Spring bowfishing for pike

The northern pike is native to Alaska’s Interior region, but was illegally introduced into Southcentral Alaska, specifically, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the Anchorage area, and the Kenai Peninsula, decades ago. Continued illegal stockings and natural events like floods have spread the fish throughout the region and it has gained a substantial foothold in suitable habitat. Studies by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) show that northern pike will continue to have a significant negative impact on Southcentral salmon and trout populations in areas where the species occur together.

As a result, the ADF&G supported legalizing bowfishing for pike to reduce the species’ presence in the Southcentral region. There are no size or bag limits on the numbers of pike the angler or bow fisher can harvest. The only requirement is that no pike can be released alive back into the water.

My brother and I had bowfished for carp during our teen years in Illinois. I saw this bowfishing for pike idea as a wonderful opportunity to get more use out of my archery gear, to relive some enjoyable memories from my youth, and, hopefully, put some tasty food on the table in addition.

After outfitting my bow with the necessary reel and line and finding my 50+ year-old fish arrow, I gathered my gear for the inaugural trip. The spring sun was shining brightly, warming the lake waters in the shallows where I hoped to spy a basking pike.

After launching my small boat on a lake south of Willow, I started slowly cruising the shoreline while readying my bow. I had tied the line to the arrow and nocked it on the bowstring while watching both the shallow shoreline waters for pike and the power level gauge I had on the trolling motor battery.

After the weakly charged battery died, the slight breeze that was blowing was pushing me back toward the launch. I broke out the rod and reel I had brought along, “just in case,” and tried a few casts while waiting for the wind to save me from having to row. I was headed home an hour later with a firm resolve to replace the battery and get back out and try to arrow a pike.

A new and larger capacity trolling motor battery, and other small equipment repairs got me off to a better start a couple of days later. This beautiful sunny morning found me back on that same lake and, this time, everything was working properly.

After slowly cruising about halfway around the lake, I found a shallow, sunny “bay” and saw a northern pike suspended in the water column, working on its tan.

I slowly maneuvered the boat within effective shooting range of my bowfishing gear, about five to ten yards, and proceeded to shoot at and cleanly miss the fish. The pike was gone in a flash, headed for the safety of deeper water.

A little further down the bay, I saw another, larger pike motionless and sunning itself. And yes, I missed that shot too. Only this time, the pike didn’t disappear. It quickly swam off several yards and settled down to do more sunning. I took a deep breath, calmed my nerves, and maneuvered the boat into position. This time, the pike was only about a foot below the water’s surface and about 6 yards away, broadside to my position.

I drew the arrow back on the bow and released the string. A cloud of mud from the arrow striking the bottom dirtied the water as I started reeling in the line. When I saw a tail flash out of the cloudy water and felt a strong pull on the line, I was elated. The arrow had hit the 29-inch, 6-pound pike squarely through the head.

I placed the pike on my stringer, readied my arrow for another shot and continued my fish-hunting adventure. I missed shots at two more pike that day, but I really didn’t care too much. I had my first bow-fish-caught northern pike in Alaska. I pickled that fish with onions and other goodies, and it was great as both a snack and appetizer.

If you’re interested in bowfishing for northern pike in Southcentral Alaska, you can gear up by visiting the local sporting goods stores or by ordering equipment through various outdoor catalog outlets or online.

Don’t forget to read the ADF&G fishing regulations book for the rules. Any questions on the regulations should be directed to the Palmer Sport Fish Division office at 746-6300.