The Land of the Lakes Bowfishing Association (LLBA) has put this page together to act as an aid for lake
associations across the state who desire to hold bowfishing tournaments on Minnesota water to help increase the
harvest of rough fish on their lakes or rivers.
The purpose of the LLBA is not become a tournament based organization. We were established to preserve,
promote, and protect the sport of bowfishing in Minnesota. However we would gladly help promote any
tournament or fish bounty event that your association may want to hold.
Here are some questions and suggestions that may help you make a decision on whether or not to hold such an
event:
1.
Is there a lot of fish?
2.
How populated is your lake with homes? Lakes with fewer homes are best if you are thinking of having a
night tournament.
3.
How much parking is available at the boat ramp for participants? MN law does not allow for events to
take more than half of the available parking spots. If you feel your event may in deed do so plan on
another alternative to avoid any problems with the MNDNR and/or your local sheriff’s department.
4.
Is there any backwater areas?
5.
What is the water clarity like? Very green or dirty water makes it difficult to see fish and most of the time
bowfishers are just chasing clouds (if you can’t see them you can’t harvest them regardless of day or
night shooting).
6.
Typically springtime is the best time to hold an event before the algae blooms and waters darken.
7.
Daytime shoot or nighttime event? Although both can be effective, shooting during the day is more
effective on a bright sunny day with low winds so that fish can be seen. Nighttime events are usually
better shoots because winds are calm and lights are used on boats allowing bowfishers to see the fish
better, plus the fish are less spooky thus higher numbers are harvested.
8.
Problems with night events are that some property owners don’t like the lights at night, even though
bowfishers have mandated setbacks from occupied structures and they do their best, sometimes a
shoreline or a structure can be lit up briefly. It is important that all property owners on the lake are aware
you are planning this event just to avoid problems with lake homeowners.
9.
What is the incentive to get bowfishers to show up?
10.
Tournament or bounty? Holding a tournament will require a permit from the county in which the lake is
located; this is obtained usually through the sheriff’s dept. Basic tournaments have entry fee’s which are
collected from the participants for example $20.00 per boat and cash prizes are usually either total
numbers or big 6 and of course big fish of the tournament. With a bounty shoot many lake associations
will run a shoot where the association will pay a bounty for each carp harvested: example .25 cents –1.00
per carp. The idea is to offer something to get bowfishers to show up and harvest a lot of fish. There has
to be some incentive to get people to travel to your event, the more boats the more fish that may be
harvested.
11.
FISH DEPOSAL! Fish disposal is a very important thing to consider when wanting to hold an event. The
association holding the event needs to have a farmer or a designated area to take care of fish disposal
legally, usually having a big hole dug with a bobcat or back hoe will work nicely. This is the
association’s responsibility!
This should give you a good start to help your association with your desire to attempt to remove rough fish from
your lake or river at an economical price. The LLBA will gladly help promote your event and get the word out to
members and friends of our association through our forum in the tri state area. For additional information please
email the LLBA at mncarpediem@gmail.com.
