In Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay in Michigan, anglers can bow and spear fish as well as drop a line from a rod and reel. The 60-mile-long bay, with waters up to 133 feet deep, offers bow anglers the chance to shoot fish from the shoreline of seven counties or from a flat-bottomed boat. With a fishing season open between other game seasons, bow fishing allows archers the chance to hone their skills between hunting seasons.
Types of Fish
Bow anglers in the Saginaw Bay area are allowed to spear bowfin, bullhead, burbot, carp, catfish, drum, gar, lake herring, muskellunge, northern pike, smelt, suckers and whitefish. Spear and bow fishing is not allowed for bass, salmon, trout and walleye in the area. Fishing for muskellunge and northern pike is restricted to December to March, but all other fish have a year-round season.
When
Even though bow fishing is allowed year-round, the best times to fish are May through August for carp and December to March for pike. Carp spawn in shallow waters in the Saginaw Bay in the spring. This spawning period is a great time to grab your waders and shoot carp from the bay shore when fish are very abundant. In deeper waters, it's more difficult to shoot fish because of the water's surface glare and angle. Aim low at fish when shooting them from the shore or boat to avoid the surface glare.
Equipment
Any size bow will work when bow fishing in Saginaw Bay. However a 50-pound recurve bow with no sight works best. Recurve bows allow anglers to shoot fish at half draw or even at a quarter of the draw cycle. Bow anglers should also invest in fiberglass arrows with a fish tip, which has a sharp point flanked by two large barbs. Fish tipped arrows can be attached to the bow with a reel and fishing line, which helps bring the fish to you after you shoot them.
License
All anglers 17 years old or older must have a fishing license to bow fish in the Saginaw Bay. Michigan residents and non-residents can buy a 24-hour fishing license or a year-long fishing license to bow fish. Licenses cover any fish species caught during a fishing trip except trout or salmon, which require a separate fishing license.
Regulations
Some fish species have catch regulations. All catfish must be at least 12 inches long with a 10 catch per day limit. Northern pike must be at least 24 inches long with a two-fish daily limit. Muskellunge must be at least 42 inches long and only one can be caught per day. Whitefish and lake herring have a 12 per day catch limit. Bow anglers are also allowed to spear fish through ice and use a light for night fishing during the year. Michigan limits bow spears to spring or rubber propelled from any bow.
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