Bowfishing 2012 (all postings)

I have seen a recipe for carp that seems like it might be ok. Hang the carp on a fence post for a couple of days in the hot sun; then throw away the carp and eat the post.

As far as suckers go for contamination as fertilizer, I think they would be ok. The DNR has a page about contamination levels of fish from various waters you might want to check. But I don't think suckers rate as high on the "bad" list as carp or even musky.

Kinda new into the bowfishing and looking for ideas of how to properly dispose of the fish...usually shoot in the waukesha area..

Definitely not, I'm kind of afraid to try eating one

Is everyone eating the carp they shoot?

#Eaterofthecarp

Where are you located? I'm sure members of this message board, or of the Wisconsin Bowfishing Association could provide you with as many fish as you want depending on where you live.

If I liked the taste of fish more I would try them, but unfortunately I don't even have a taste for species like walleyes, or crappie.

Walleyes they are great for fertilizer and you have little to worry about as far as contaminates. For some of the shoots we hold the fish are given to a company that makes liquid fertilizer out of them. I use them all of the time in my garden and the plants sure do like them. Some guys do smoke them or pickle them but how many can you really eat? We just try to put them to use as best as we can and help by ridding our waters of these destructive invasive species.

And have a whole lot of fun in the process.

Thank you, The reason I ask is I'm an organic gardener, and would like to use them as fertilizer like our native ancestors but I'm concerned about all the heavy metals they pick up (ie. mercury) while sifting through mucky bottoms. Does anybody know about this? I specifically am thinking of using redhorse suckers from the wolf river system. Thanks for the info.

I'd love to say that we have a great plan for the fish, but they get buried and fertilize the ground. Some others have relationships with farmers to dump them in their fields for the same purpose.

Others use the fish for bait on trap lines. Others donate them to mink farmers or raptor rehabilitation centers for food.

I've been wrapping my brain around ways to utilize the fish that are more productive, but have yet to come up with a firm plan that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

I really feel like I'm making a difference when I shoot fish out of known gamefish waters like Big Cedar Lake because carp can be so detrimental to other native species. But these smaller mill ponds are overrun with small carp and it's more fun than anything.

just curious what you guys do with all those carp? Thanks

This warm weather gave CarpKiller02 and I another shot at the fish in Sheboygan county. We dragged his boat onto Hingham Mill Pond and we managed 132 in about 5 hours. Nothing bigger than about 5 lbs, but lots of action and near perfect conditions. Great night to be out! Lots of misses and a couple really lucky shots. I got my first drunken double as I shot through a carp and a beer can with one shot. Later in the night we had to move the barrel to the back as we came within an inch or 2 of swamping the boat.

I don't know if I'll get out again this year, but this was an awesome year for me. I learned a lot from folks on this site as well as many others. Plus I learned from the tournaments I went to and the people I fished with. I'm hoping to upgrade to a bigger boat next year with more capacity and get a little more serious about the tournaments.

im located around the milwaukee area but i am willing to travel i will lookin into big green thanks

scouting for next season..

my buddy and i shoot alot of smaller lakes but recently have been shooting the bago system. we have pretty good luck out there but not on the gar, they all seem to be 8 to 10" long and hard to hit, anybody have a spot that might have bigger fish? if willing to help me out please message thanks

Dirtball, Id give big green a try its been pretty productive this fall since the weeds have died off

Where are you located? I put my boat away for the season, but I'm regretting that as the temps are still bearable. I would focus on the bigger lakes right now that haven't skimmed over yet. Other than that there could be some good shooting in some of the rivers. I've heard the Rock river is still shooting pretty good, but I've never been there.

I didn't post these results, but I managed 3 fish in my last trip of the year. A 5lb sucker, a 25lb common and another smaller common.

A couple days before that CarpKiller02 and I managed another 112 fish out of the Waldo Mill Pond.

does anyone know where i can shoot some carp this weekend