I don't know. That was brought to my attention in an e-mail and I just though it out there. ;)

When it warms up I would like to get some people together and start putting something down on paper and getting this going.

[Caribou Dreamer2]

You could always seperate by sponsor shooter and non sponser shooter.Just a thought.To me i dont care bring on those pro's because if i won i knew i have beaten the best:D

[Ðe§perado™]

I guess that is a way of doing it.;)

[Whit_1]

Well than I think every one in Ohio will be shooting in the Ama. div.because I dont think that there are too many sponcered shooters here in OHIO..IF ANY

[Whit_1]

I'm with you Caribou......You can never call yourself the best unless you beat the best..:D :D :D

[Ðe§perado™]

I guess Mark (whit1) being the World Champions in the Sportsman Class, you and Tracy (ohioguy)are the ones to beat...HUH?

[Whit_1]

Not in this sport...The winner is the guy who puts in the most work finding the fish..And gets a little help from mother nature..I have went to a tournament and found what I thought was needed to win it and the next day a cold front came through and all the fish that we had found were GONE..As far as what format should be used for a tournament...It really dosen't matter to me..The only person who is going to be 100% satisfied is the on who wins.No matter what you do there will be people who do not like a particular format..I have been kicking around an idea with Tracy..Tell me what you think..I would like to get around 15-20 boats(2 or 3 man team)and run a day/night heavy 20..It would work like this..You would go out and shoot during the day and weigh in you largerst 20 fish.That number would be recorded.Than we could have a few hours to rest ,eat,do what ever.Than we would go back out and shoot another 20 fish.The winner would be determined by the total weight of the forty fish..
What do you guys think??

[carpwarrior]

i have never shot a tournament, but i would like to and count me in, i dont care if i have to break bozzwels legs to get him out there

[Caribou Dreamer2]

Sounds great to me but what kind of area are you talking about Ohio wide or a local lake all boats on one lake or can you tavel to wherever you like to go.Sounds like a lot of travel time.

[Whit_1]

With this format we would all shoot at the same lake.The reason for the heavy 20 is so that the guys who feel like they are at a disadvantage becase of smaller boats would be more likely to compete in this style of tournament..Also I forgot to mention that we would most likely have a big fish pot for both the day and the night parts of the shoot..Anyone else out there have any sugguestions or ideas???

[Caribou Dreamer2]

Sounds good to me let me know when and where at

[Ðe§perado™]

That's a good Idea. But some guys don't have night bowfishing equiped boats. Are they excluded, or just sit out during the night shoots?

[CARPN-JAKE]

Clarence...
I'm guessing that if someone didn't have a night setup then they couldn't shoot this tourny...But that doesn't mean that we couldn't have another tourny to acomidate(sp?) day shooters....Once this club get goin and people see how fun and productive night shooting is people will be riggin their boats for it....trust me...Just make a trip down here and I'll take you and and I can promise you that you'll see what I mean...you'll be finding a way to start rigging a night setup the next day...also once your setup for night it opens up alot more tournys to you (if your interested in traveling) since at least 80 percent of the shoots take place at night......I know your trying to find a way to make everyone happy but trust me, no matter what you do there will be people whining so save yourself a headache and have some fun!!!

[jerry weber]

i agree with carpn jake the more complicated you want to make it, some people will say the heck with it and not come. leave it fairly simple and it will work out. i think it should be anywhere to hunt,if you want to drive any distance to fish so be it,it just takes more time out your huntin, if you have a favorite lake close by it,s your advantage over the guy that likes to drive far.just my two cents worth!!!

[george tinkham]

only boat i have is a paddleboat.

[Ðe§perado™]

Your right jake, I just need to keep it simple and go with it. ;)

[LookMa-NoHands!]

All I have to add is this: If it ain't broke, then don't try to fix it! Last years tourney was a success in my opinion, and may have been bigger if people knew the money involved plus maybe a little more advertising.

I say keep the same or similar format as last year. I don't remember anyone complaining about last year's tourney-they won't complain about this years either.

[Whit_1]

Hands,
Here was the problem that we had last year. We didn;t know how many teams were going to show up so we couldn't put a gaurenteed (sp) amount of money on the advertisement's for the tournament. Now if we can get some sort of "Ohio Bowfishermens Club"started here in the next month or so and can get everyone to say that they are going to shoot the tournament we will have an idea of how much money we can pay out..I agree with you that a few more teams might have shown up if they knew that they could win a couple of hundred dollars..
As far as the club goes,last year we handed out membership applications to everyone who was there and even gave guys extras to take back home with them..And out of about 50 applications that we handed out we had a big fat 0 sent in..Was there something wrong with them..If we are going to have a "CLUB" each member is going to have to pay a litle bit of money to help support that club..Tracy,Clarence,&Myself all put a lot of time,effort and a little cash to make sure this thing would get off the ground last year.And as for myself I was really dissappointed when we didnt get back a single application..I guess all I am saying is it takes more than saying you want a CLUB to have a club.

[Ðe§perado™]

Well said Mark!

[CARPN-JAKE]

I've still got a copy of the membership app from last yr.....Anyone who wants one e-mail me your name and address and I'll mail you one.....

[Arrow 1]

What tournament are you guys talking about?

[CARPN-JAKE]

ARROW1...Last yr there was a tourny called the BUCKEYE CLASSIC....that is the one everyone here is talking about

[Arrow 1]

Could someone please fill me in on the Buckeye Classic? Looking for info like team or individual, location, time of year, etc.

[carpwarrior]

yea jake send me some info , send bozzwel some too maybe it would get him allstired up and ready to go, to a big shoot

[CARPN-JAKE]

I'll send ya the info...Good luck getting Bozz into it....you'll need it...

[Ðe§perado™]

Arrow1 , it was a tournament held in Ohio. You can go anywhere you wanted to get your fish. But you had to be at the Outdoor store in Sunbury. So you can sign in and be back there the next day at weigh in. Going to try to have something like that this year. Just try to keep people in this state when they go get there fish or pick a group of lakes to stay in. Just don't know yet.

[Ðe§perado™]

I talked to several pro shops and fishing shops and they are interested in helping out. I need some people to let me know about helping out and getting a meeting set in the central area of Ohio. I'm going to see if I can secure a meeting place. If your serious about this step up. If I don't get any help with this , it just going to be a waste of time. :)

Some have brung up different names to call the club in a different post. We can work on that when we get together.

[Caribou Dreamer2]

Sounds great but make the meeting on a weekend can't make it during the week(second shifter).

[Ðe§perado™]

I'm hoping to make it in the afternoon on the weekend. I work 1st shift but only Tues. and Thurs. off.:(

[Ðe§perado™]

Just bumping it back up.;)

[george tinkham]

well i like shooting carp .but i haven't done it for a while,lots of action,thats what i like.but i need to find a carp eater first.sure is lots of fun.i do know that.guess i need to hit the upper end of hoover again.

[Ðe§perado™]

George I head up that way also. Great place to go. Do you take a boat or do you wade?

[george tinkham]

mostly shoot from the bank or wade.sometimes the water is over the road at the upper end and i wade the road.very good action.

[Ðe§perado™]

There is alot of action up that way. But if you walk down that road toward the bridge is out and move to the left of it. There is an area that looks only about 1 foot deep and I see lots of gar right in that area. Thats where I got my 3 1/2 footer at. Lots of them in that area. Even off the end of that area the right or south of that bridge.

[george tinkham]

me thinks this is where the river comes into the lake.

[Ðe§perado™]

This is true. I have been way up in there and there is some very large fish there. We'll hook up and go up the river and stick a few.

[CARPN-JAKE]

Clarence when do the buffs start coming shallow in the spring? I'm thinkin a nightime trip is in order so we can introduce you shootin under the lights....That'll motivate you to finish rigging out your boat for night shootin...

[Ðe§perado™]

They start in the middle of April. I'm just looking for a generator right now. Waiting on the tax money. But love to go out on your boat.

[george tinkham]

do you guys keep these carp and buffalo sukers?i have filleted carp before but didn't have the guts to eat it.but i have no problem finding those that will take them...filleted or not.

[Ðe§perado™]

I have given them to people fishing there in the area where I'm bowfishing. Also call some shelters before i go to see if they want them. I always try to find a use for them, If possible.

[george tinkham]

i never have a problem at hoover .the carp eaters will approach and ask for the carp.they like bowfishers.

[Ðe§perado™]

That's true. Most of the people up that way know the Mud Shark and ask to have the fish even before I leave at times. LOL;)

[george tinkham]

i have had them follow me or wade out in the water and get them from me.very grateful too.

[Caribou Dreamer2]

That sounds like a good trade off ,yuo shoot them and then someone comes and gets them from you.Sounds great when are we going?

[george tinkham]

i think i usually bowfeeshd there in the merry merry month of may.

[LookMa-NoHands!]

Well, to quote my good friend Bubba Gump.....

You can bake em.....broil em.....grill em.....smoke em.....fry em....there's buffalo fillets....buffalo relish.....buffalo sandwiches.....buffalo on a stick....powdered buffalo...buffalo on a rope.....liquid buffalo.....sliced buffalo...canned buffalo....buffalo in the tailpipe.....you can hang em from trees....buffalo frisbee...buffalo baseball.....pin the tail on the buffalo.....cajun fried buffalo.....buffalo spam.....hidden valley buffalo....buffalo chips....Kentucky Fried Buffalo......buffalo nuggets.....Boston baked buffalo.....buffalo salad.....buttermilk buffalo bisquits...


Man I'm bored......is it time to go shoot fish yet?

Oh yeah, on a more serious note-I saw some BUFFALO FILLETS for sale at Krogers today. They were like $4.50 for two fillets!!

YUK!! :eek:

[george tinkham]

now wouldn't that be grand if kroger would buy our carp and buffalo suckers.

[cwcarper]

I've heard buffalo were good eating -- not that I'm going to try it to find out. I've seen whole buffalo in the seafood case at supermarkets before, big ones too.

[george tinkham]

i might have to try buff. from kroger

[Ðe§perado™]

I will have to go over to Kroger's and see this Buff on sale. Not sure about eating it, but might try it to see what it taste like.;)

[george tinkham]

better hurry before i buy it all.

[Caribou Dreamer2]

you guys can have all that fish you can eat leave me out:(

[LookMa-NoHands!]

I just wonder how many people buy it not knowing what a buffalo really is?

They probably think it's some exotic saltwater fish! LOL!!

[Ðe§perado™]

I think that is so true. Most people don't know what it really is. I'm going to have to try to ask a few people i see in that area looking at it, Do you know what kind of fish that is? Just to see what they say!!! LOL:D :D ;)

[george tinkham]

or bowfin ,mudfish

[Ðe§perado™]

You just never know.

[george tinkham]

ever catch a mudfish(bowfin)

[Ðe§perado™]

Yes and got some bowfishing also.

[george tinkham]

HARD FIGHTERS!

[Ðe§perado™]

Very true. When i have hooked some they make several short runs. But you really never know what you have until it hits the surface. They fight like carp do.;)

[george tinkham]

they are considered a rough fish too.

[cwcarper]

Anywhere around here (central ohio) have a catchable population of bowfin? I've always wanted to catch one.

[george tinkham]

i have lucked into a few.i caught many more in florida.texas.i know they are in ohio too.

[Ðe§perado™]

The ones I got was when I was living in Ga.

[CARPN-JAKE]

I've gotten em in Lake Erie...I imagine there area also some in the Ohio river? Portage Lakes also has a few...

[Caribou Dreamer2]

Bowfin is there another name for then like dogfish if so we caught alot of them in florida on lake trafford and that lake that is a mile long name obecobbbyybybyby something like that.Man those dude put on one heck of a fight,I can remember the first time i caught one never knew what is was and thought man that one big largmouth then went to lip that thing in the boat and that was not going to happen.

[george tinkham]

they have about 20 names

[george tinkham]

has a long fin running full length down it back

[Ðe§perado™]

It's funny to see someone that never caught one before and when they get it in, just sit and watch .It is just too funny. :D

[george tinkham]

prehistoric fish,been here a long time.

[Ðe§perado™]

You know, I normally don't run across them very often. Just seen them in back of bays or off shoots of rivers. Where have you guys found them?

[george tinkham]

i have caught them in ohio but can't remember where.but they were common down south.

[Ðe§perado™]

I was looking into the bowfishing records of Ohio. Seen that there is some large bowfin caught in Erie. When I go up that way to bowfish I'm going to try for a big one and get some pics to post.