used oneida or new cuda?

[Ty Stromquist]

Thinking about getting a new bow.

Should I buy an ebay special oneida? If so which model? Are all of them pretty allright?

Or a new cuda. I seen Ebay has them new for $189.

[goose h8r]

The Oneidas have been around forever as the bowfishing bow of choice so its kinda hard to argue against that track record. The only things I dont like about em besides the price is the weight, they are long as hell, and I keep thinking Im gonna wack myself in the nuts with the lower limb on a straight down shot.

I have had nothing but happy times with my Cuda so far, and could buy several for the price of 1 Onieda. Even though it looks like a kids toy, it sure is nice on the platform and I have never had to worry about hitting a limb on the rails. I have heard about several Cudas blowing up but all of those have been bows that guys backed down the poundage, in other words, leave em maxed out.

I would tend to steer away from the Ebay Cudas. I have heard several reports of guys getting them and the bow didnt have the cable guard ect in the package.

[Maze]

I shot the Cuda and hated it. All the weight is right there from the start. To me it feels nothing like a recurve when you draw it back. Even a recurve gradually gets tougher as you pull it back. The Cuda is tough right from the start.

With the Oneida you have a let off so when you see the fish you can hold it back waiting for the shot. Plus you can snap shoot them. I'm not dissapointed at all in my Oneida at all. I guess thats why I own one.

[muddy river]

No experience with Oneida but love my Cuda. Won't get rid of it for nothing. Maze is correct about holding the Cuda back. It gets tough to hold back when you are waiting for a fish to surface. You get to shaking and get frustrated with the fish. Then you gotta let off and he pops up. Bastard.

[Sorny]

I shoot cudas. I now have two of them. I really like the cuda, it throws the arrows as hard as any bow out there and they are light and easy to hold all day long. If we all had guns like Maze maybe we would all be able to hold those huge oneias all day long. I will probably own an osprey someday and then it will probably get most of my shooting, but for now, the cuda is king and is a pleasure to poke fish with.

On another note I have also heard that stretched strings are the reason for some cuda explosions. So keep them cranked down and an eye on the string and everything should be fine. My cuda has hit the bottom of the boat from the top of the platform, and been dry fired too many times to count, it take a licking and keeps on ticking!!!
Sorny

[Maze]

Ty,
I guess a couple more things to think about are, How much more bowfishing do you plan on doing this year? If I were you I'd save up over the winter and buy a new bow in the spring...maybe with the help of a tax return. (Thats what I did)

Also its true that the Onieda's weigh more than the Cuda. I use a spinner so it adds even more weight to it. Sully sells a holster that you can fit your Oneida in, so you dont have to hold it all day long. It hooks around your belt and hangs about 1/2 way down your theigh. Then you put the limb of your bow in it to take the weight off of your arm. I'm looking at getting one, but the weight isnt that unbearable.

If I know you were interested in getting one, I would have let you shoot mine this weekend.

[goose h8r]

The Cuda stacks weight quick and I like it like that. I can shoot it half draw and it still has damn near the same amount of punch as full draw. When I snap shoot I dont come to full draw, more like 1/2 to 3/4, thats what always bit me in the ass with a recurve. Alot of shots a guy just dont have time to anchor, or even think about the shot...this is what makes bowfishing fun. I dont see any need to hold the bow back any longer than a 3 count, and thats to double up on fish with a partner.

[Force Feed]

Alright you Cuda nuts. I will say I love my Onieda Osprey's. But I like to hold back on a fish and I love the let off of the Osprey. I believe this is because I never shot a recurve so never got used to theway you shoot with one. I would stay away from the Oniedas on ebay. To many problems can arise Especailly on older models.