Bow fishing for rough fish such as carp and gar is a great summertime sport for bow hunters that will help keep shooting skills sharp for the fall hunting seasons. It is a sport that is a whole lot of fun and can be done alone or with friends and family. There are even a number of bow fishing tournaments held every summer across America.

More sportsmen are seeing carp and gar not as trash fish, but as exciting species to hunt. In many lakes and rivers, carp and gar average 30 or 40 pounds, and the largest ones rival deer in size. They're strong, tough fish and they put up a real fight when caught.

Some bow fishermen wade into the water, and some use shallow-running boats with raised platforms for shooting. Bow fishing boats also feature floodlights for finding fish at night when carp and gar are most active. Equipment needs are few--just a bow and it can be your regular hunting bow, a special reel and arrows. Try bow fishing for suckers and redhorse too. Their smaller size makes it more of a challenge but a plate full of fried suckers is hard to beat.

Jim Ryan is a member of the RedHead Pro Hunting Team