Customizing and Equipping Jon Boats for Bowfishing in Minnesota

Customizing Jon Boats for Bowfishing in Minnesota

For bowfishermen in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, a jon boat can be the perfect vessel to access the prime shallow waters where carp and gar reside. Lightweight, stable, and easily customizable for fishing, jon boats have been popular for decades with Minnesota anglers. If you're looking to rig up a jon boat tailored for bowfishing adventures across Minnesota, there are a few important considerations when modifying and equipping your boat.

Selecting a Good Jon Boat Foundation

Not all jon boats are created equal - you'll want one with enough size, weight capacity, and features to suit bowfishing. Many bowfishermen recommend going for at least a 16-20 foot jon boat if possible. This gives enough deck space for multiple anglers, gear storage, and moving around while aiming and shooting fish. Narrower boats around 48-60 inches wide also perform better sliding through reeds and vegetation.

For small lakes and rivers, something like a 1648 jon boat (16 foot length, 48 inch width) is a versatile pick. Bigger water bodies call for larger 18-20 foot boats. Go too big though and trailering/launching the jon boat becomes unwieldy.

Decking Materials and Layout

One of the great advantages of jon boats is all the interior space to customize your deck layout. Most bowfishermen replace the middle bench seat with lockable storage for gear and converted into a standing deck. You can use various marine plyboards, aluminum sheets or composite boards to create your deck foundation before carpet or other finishes.

Bowfishers need ample clearance when shooting, so a raised front deck gives room to draw your bow vertically. Leave open floor space further back to land fish. Storage hatches with marine-grade weatherproof latches keep gear safe and dry.

Lighting Setups for Night Bowfishing

To catch carp, gar, and buffalo after dark, illumination is key. Powerful LED light rigs allow bowfishermen to spot, target, and recover fish at night from jon boats. Floodlights or spotlights mounted on the boat or angler's hat give clear visibility of finned targets.

Smaller accent lights around the jon boat let you gear up tackle, untangle fishing lines, and check your shot placement. Some bowfishers use green lighting to minimize spooking wary fish. Power everything off a marine deep cycle battery with an inline fuse for safety and reliable power all night.

Trolling Motors & Mounts

Electric trolling motors offer silent propulsion without spooking fish compared to noisy outboard gas motors. Choose a sturdy transom or bow mount trolling motor matched to your boat size and fishing grounds. Larger jon boats 20 feet plus may support a 60-80 lb thrust motor, while smaller boats perform fine with 30 to 45 lb thrust.

Having an adjustable height bow mount lets you reposition the trolling motor to avoid obstacles while navigating shallow spots. A foot or wireless remote control frees your hands for fishing instead of steering.

Essential Bowfishing Gear

Bowfishing Bows

Modern bowfishing gear features specialized bows designed for hunting fish. These bows have smooth draws optimized for rapid shooting, often with higher draw weights of 40+ lbs to penetrate water and tough fish scales. Recurve bows, compound bows, and even crossbows are all popular for bowfishing from a decked out jon boat.

Reels & Line

Retrieval and storage of your catch means investing in a quality bowfishing reel, usually with a bottle style design. Combined with a braided line like PowerPro specially made for bowfishing, you can reel in fish of all sizes quickly as you score shots. The braided line won't stretch or twist on the reel.

Arrows & Tips

The ammo of bowfishing consists of sturdy spin cast arrows equipped with specialty tips like Muzzy Fish Points or Slick Trick X-Treme. Barbed tips with multiple sets of hooks stick in the denser flesh of fish for solid hook ups. Line slides easily off the arrow point once landed so you can set up another shot fast.

Safety Gear

Don't neglect essential safety equipment for bowfishing like life jackets, running lights and fire extinguishers. Letting others know your trip plan is also wise. Gear up with protective gloves and eyewear when handling fish and lines.

Prime Bowfishing Locations in Minnesota

One of Minnesota's claims to fame is over 15,000 lakes and countless rivers and streams. Here are some top bowfishing hot spots to explore across the state:

Lake Minnetonka

This large central lake with a maze of bays and channels holds good numbers of carp, buffalo, and other rough fish to target. Fish action is often good day or night here.

Rainy River

Up north on the Canadian border, this renowned walleye and sturgeon river also kicks out gar, drum and catfish for bowfishermen. The current can be challenging for boating.

Mississippi & Minnesota Rivers

The mighty Mississippi and her tributaries offer endless bowfishing opportunities across Minnesota for those willing to scout backwaters and side channels. Monster flatheads over 50 lbs are possible!

Mille Lacs Lake

Known for walleye and bass, this central Minnesota lake holds untouched bowfishing potential for those willing to explore and find concentrations of carp, sheephead, bullheads, and other rough fish species.

Don't overlook smaller sleeper lakes either - out of the way waters with minimal fishing pressure often produce great bowfishing bounty.

Continue Growing the Sport in Minnesota

As a relatively new but fast-growing fishing activity, bowfishing depends on participation and good stewardship from anglers. Be sure to purchase required fishing licenses, understand seasons and limits, and adhere to responsible practices when on the water.

Introduce a buddy to the sport if you can - bowfishing is simply too fun to keep to yourself! Respect other water users, properly dispose of waste, and avoid restricted areas. Following bowfishing ethics ensures sustainable fisheries and access for the next generation of stick and string enthusiasts hitting the lakes in their transformed jon boats.

FAQs

What size jon boat is best for bowfishing?

Many bowfishermen recommend a 16-20 foot jon boat for stability, deck space, and ability to handle at least 2 anglers. Go for a narrower 48-60" beam to help slide through vegetation. Smaller 14-16 ft boats can work on little lakes, while 18+ ft boats handle big water better.

What kind of trolling motor should I use?

Choose an electric trolling motor around 45-80 lb thrust rating matched to your jon boat size. Bow mount or transom mount models give silent propulsion without spooking fish. Having an adjustable height trolling motor helps navigate through shallow spots.

What bow draw weight is best?

Specialized bowfishing bows with smooth draws around 40-60 lb draw weights perform ideal for rapid shooting and penetrating water/fish. Recurve bows, compound bows with specific bowfishing cams, and adjustable draw weight crossbows all work well.

Can I bowfish at night from a jon boat?

Yes! In fact, carp, buffalo, gar and other rough fish often feed more actively at night. Rig up powerful LED flood lights around your jon boat to spot and target fish after dark. Low light conditions make custom deck lights and green accent lighting useful too.