A bowfishing arrow slide configured to slidably attach a bowfishing line to an arrow and configured to include a shock absorbing system to enhance the life of the slide is disclosed. The bowfishing arrow slide enables a bowfishing line to be slidably attached to the arrow to keep the arrow attached to a line reel even after being shot and to allow the slide to move from a preshot position at the tip of the arrow to the rear of the arrow during the shot for improved arrow flight. The bowfishing arrow slide may include a shock absorbing system on the bowfishing arrow slide whereby the shock absorbing system is configured to absorb impact forces created when the strikes a slide stop on an arrow shaft when the arrow is shot. The shock absorbing system reduces damage to the slide thereby enhancing the useful life of the slide.

In aspects of the invention, an arrow slide is provided with a body having a first opening with a plurality of first edges arranged in a generally triangular configuration within which a first diameter can be received, a second opening with a plurality of second edges arranged in the generally triangular configuration within which the first diameter can be received; sidewalk linking corresponding ones of the first plurality of edges to the plurality of second edges to create a passageway extending from the first opening to the second opening through which an arrow can slide; and a string mount to which a bowfishing line can be joined.

A bottle-style reel for bow-fishing and the like provides a retriever bottle that is tipped out of the vertical plane defined by the crank axis and the rotation of interengaging wheels that grip the fishing line and push it into the retriever bottle. In this way the retriever mechanism of the interengaging wheels can be aligned with the bow grip for reduced torque and simplified mounting.

Described are self-tensioning reel seat ends for fishing reel seats. The described reel seats generally have a proximal end, a distal end, and a tensioning medium. The tensioning medium provides force between the proximal and distal ends of the reel seat end in order to securely seat a fishing reel in a reel seat by way of the tensioning provided by the tensioning medium. The described self-tensioning reel seat ends can be incorporated at one or both ends of a reel seat, and can be incorporated into fishing rods or poles, as well as in bows used for bow fishing.

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.

An enhanced slide and a circumferential stop assembly for use with a bowfishing arrow may include matching shapes for engaging one another in use. The engagement of such matching shapes offers many improvements over conventional slide and stop assemblies, including an even circumferential distribution of impact between the slide and the stop as well as inhibiting relative longitudinal or rotational movement between the slide and stop assemblies. The stop assembly may further include a nock adapter for engaging a nock, thereby serving as a dual purpose adapter. For ease of use and installation, the stop assembly may be an outsert, meaning that it is adapted to fit snugly over an arrow shaft.

A bottle-style reel for bow-fishing and the like provides a retriever bottle that is tipped out of the vertical plane defined by the crank axis and the rotation of interengaging wheels that grip the fishing line and push it into the retriever bottle. In this way the retriever mechanism of the interengaging wheels can be aligned with the bow grip for reduced torque and simplified mounting.

A line puller attached to the limb adjustment bolts used for adjusting tension on high-performance bows is provided. The line puller may be shaped to facilitate capture of the line around an enlarged projection having a flared flanged that coaxes the line into an overlap configuration to cinch the line on a narrow winding portion.

A drag adjusting reel assembly suitable for facilitating selective manual adjustment of a drag force applied to a fishing line may include a reel mount bracket configured for mounting on a fishing bow. A reel shaft may be carried by the reel mount bracket. A line spool may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the reel shaft. A drag adjusting mechanism may include a drag adjusting bracket carried by the reel mount bracket. A spool extension may extend from and be rotational with the line spool. The spool extension may be disposed adjacent to the drag adjusting bracket. A drag adjusting lever may include a cam having a cam surface configured to selectively actuate the spool extension against the drag adjusting bracket. The cam may be rotational between a free-spooling position in which the cam surface disengages or minimally engages the spool extension and the spool extension disengages or minimally engages the drag adjusting bracket, respectively, and a maximal drag, spool locking position in which the cam surface maximally engages the spool extension and the spool extension maximally engages the drag adjusting bracket. At least one lever arm may extend from the cam.

A bottle-style reel for bow-fishing and the like provides a retriever bottle that is tipped out of the vertical plane defined by the crank axis and the rotation of interengaging wheels that grip the fishing line and push it into the retriever bottle. In this way the retriever mechanism of the interengaging wheels can be aligned with the bow grip for reduced torque and simplified mounting.