Bowfishing in Southern Missouri

Do I need a fishing license?

https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations

All anglers 16 and older must obtain a valid Missouri fishing license. Anyone 15 and younger may fish without a permit when accompanied by a licensed adult.

You may take fish by pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, and jug line. Ice fishing tackle, or tip-ups, are considered a pole-and-line method.

Do I need to fill out a waiver before going fishing?

Yes, every person must fill out a waiver to the best of their knowledge before being allowed to board the vessel.

What should I bring on guided trips?

We provide all gear you will need to be on the vessel including life jackets, fishing poles, bows, and gigs. Should you wish to bring your own equipment to fish with, you are welcome to do so. Per Missouri state law Children under the age of seven are required to wear a life jacket anytime they are on a boat. You are welcome to bring any food or drinks you would like to enjoy while fishing. Even on a hot summer day being on the lake at night can become very chilly, if you are a cold-natured person it is recommended to bring a jacket and gloves with you.

How to pick a good guide?

You want to go fishing but would rather hire someone to show you the ropes so you do not waste your valuable time trying to figure it out. So now what? There are a few things you want to look for when selecting a fishing guide. First: Are they insured? We’re not talking about the liability insurance required by the lender for them to get a loan on the boat. Does your guide carry business insurance to cover you if you were to get hurt or involved in an accident while on their boat? Second: Most waterways in Missouri including Table Rock, Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals require you to have a United States Coast Guard captain license to legally charter clients on your vessel. Obtaining a Coast Guard captain license consists of a series of difficult tests to prove your skills and knowledge of the waterways and boat operations, a background check, medical training, and random drug screenings. Third: You want someone that knows the area and has extensive knowledge in fishing to be able to teach you. Good news for you, all captains operating with us are United States Coast Guard licensed, Insured, and very knowledgeable with the local waterway and fishing styles provided.

Where will we be fishing?

We cover the majority of the waterways in southern Missouri including but not limited to areas around Branson, Stockton, Pittsburg, and Warsaw. Fishing location is based upon time of year, water conditions, weather, and client preference. You will be responsible for meeting us at the dock we agree upon at the time of your charter. A map of the lakes we fish can be found in the photos.

What Kind of equipment do you use?

We have a wide selection of bows from crossbows, compound, and lever bows. Most bows are set up with a 30-40 pounds of draw weight. We have youth bows for women and children as well that average 20-30 pounds of draw weight. If you are not able to pull a bow back, you can still enjoy the sport of bowfishing by using one of our easy-to-load crossbows. All client bowfishing setups utilize a bottle-style reel attached to a safety slide on the arrow. For line and reel style of fishing, we provide open face spin cast combos. For gigging we utilize a custom-built setup made from a local blacksmith in the Ozarks. Gigging poles average around 5 pounds, light enough for most people to handle.

What do you do with the fish?

You are welcome to take home any fish we catch unless the size of the fish fits into a slot limit that prohibits us from keeping them. We like to practice catch and release on trout whenever possible. If you plan on keeping fish please bring a cooler with ice so you can take your fish home. The guides will be able to assist you with cleaning your fish if you need help. All other harvested fish that cannot be safely returned to the water gets donated to locals who enjoy eating them or can benefit from their many other uses like fertilizer or bait. If you live local and would like to be added to our fish donation list, please contact us so we can set something up.