Anybody Got A Better Idea?

[Krag 1902]

I shoot with rings and a spinning reel; a Zebco Bowfisher if it matters. This summer line twist has been giving me fits, sometimes binding up inside the reel and balking the arrow as varying distances. I've lost three arrows and some good fish as a result. Since I discovered the trouble, I've been very conscientious about removing twist from the line as best I can, but this is a bother and I sought a better way. A swivel on the ring seems to be the solution. I got some heavy duty barrel swivels from Scheel's. The snap seemed to the the weak link in this chain, and I thought that a small split ring (just like what you find on a key ring, but much smaller) would secure barrel swivel to the ring. Scheel's had some of these too,stainless steel and rated at thirty pounds. The swivels themselves are rated at 55 pounds. The heaviest thing I'm likely to encounter hereabouts is a grass carp in the mid-twenty pound range, so I think the system should handle my requirements. If anyone's interested, I'll keep a watchful eye on this set-up and report the results.
Has anyone else had this difficulty with twisted line (Fast-Flite#200) and how was it dealt with successfully? I'm wide open to any other suggestions.

[Porter]

I run all my arrows with a 500 pound braided nylon leader. This has a loop on the end and all the bows in my boat have a 75 pound crosslock snap swivel attached to the line. All the reels sport 200 pound fast flight.

[Sorny]

I know a lot of people who shoot spinners tie to the back on thier arrows. That may be something to consider, but I shoot a retreiver and slides so what do I know?

[Maze]

I use a spinner with 200# FF. Ive had my line break but I think it was caused by the line getting caught on the handle of the reel.

How much line are you spooling?

[Ty Stromquist]

I have never had any line twist problems. All I use is slides and a full spool. I do know if you are reeling against your drag while it is peeling out it will cause very bad line twist.


Just because a swivel says its rated for 55lbs that doesnt mean it can catch a 55 lb fish. That is 55 lbs of force. Big carp can put out lots of force in water. Especially moving water.

[Krag 1902]

I'm spooling all the line the reel will hold. I did measure it once and it seems like 110 feet. I don't like the idea of soft brass swivels and would feel more confident with SS, and these shouldn't be impossible to find. I should be able to take the day off tomorrow to chase fish, so by the end of the day I'll have a better idea if this approach is workable.

[Maze]

I spool 90' on my reels. If it gets harder to reel in I usually pull 10' of line off.
110' sounds like an awful lot of line. Maybe that's part of the problem?

[Krag 1902]

I don't think it's the problem, and it'll get down to 90 feet in no time. A couple weeks ago I replaced the line after it got down to about 70 feet. Even at 70 feet, I got an undue amount of twisting.

[Krag 1902]

Yesterday I was congratulating myself on being so inventive, imaginative, and resourceful: today I have a failure to report. I shot a carp and a gar first thing this morning, and the system worked like a champ. Later, I got the arrow stuck in some tall grass on the bank and horsed it out. Along about 11AM, I got a deep shot at a jumbo gar and missed it, and when the arrow got up the bank, the arrow fell off, the ring had straightened out, evidently when I pulled it through the grass. On the positive side, the swivel totally eliminated line twisting. I just now need to find bigger split rings or a different method of attachment. One could use line to tie a swivel between the and the ring, but then there are three knots, and I don't like that.A more substantial ring seem to be the route to go.

[Ty Stromquist]

Seriously does anyone else on here use a swivel on their line? I never do and never seen it. Never had a problem with twist ever.

[Maze]

I was wondering the same thing. No, I dont use a swivel. I dont know anyone who does. I use safety slides, and no problems to say.

If you want to use a swivel its your choice but, that doesnt fix the problem.
I'd try and get to the root cause......if possible.

[Keith S.]

A guy I work with uses a swivel, but he also uses a bottle.

I believe I had the same problem as you did earlier this year. I lost 8 arrows. I ended up switching to a Muzzy reel and spooling it with 200# PowerPro line, have had no problems since I did this. Not sure if it's dumb luck or what, I know there's a ton of people that use the Zebco reels and FF line, but for me, I will never go back. I do believe that PowerPro is a lot better line. Also I would spray a silicone spray on your line, heard that helps a lot.

[Krag 1902]

The line twisting ia actually a new smiting isolated to just this past few weeks. Prior to this, it's not been an issue. Despite the regular spray silicone dousings, and the essential two precautionary shots into the water before each bowfishing outing to make certain the line flows freely, line twisting persisted for inexplicable reasons. In my haste, perhaps, I mistakedly investigated the pound of cure rather than the more proper ounce of prevention, circumventing the "root cause", as Maze so ably points out. For resolution, appealing to and drawing upon the vast well of experience of my fellow bowfishers here was a major part of the overall strategy. We all base our equipment preferences on what has been determined to be successful, either from our own experiences or those of others. Contrasting, and even conflicting, experience-based opinions are inescapeable. Some only use Retrievers and others only spinners. Of this latter group, supporters of Muzzy reels and those made my Zebco have a relatively equal number of fans. The same could be said of FastFlite or PowerPro line. It is no accident that there are so many fish points on the market. Each has its own merits and its own band of adherants. Let's not get started on this, but I'll only use Shure Shot Penetrators. All this stuff has been proven to work, some always reliably with nary a bauble, and some only after a fashion. None, however, are bullet-proof in everyone's observations.
"Seriously"( is there another way to be?) one who unbiddenly bursts onto a public forum, posing authoritatively while pompously declaring that since he'd "never do and never seen it" ( swivels applied to bowfishing line) broadcasts rather his own inexperience and reluctance to learn.

[goose h8r]

Have you thought about trying one of the "thumperized" spinners?

The guy does alot of tweaking to make a better mouse trap. Those that have used his reels have had some great stories.

Dont know what his website address is but do a search on Bow Fishing Country - Powered by vBulletin and you should come up with it.

[DeerSlayer]

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