Bowfishing, Spearing, Harpooning and Dip Netting

Seasons and Limits

Can I fish with a bow and arrow?

You can bowfish for native rough fish and common carp over open water or through the ice in a fish house or shelter, day or night, with or without lights, during the open season.

• You need a fishing license if you’re 16 or older unless you qualify for an angling license exclusion.
• Arrows must have a barb and be attached to the bow with a tethered line.
• To possess a bow, you need to follow local ordinances. You can use a bow while taking native rough fish and common carp from a watercraft with or without a motor.
• From sunset to sunrise you cannot discharge a bow within 300 feet of a campsite or within 150 feet of an occupied structure.
• You cannot make more than 65 decibels of noise on the “A” scale measured at a distance of 50 feet from the boat.
• If you shoot a fish you have to try to retrieve the fish and your arrow.
• You can’t shoot a fish and throw it back in the water, leave it on any bank of any waterway or any access site or otherwise illegally dispose of the fish.
• You can’t bowfish in designated trout lakes and streams nor in posted spawning areas.

Can I fish with a crossbow?

Yes, you can use a crossbow for bowfishing.

What species may I take when bowfishing?

You may only bowfish for common carp and native rough fish, which include buffalo, sucker, redhorse, freshwater drum, bowfin, gar, goldeye and bullhead.

If I take fish by bowfishing can I also take fish by spearing, harpooning, dip netting or seining?

Yes, but you cannot exceed the daily limit for each species taken with any combination of bowfishing, spearing, harpooning, dip netting or seining equipment to reach the limit.

Spearing, Harpooning and Dip Nets

Seasons and Limits

Can I spear, harpoon or dip net for native rough fish and common carp (not including gar)?

You can harpoon or dip net for native rough fish and common carp from sunrise to sunset provided:

• You have a fishing license if you’re 16 or older unless you qualify for an angling license exclusion.
• Speared or dead fish are not returned to the water or left on the banks.

What equipment can I use for native rough fish and common carp?

• You can only use spears, underwater harpoons, dip nets, seines used for taking smelt, traps used for taking minnows for bait or angling equipment and nets associated with angling.
• You can use an underwater harpoon or spear discharged by a rubber-powered gun, spring gun or air gun and attached with a tethered line not more than 20feet long and discharged only when the equipment and the operator are entirely under water.
• Harpoons may not be carried in a cocked position while out of the water.
• The hoops on hand-held dip nets cannot exceed 24" in diameter.
• During a closed season, you cannot possess spears, traps, dip nets, seines or harpoons on or near any waters.

Where can I spear, harpoon or dip net for fish?

• All inland waters except Baby Lake (Cass County) and where taking fish is prohibited.
• You cannot harpoon within 1,000 feet of swimming beach.
• You can’t spear, harpoon or dip net in a designated trout stream or trout lake.

Can I sell or buy native rough fish and common carp?

No. Only common carp can be bought or sold.

Can I take a limit of fish for each method?

No. You cannot exceed the daily limit for each species taken with any combination of spearing, harpooning, dip netting or seining equipment to reach the limit.Fish taken by bowfishing also are included in this limit.