Best Bowfishing Gear for Beginners: Four Starter Kits Compared

A starter kit with a 40-pound bow, arrows and a reel covers most beginner needs. Here are four kits and what each one is suited to.

A black compound bow with a fishing reel mounted below the riser and a yellow-fletched arrow rests on a pond covered with lily pads.
In this article

The Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit is the first pick for beginners who want a light, complete kit at 40 pounds. You can buy one box and start shooting, since the set includes the bow, arrows, reel and bottle, plus a carry bag. It also helps to read Chainsaw Safety Gear for Beginners: What to Wear.

The bow is a 40-pound draw weight, which the maker says suits beginners and experienced anglers alike. Its total weight is 3.09 pounds, so it is easy to hold steady for a few shots from a boat or kayak. For a new shooter, a lighter bow means less arm fatigue while you learn your aim.

The article compares four starter kits so you can see which one fits your fishing. Each kit’s bow, arrows, reel and extras are laid out side by side below.

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How we picked: from products sold on Amazon for this need, compared by what their makers state and what buyers report in their reviews.

The Picks at a Glance

Product

Best for

Archery draw weight

Weight

Item weight

Buyer rating

Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit

light 40-pound starter setups

40 lb

40 lb

—

4.0 of 5 (1 reviews)

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D&Q Bowfishing Set

shooters who also want to practice

30 lb

5.5 lb

5.5 lb

—

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EinMAIQi 45-Pound Kit

larger fish and spare arrowheads

45 lb

45 lb

—

2.0 of 5 (1 reviews)

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IS-TONGTU 40-Pound Kit

buyers who want every accessory included

40 lb

2.58 kg

2.58 kg

5.0 of 5 (2 reviews)

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Buyer ratings as shown on Amazon on October 13, 2026; they change.

Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit: Best for light 40-pound starter setups

The Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit is the first pick for beginners who want a light, complete starter setup with a 40-pound draw. The maker lists a 40-pound draw weight and a weight of 3.09 pounds, which makes it one of the lighter bows in this roundup. For a first bowfishing trip, that combination matters more than extra power.

The bow has an aluminum-magnesium alloy riser and reinforced fiberglass limbs, and the maker calls it suitable for both beginners and experienced anglers. In daily use, a light bow is easier to hold steady while you wait for a fish to surface, and a 40-pound draw is manageable for most adults learning the shot. The maker also includes a replacement bowstring, so a worn string does not end your trip.

The kit comes with four arrows that the maker describes as 33.66 inches long, with fiberglass shafts, detachable stainless steel tips and orange or green colors so you can track them in the water. The reel is braided line that the maker says is tangle-free, and the bottle-style reel mount is designed to sit on the bow for shooting. Everything packs into a 31.5-inch Oxford cloth carry bag with water-resistant compartments.

Pros

  • Light at 3.09 pounds, easy to hold for longer sessions

  • Four arrows with detachable steel tips and bright shaft colors

  • Includes a replacement bowstring, finger guard and arm guard

  • Buyers say it is easy to set up, with pre-drilled mounting points

Cons

  • The 40-pound draw is the same as the others in this roundup for small and medium fish, so it is not built for larger targets

If you expect to shoot much larger fish, look at the 45-pound kit in this roundup instead.

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D&Q Bowfishing Set: Best for shooters who also want to practice

D&Q Bowfishing Set is the pick for shooters who want to practice between trips to the water. The maker presents it for practice and recreational shooting as well as fishing. That makes it a fit if you want a bow for the backyard, not only for the boat.

The maker lists 30 and 40 pound draw options and says both give a powerful draw and accurate shooting for beginners and advanced players. A 30-pound draw is the lighter choice, so it is easier to hold steady while you learn your form, and the 40-pound option leaves room to grow. The arrows are 8mm solid fiberglass fishing arrows in orange and green, with durable shafts suited to use in the water. The bright colors make an arrow easier to spot after a miss, and the bow weighs 5.5 pounds, which is light enough to carry to the bank.

Pros

  • Works for backyard practice as well as fishing.

  • Offers both 30- and 40-pound draw options in one kit.

  • Orange and green arrows are easy to track in the water.

  • At 5.5 pounds, it is light to carry.

Cons

  • The 30-pound draw is the lighter setting, so it carries less power than a 40-pound bow.

If you want a 40-pound draw from the start, the Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit is the better fit.

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EinMAIQi 45-Pound Kit: Best for larger fish and spare arrowheads

The EinMAIQi 45-Pound Kit is the pick for buyers who want a heavier bow for big fish and a few spare arrowheads on hand. Its maker lists a 45-pound draw weight, which is the strongest bow in this roundup, and three spare arrowheads.

The 45-pound draw means the bow takes a lot of force to pull back. That power helps you shoot through a larger fish, but a new archer may find it tiring to hold and aim, so practice time will be harder to build.

The maker also lists a magnesium-aluminum alloy riser and high-strength fiberglass limbs. The riser is the solid middle section you grip, and the limbs are the flexible arms that store the energy. In daily use, that frame is built to stand up to repeated shooting on the water.

Pros

  • Heavy 45-pound draw for larger fish

  • Three spare arrowheads, so you can swap out a damaged one mid-trip

  • Buyers say it is easy to put together

Cons

  • The 45-pound draw is a burden for a new archer who is still building strength

If you are a beginner who wants a lighter draw, look at the Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit, which is the first pick for light 40-pound starter setups.

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IS-TONGTU 40-Pound Kit: Best for buyers who want every accessory included

The IS-TONGTU 40-Pound Kit is the pick for buyers who want every accessory included in one box. It comes with a 40-pound draw weight and a long list of extras, so you can start shooting without buying anything else.

The maker lists a 40-pound recurve bow, three carbon arrows, three 8mm fishing arrows, a fishing reel, a bow sight, a stabilizer and a bow bag. For a beginner, that means the bow, arrows and reel all arrive matched, and you do not need to hunt for parts. The maker says the 40-pound bow has enough power for small and medium-sized fish. That draw weight suits most shallow-water targets, so you are not paying for power you will never use.

The kit also includes a silicone finger guard, a bowstringer and a manual. The finger guard protects your shooting hand from the string, and the bowstringer helps you string the bow safely. Buyers say the kit is easy to put together.

Pros

  • Every accessory you need is in the box, including reel, sight and stabilizer.

  • The 40-pound bow suits small and medium fish.

  • Buyers say it is easy to put together.

Cons

  • The bow weighs 2.58 kg, which is heavier than the lighter kits in this roundup.

If you mainly want a lighter bow to practice with, look at the Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit instead.

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How do you choose the right bowfishing kit?

Start with draw weight, because it decides how hard the bow pulls and which fish you can handle. A draw weight is the force you need to pull the string back, measured in pounds. For most small and medium fish, a 40-pound bow is a sensible starting point, and the maker of the D&Q set notes that its 30- and 40-pound options give a powerful draw for beginners. The 40-pound bow in the IS-TONGTU kit has enough power to shoot small and medium-sized fish.

Next, look at the arrows. Fiberglass fishing arrows with a reel-ready tip matter more than extra arrows, because the tip is what holds the line and the fish. The kit that comes with 33.66-inch fiberglass arrows and detachable steel tips gives you the length and tip you need from the start.

Finally, decide on the reel and whether the bow sight and stabilizer are worth paying for. A reel with braided line lets you shoot and retrieve quickly, which helps when a fish is near the surface. A bow sight and stabilizer add accuracy but also cost and weight, so skip them if you are only starting out and want to keep the kit simple.

Safety: keep arrows away from people and pets, and never shoot toward the boat or shoreline.

Where should you begin?

Start with the Recurve Bow Fishing Combo Kit if you want a light, complete setup. Before you buy anything else, settle on the draw weight, then look at the arrows and reel.

The draw weight is how hard the bow pulls back, and it matters more than any extra accessory. The kit’s 40-pound bow suits most small and medium fish, and a 40-pound pull is a manageable first bow for most beginners. A heavier bow can be harder to hold steady, so starting lighter lets you build accuracy before you move up.

Once the draw weight fits, check the arrows and the reel. Fiberglass arrows with a reel-ready tip do more for your catch rate than a pile of spare arrows, and a reel that is ready to use means one less part to set up at the water’s edge.

Your next step is simple: pick the 40-pound kit, pair it with the arrows and reel it includes, and head to the water with a plan for safe shooting.