A bowfishing arrow shaft is provided with a carbon fiber bow fishing arrow providing an outer tube with an internal wire rope. In this regard the wire rope provides added weight while being ductile to prevent damage to the carbon fiber tube or holding a kink preventing the arrow from fully returning to a straight configuration after extreme flexure of the carbon fiber tube which would otherwise be accommodate.

A reel suitable for bow fishing and the like provides a cowling covering a reel with a wide opening to reduce frictional restraint on high-speed paying out of the line with the flight of the arrow. An optional guide arm may be used to minimize line diversion and hence friction during line payout while absorbing forces when the line is retracted permitting use of a lighter cowling design without loss of strength. A high torque bevel gear transmission and safety lighting is further provided.

A reel suitable for bow fishing and the like provides a cowling covering a reel with a wide opening to reduce frictional restraint on high-speed paying out of the line with the flight of the arrow. An optional guide arm may be used to minimize line diversion and hence friction during line payout while absorbing forces when the line is retracted permitting use of a lighter cowling design without loss of strength. A high torque bevel gear transmission and safety lighting is further provided.

A bow fishing reel for mounting on a bow. The reel provides an indicator for alerting a shooter when the reel is configured to fire safely. A main shaft in a body of the reel is positionable from a rearward winding position to a forward casting position by depressing a thumb button protruding the reel body. A thumb button structure engages with the main shaft for transitioning the main shaft from the rearward winding position to the forward casting position. A visual indicator displays a first indicator when the main shaft and thumb button are in the casting position. The visual indicator may be located on an indicator portion of the thumb button that is visible through an indicator window on a reel upper surface. The visual indicator may include a negative indicator and a positive indicator. A secondary negative indicator may also be provided on the thumb button.

A fishing reel that may be used in connection with bowfishing is disclosed having a housing with a generally cylindrical first portion with an aperture disposed about a center top portion of the cylindrical first portion. The housing has a generally cylindrical second portion disposed about a bottom of the first portion. The second portion of the housing has an outer perimeter that is less than an outer perimeter of the first portion of the housing. A crank arm is disposed about a side of the housing, said crank arm having a mount that is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing. A handle is disposed about a bottom of the second portion, said handle having a post disposed coaxial with a center of the aperture and a grip coupled to the post and disposed perpendicular to the post.

A reel for fishing line or the like provides for extremely rapid payout by releasing the line to unwind by sliding rapidly around a guide surrounding the line spool and by rotation of the line spool itself. A lever controls a line guide preventing sliding of the fishing line around the guide and providing controllable friction and locking of rotation of the line spool only when actuated by the user to permit retraction of the line or controlled tensioning of the line.

A reel for fishing line or the like provides for extremely rapid payout by releasing the line to unwind by sliding rapidly around a guide surrounding the line spool and by rotation of the line spool itself. A lever controls a line guide preventing sliding of the fishing line around the guide and providing controllable friction and locking of rotation of the line spool only when actuated by the user to permit retraction of the line or controlled tensioning of the line.