PLAYIN' HOOKY GUIDE SERVICE
Frequently Asked Questions
01
What is Bowfishing?
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A mix between bow hunting and traditional rod and reel fishing, bowfishing provides a unique experience to outdoor enthusiasts and thrill seekers. Spot your fish, take aim with your specially fitted bowfishing equipment, and reel your catch in with the line attached to the arrow.
02
Do I need any experience before I book my trip?
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Not at all. From beginner to expert, we are happy to get anyone out on the water, both chasing muskies or bowfishing.
03
Do I need a special license or permit to go bowfishing?
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You will need a current angling license from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. There are several variations, so be sure to pick the one that fits you or your group.
04
What do I need to bring on my bowfishing trip?
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When you book your guided trip you can leave it up to us to provide all the gear that goes into bowfishing. You will need to have a current Minnesota angling license and the appropriate clothes to match the forecast and time of year. (After dark, we recommend long sleeves, pants, and close-toed shoes to help keep the bugs at bay). Polarized sunglasses are a must for daytime outings, but if you don't have any, we will provide those, as well. Our guides will have coolers with water, but you are welcome to bring your favorite caffeinated beverage - especially for night outings!
05
What do I need to bring on my musky fishing trip?
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When you book your guided trip you can leave it up to us to provide all the gear that goes into musky fishing. You will need to have a current Minnesota angling license the appropriate clothes to match the forecast and time of year. Polarized sunglasses are a must for musky fishing, but if you don't have any, we will provide those, as well. Our guides will have coolers with water, but you are welcome to bring your favorite caffeinated beverage - especially for the longer outings! If you have a favorite rod and reel you'd like to fish with, please let the guide know and they will work with you.
06
Are we able to bring alcohol on our trip?
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Since you will be handling potentially dangerous objects, alcohol and illegal drugs are prohibited during ALL trips, both musky and bowfishing. If you are found or suspected to be in possession or under the influence of drugs at any time before or during the outing, your trip will be immediately cancelled without refund to ensure everyone has a safe and fun outing.
07
What kind of fish can we shoot while bowfishing?
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You will be shooting what the state of MN refers to as "rough fish", which is mainly common carp, buffalo, gar, and suckers. Shooting game fish is 100% prohibited. Your guide will go over what kinds of fish you are able to shoot and which fish you should avoid on your trip.
08
Are musky fishing trips bowfishing trips?
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Absolutely not. Muskies are game fish and cannot be harvested with a bow and arrow. All musky fishing trips are traditional rod-and-reel fishing trips and will be catch-and-release only.
09
Does bowfishing have a negative impact on Minnesotas fisheries?
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Bowfishing can actually have the opposite kind of impact on MN fisheries. Several of the species of rough fish that can be found in the state are actually invasive. Common carp, silver carp, and grass carp are a few of the invasive species that can devastate an entire ecosystem by releasing large amounts of nitrogen, uprooting native vegetation, eating copious amounts of native game fish eggs, and rapidly reproducing. It is a good thing that we remove these toxic fish from our waterways!
10
What happens to my trip if there is inclement weather?
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Both bowfishing and musky fishing trips will still run in the rain. If a client wants to cancel their trip due to rain, they will not receive their deposit back, and will have to pay another deposit if they want to book another date. The only things that will cause a trip to be cancelled with the return of a deposit or a trip to be rescheduled is if there are severe thunderstorms (lightning) and/ or severe winds that would make being on the water dangerous.
11
Where do we meet our guide?
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The week of your trip, Capt. Cody will reach out with the address for the landing or designated meeting place to meet your guide.
12
Can we eat any of the fish we shoot while bowfishing?
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Absolutely! Several of the native species of rough fish that the state allows us to harvest make wonderful table fare, specifically gar, buffalo, and suckers.
13
What do you do with the fish we shoot while bowfishing that aren't eaten?
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We have a lot of avenues we use to dispose of fish in a way that they can be used for something. Between farmers, tree nurseries, garden centers, raptor centers, turtle farmers, etc., all the fish are used for something!