Went to Lake Elsinore this morning to bowfish. Conditions were good. Calm air, water was smooth and 81°.
There was tons of baitfish along the shores making lots of distracting splashes. But when I started watching I could see the backs of carp on the surface along the edge.
Was definitely what I expected to get during a spawn. There were large groups of fish all along the mile of shoreline I walked. Once I shot and missed and scared the closet group I'd just walk 25 feet further along and there would be another group. Could've easily got my 30 goal if I'd had a way to transport and dispose of them. Maybe next time...
Got there just before sunrise so the backs of carp in the shallows was my only targets to start with. Made lots of shots on fish but only managed to hit one or two.
About 7:30 I had enough light so I could start seeing the fish below the surface. Water was murky so that meant 6 to 9 inches but made all the difference. Within less than an hour I had 10 fish.
(https://i.postimg.cc/2ydYF5Lx/20250628-081656.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I stopped at that point because I knew I would have to drag whatever I caught back to my truck.
I weighed them and they were all 3 to 5 lb range. So 40lbs to drag back.
People always say aim low.
My favorite shot is when one is swimming towards me about 6 inches below the surface. I like those shots since you shoot low but if you don't shoot low enough to get the head you have the whole body above it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/x14wmmF2/20250628-064624.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This was just low enough. 😁
-Keith
PS Anybody want some fish to fertilize their garden?
Damn, you're getting pretty good with that bow!
Went again to Lake Elsinore sunrise of 7/26/2025 and found the carp were actively feeding along the shoreline again. Lots of groups of carp in the shallows with their backs sticking up out of the water.
(https://i.postimg.cc/FHSDNmyh/20250726-054630.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rD8SNBZH)
They were on the shoreline for about an hour after sunrise and then went further out like last time.
This was only a recon trip since I haven't found a place to easily dispose of them yet.
I did bring a fishing pole and some corn but even casting into the middle of them and dragging my line across there backs didn't get much reaction. Maybe a night crawler would've done better.
Anyway, got more intel. Now I need to talk to our local waste disposal company to find out if they can offer a way to dispose of the fish without putting it in my normal trash and stinking up their trucks.
- Keith
: Latimeria July 01, 2025, 08:38:09 pDamn, you're getting pretty good with that bow!
I was "practising" all morning on the ones with there backs sticking out of the water. Lol...
Got better when shooting at the ones further out and under water. Also seems to help when I'm shooting at a single fish.
- Keith
: Dark_Knight_9C1 July 27, 2025, 08:05:56 p: Latimeria July 01, 2025, 08:38:09 pDamn, you're getting pretty good with that bow!
I was "practising" all morning on the ones with there backs sticking out of the water. Lol...
Got better when shooting at the ones further out and under water. Also seems to help when I'm shooting at a single fish.
- Keith
Your next goal should be shooting them mid-air in a jump. 8)
Well done as usual boss. I could just tell that I would totally suck at bow fishing.
Cleaning up one lake at a time! Have you tried eating one of them ever?
: jrodda July 30, 2025, 11:01:06 pCleaning up one lake at a time! Have you tried eating one of them ever?
I'm not that brave.
In the past I've eaten an opaleye perch which got me extremely sick, so I'm very picky about the fish I eat now.
The smell of the carp reminds me of the smell of the perch when I was cooking it, a little fishy but slightly sweet. It didn't smell bad but reminds me not to go there again. Lol.
- Keith
: Latimeria July 27, 2025, 05:25:21 p: Dark_Knight_9C1 July 27, 2025, 08:05:56 p: Latimeria July 01, 2025, 08:38:09 pDamn, you're getting pretty good with that bow!
Your next goal should be shooting them mid-air in a jump. 8)
Funny you should mention that. When the carp are spawning they start jumping a lot. I've spent a couple sessions trying to hit them when they jump.
I mostly would shoot where they go into the water because by the time I shoot and the arrow gets there they are in the water.
Occasionally one might be jumping multiple times and I'd be able to shoot mid air.
Never hit one. Although that was the first season I was bowfishing. If they are jumping again I may get one now.
- Keith
Years ago I saw a dead Carp at Lake Wohlford that someone put on a stick and stuck it in the ground in the upright position, it had been there for a long time cause it looked like Jerky at that point. My thought was they must be pretty nasty if a Coyote, Crow, Buzzard or any other scavenger wouldn't eat it :o
I've seen about equal number of mummified carp and skeletons.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rybQr2Yw/20250802-083859.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6TrdkgXk)
I tried burying one in my yard but after a couple days I noticed it got dug up and was gone.
We have lots of coyotes. Another time when I didn't have ice to put them on I had them in a closed trash can in my yard for two days. For a week after that we saw one or two coyotes every day wondering by.
: Dark_Knight_9C1 July 31, 2025, 06:30:24 pI've seen about equal number of mummified carp and skeletons.
I tried burying one in my yard but after a couple days I noticed it got dug up and was gone.
We have lots of coyotes. Another time when I didn't have ice to put them on I had them in a closed trash can in my yard for two days. For a week after that we saw one or two coyotes every day wondering by.
My buddy took me to a Mandarin Restaurant off Convoy and ordered the fish soup. He gave me some, but all I saw was a gutted/gilled/scaled carp floating in a bowl of yellow stuff. I took a few sips but realized it was so hot and spicy probably to mask the muddy carp taste. Never again.
I've had catfish with the muddy taste. I can't imagine adding muddy and fishy together. :P
-Keith
I was finally able to find a place to dispose of the fish. The trash collection company sent me to the transfer station. They sent me to the landfill. They all agreed it was best to take it directly to the land fill and said they wouldn't charge me to drop it off there.
I was going to take advantage that the landfill was open Saturdays so I went Saturday morning with a trash can and a dolly wanting to fill it up.
There were fish there this morning but not at the quantities they were when I got 10 in an hour.
I made lots of shots on fish but only managed one and it fell off the arrow after I pulling it ashore. Granted I did try to spear it before it got to the water and started spraying me with water. I figure, your on your own... with a hole thru the middle of it. Then if managed to swim away. No chance for a second shot with an arrow. Good riddens!
That was it for the day.
- Keith
8/9 Another trip to Elsinore.
Went before Daybreak again. Carp had the same MO as the last two times. Constant pick of carp in the shallows until around 7:30 then by 8 you could see them 10 ft or more off shore.
Had issues with the sight on one bow so I switched to my new Muzzy bow with no sights to give it a try.
It was great side to side but it'll take some time to get the up and down figured out without a sight. Did a lot of shots over the fish. This was entertaining since the fish wouldn't react until I pulled the string and the arrow dragged across its back. Then it would explode and all his buddies around him would too. This kept me going for a while even though I was missing shots.
Finally started seeing them 10 feet out on my way back. Like I mentioned before these are my favorite shots. I finally got one as it was slowly cruising in front of me. Got it to shore and it fell off the arrow... this time I turned around and grabbed my rag and grabbed it. Into the bucket it went. No skunk for today. 23" and 4 lb.
(https://i.postimg.cc/13P6z86N/20250809-081412.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hfyhyP2S)
I actually had a visit from DFG guys. As usual they were very polite and talkative. I said all the right things, like shooting at carp, lots of them but haven't gotten one yet, and I found I can get rid of them at the landfill.
One of them started saying we don't encourage you to throw them away. Eat. Compost etc...is the way to go. It's a pity to let them go to waste.
I was polite and just knodded.
Anyway I was able to leave again without a strip at least.
On my way home I was making plans to go to the landfill to see how that was going to work.
When I got home my wife suggested burying in the spot she wanted me to transplant three plumerias.
I was kind of surprised she suggested it.
I went for it and managed to dig down 2 ft and thru it in and covered it.
Then I dug the 1 ft deep holes for the plumerias around it. Should help.
My only worry is a varmet deciding to try to dig it up and rip the plumerias up trying. Going to keep my fingers crossed on that one.
- Keith
: Dark_Knight_9C1 August 09, 2025, 02:36:10 p8/9 Another trip to Elsinore.
Went before Daybreak again. Carp had the same MO as the last two times. Constant pick of carp in the shallows until around 7:30 then by 8 you could see them 10 ft or more off shore.
Had issues with the sight on one bow so I switched to my new Muzzy bow with no sights to give it a try.
It was great side to side but it'll take some time to get the up and down figured out without a sight. Did a lot of shots over the fish. This was entertaining since the fish wouldn't react until I pulled the string and the arrow dragged across its back. Then it would explode and all his buddies around him would too. This kept me going for a while even though I was missing shots.
Finally started seeing them 10 feet out on my way back. Like I mentioned before these are my favorite shots. I finally got one as it was slowly cruising in front of me. Got it to shore and it fell off the arrow... this time I turned around and grabbed my rag and grabbed it. Into the bucket it went. No skunk for today. 23" and 4 lb.
(https://i.postimg.cc/13P6z86N/20250809-081412.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hfyhyP2S)
My only worry is a varmet deciding to try to dig it up and rip the plumerias up trying. Going to keep my fingers crossed on that one.
I totally get that worry. Keep us posted on the plumaria and said potential varmints.
8/23/2025
I adjusted my sight, sharpened my aim with a little practice. and set out before sunrise for another try at a 30 fish day. With my dolly with a trash can in tow, I got to the water about 5:15 which was about 30 minutes before Grey light. I could still see the reflection off the glassy water surface so it was enough to be able to see to shoot. I just needed a head lamp on low to see my sight.
Walked the first half mile with little more than the bait fish making any motion on the surface.
Then as Grey light started, I saw the first carp swimming off like a torpedo as I walked by. Looked promising.
Walked my second half mileage managed to find two groups of fish scavenging the shoreline with their backs breaking the surface. First shot of the day was a little low, trying to hit the fish midsection instead of dorsal fin. Second shot had two fish swimming side by side, looking to possibly hit both. Drew back, Lined up my sight an inch our two low, and let it fly. Arrow hit the water right as targeted. There was an explosion of the two fish and probably 3 or 4 others right next to them. Started pulling in the line and it came tight but there was no pull or line streaking sideways. The line was stuck in the base of bushes which had the tops chopped off and were all along the shoreline. They were my nemesis. Getting my line caught pulling in almost every time but I accepted it and would walk out to pull it out. This time though, my arrow was stuck in the base of one. First time one made me miss a shot, at least that I know of. I guess that's why I do better shooting further out. Shooting in six inches of water, I'm basically shooting through these plant stumps.
Walking the third half mile had my shadow cast out into the water. Couldn't sneak up on anything unless I walked along 20 ft from shore.
The last half mile I saw one more group of fish. My shadow cast about 45 degrees behind me at this one section of shoreline, so I was able to get closer to them. Picked one which was under the water in the shallows but I could now see it without its back sticking out. Pulled back, aimed lower, and let it fly. Must have been deeper than I thought because the arrow went over it and the fish was still there. Tried pulling it in quickly for another shot or at least to get the pleasure of dragging the arrow over its back to scare it. But, of course it was stuck in the stumps again.
Started heading back at this point. Covered more ground this time since there were less fish. Made it to the other end of the shoreline that Bowfishing is allowed.
The first half mile back it was pretty barren. My shadow was ahead of me but getting shorter.
The second half mile back, now about 8:00, was getting ideal light wise. I started seeing the fish further out where I like them. Was able to take a few shots but missing them. A few fish swam off slowly as I was readying to shoot.
Now while I was starting to see them I'm hearing thunder way off in the distance. The cloud had been blocking the sun now and then all morning but usually not for long.
The third half mile back the clouds were starting to become bothersome and I could see lightning hitting the mountain across the canyon.
I kept at it and was finding more fish when the clouds broke enough. Had a couple shots at fish which I had hopes but missed. Finally had one presenting broadside. Drew, aimed about 6 inches low, and let it fly. Arrow hit the water where targeted, but no splash. Started pulling in the line and saw it streaking sideways across the water as it loaded up. Fish on! Pulled it in carefully and saw I hit it an inch below the dorsal fin, a good solid spot. I was happy to get rid of the strip and it was a decent size fish.
(https://i.postimg.cc/2ycqCp7z/20250823-092712.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fSdWvrPF)
Easily 5 lbs.
The last half mile back got interesting. Not good interesting unfortunately. The clouds had moved in and I could see sheets of rain moving toward me. I kept on looking and maybe saw one more before it started raining. Out of curiosity I stayed along the shoreline and kept an eye on the water as I walked back the last half mile. I was looking to see if I saw any backs of fish out of the water. It wasn't possible to see them under water because of the rain hitting the surface. Didn't see anymore so made a mental note, don't bother in the rain.
The rain got me wet but it was 75 degrees out so it wasn't bad. In fact, I enjoyed it. I don't remember the last time I walked in the rain in the summer.
That was it, but now I had a single fish again to dispose of. Well I had a tangerine tree which I had in a barrel, so I decided to plant it in the ground on top of the fish. It was two feet down and the base of the rootbal was one foot down. I can't wait to see what it does for fruit next winter.
-Keith
No rain here, but that sounds fun right about now. lol
Can't wait to see the tangerine harvests and now go dig a big hole to bury that thing. A trip to the dump is worth bringing 10.