Bowfishing Reels
MUZZY BOWFISHING MUZZY LVR Bowfishing Reel Seat
Features: Tool Free Reel Lock Anti-Twist Lock Feature for Bow Adjustable Cam Pressure Shoot Thru Rod Adaptable Machined and Anodized 6061-T6 Aluminum
$49.99
MUZZY BOWFISHING MUZZY BOWFISHING Anchor Reel Seat - Black
Create a rock-solid platform for most spincast bowfishing reels on your performance bowfishing bow with the Muzzy® Bowfishing Anchor Reel Seat. Made of a rust-resistant aluminum, this sturdy, heavy-duty design features strong socket caps to positively engage the reel's feet for a firm, solid hold. Built to stand up to fighting the biggest fish, this simple-to-use design offers a highly-adjustable base to secure your reel to. Attaches to your bow's stabilizer mounting hole. Manufacturer model #: 1063-B. Simple-to-use, rock-solid base for spincast bowfishing reel Attaches to bow's stabilizer mounting hole Heavy-duty design made of rust-resistant aluminum Highly-adjustable base Strong socket caps for a firm, solid hold
$29.99
MUZZY BOWFISHING MUZZY BOWFISHING Tournament Reel
Featuring an elongated hood with a large opening, the Muzzy® Bowfishing Tournament Reel allows smooth line flow you can count on! Line-lubrication slots make it easy to keep your setup in tip-top shape, plus the heavy-duty spin-cast style provides reliable performance. This bowfishing reel boasts dual stainless steel pickup pins that ensure super-fast retrieval, plus the carbon fiber handle with big foam grips offer ample leverage for tackling hefty fish! A 1-way anti-reverse bearing works exceptionally well and increases reel longevity. This Muzzy Bowfishing reel has a 3.4:1 gear ratio. Elongated hood with a large opening for smooth line flow Integrated lubrication slots make maintenance a breeze Reliable, heavy-duty spin-cast style Dual stainless steel pickup pins 1-way anti-reverse bearing Carbon fiber handle Large foam grips
$159.99
MUZZY BOWFISHING MUZZY XD Bowfishing Reel with 150# Line Installed & Extended Hood
Features: Elongated Hood for better line flow and smoother shooting Spincast Style Reel Gear Ratio of 3.4:1 Integrated Mount Switch Style Activation Pro-Spooled with 150' of 150lb Tournament Line The stainless steel and brass internal drive-system components and new elongated hood design join to deliver ultra-smooth line feed for increased accuracy and better retrieval. The reel’s push-button activation system is both smooth and easy-to-use. Spooled with 150 feet of 150 pound Tournament line, this system is perfect for bowfishermen seeking to take aim on big fish. The XD Bowfishing Reel is a favorite for bowfisherman around the world.
$99.99
MUZZY BOWFISHING MUZZY Improved Spin style bowfishing reel with intigraged Reel Mounting system With 150# Line Installed Push Button
Features: Elongated Hood Spin-cast Style Reel Gear Ratio of 3.4:1 Integrated Mount Push-Button Activation Pro-Spooled with 150' of 150lb Tournament Line Combining a bomb-proof stainless steel spin-style reel with an integrated reel seat the new Muzzy XD Pro B is poised to make your next bowfishing excursion a success. The stainless steel and brass internal drive-system components and new elongated hood design join to deliver ultra-smooth line feed for increased accuracy and better retrieval. The integrated reel mount system features one-bolt installation and a light-weight, but extremely secure system for mounting the reel. The reel’s push-button activation system is both smooth and easy-to-use. Spooled with 150 feet of 150 pound Tournament line, this system is perfect for bowfishermen seeking to take aim on big fish.
$109.99
BOHNING BOHNING B.A.R. AQUA REEL
$129.99
AMS AMS Sleek-X Machined Crossbow Mount
AMS Sleek-X machined aluminum crossbow mount simply installs to the quiver holes on most crossbow manufactures, and allows you to mount your retriever reel to that.
$119.99
PSE PSE REEL,SEAT,ANGLER,SLV
The PSE Angler Bowfishing Reel Seat is designed for small to medium-sized fish. It measures approximately 5.75" in length when mounted. Fits most common bowfishing reels including Muzzy XD, Zebco 808, and Shakespeare Synergy (not included). Designed for small to medium-sized fish Approximately 5.75" in length when mounted Fits most common bowfishing reels For Muzzy XD, Zebco 808, Shakespeare Synergy, more
$22.99
Bowfishing Reels
A bowfishing reel attaches to your bow and manages the line that connects you to your arrow during a shot. These reels are built for fast retrieval, heavy line, and the wet, abusive conditions of fishing from a boat or shoreline. Most options use a spincast bowfishing reel design, while reel seats and mounting hardware secure the reel to your bow's stabilizer hole or accessory rail. Materials like rust-resistant aluminum and stainless steel hold up to repeated water exposure. The result is a reliable line management system that lets you shoot, fight, and land rough fish without losing arrows on every shot.
At Adventures Archery, we carry bowfishing reels, reel seats, and mounting hardware from Muzzy Bowfishing, Bohning, AMS, and PSE. Our Florida archery shop stocks standalone reels, pre-spooled options ready to fish, and the seats and mounts you need to complete your bowfishing setup.
Bowfishing Reel Features and Construction
Spincast Bowfishing Reels
Spincast reels are the most common style on bowfishing rigs. They use a push-button or switch-style activation that releases line on the shot, then a hand-cranked retrieve to bring your arrow back. Models like the Muzzy XD and Tournament Reel feature an elongated hood, stainless steel pickup pins, and a 3.4:1 gear ratio for fast, smooth retrieval during fast-paced bowfishing moments. The closed-face metal construction protects the line from snags and water spray, which matters when you are firing repeat shots over the side of a boat. Stainless steel and brass internal gears keep the spin cast reel running smooth across hundreds of shots per outing.
Bowfishing Reel Seats and Mounts
A reel seat (sometimes called a reel mount) is the bracket that secures your reel to the bow. Most attach through the stabilizer hole on your bow's riser. Look for machined aluminum construction, anti-twist locks, and adjustable cam pressure to keep the reel solid through hundreds of shots. Heavier-duty seats like the Muzzy Anchor handle big-fish loads, while compact options like the PSE Angler suit small to medium fish and lighter setups.
Pre-Spooled Reels and Ready-to-Fish Options
Some reels ship pre-spooled with bowfishing line so you can mount and fish the same day. The Muzzy XD Bowfishing Reel comes loaded with 150 feet of 150-pound tournament line, and the XD Pro B adds an integrated mount for a one-bolt installation. These pre-spooled options save you the work of buying line separately and matching the right line capacity to your reel, and they pair cleanly with most bowfishing bows on the market.
Spincast Reels vs Bottle Reels
Spincast reels are the easiest entry point. The push-button release is intuitive, parts and replacement line spools are widely available, and most ready-to-fish bowfishing packages include a spincast as the default. They handle most rough fish species and pair well with a wide range of bowfishing bows.
Bottle reels, sometimes called retriever reels (the AMS Retriever is the best-known example), hold loose line in a bottle housing and let it strip out freely on the shot. There is no spool to overrun, which means faster shots and cleaner releases on big fish. Bottle reels usually cost more than spincasts and have a learning curve, but serious bowfishers chasing alligator gar or trophy carp often prefer them for the speed.
Top Bowfishing Reel Brands We Carry
Muzzy Bowfishing
Muzzy is the dominant name in bowfishing reels and makes up most of our reel selection. The Muzzy Tournament Reel sits at the top of the lineup with a carbon fiber handle, dual stainless steel pickup pins, and a one-way anti-reverse bearing. The Muzzy XD Bowfishing Reel and XD Pro B are workhorse spin cast reel options that ship pre-spooled and ready to fish.
AMS Bowfishing
AMS is one of the most established names in bowfishing and built its reputation on the bottle-style Retriever, widely considered the bestselling bowfishing reel ever made. We carry AMS gear for both traditional and crossbow rigs, including the AMS MudCat Recurve Bow Kit, a complete 40 pound takedown package that ships with a wrap-style reel, line, and a MudCat Fish Buster arrow. For crossbow shooters, the AMS Sleek-X Machined Crossbow Mount is built from anodized aluminum and designed to attach an AMS Retriever or other reel to a crossbow's standard quiver mounting holes.
Bohning
Bohning rounds out our reel lineup as a strong mid-priced pick for archers building a custom bowfishing rig. The Bohning B.A.R. Aqua Reel is a dependable spincast option that pairs well with most compound and recurve setups, giving newer bowfishers an approachable price point without sacrificing reliability on the water.
How to Choose the Right Bowfishing Reel
Match the reel to your fish and your shooting style. Spincast bowfishing reels handle most carp, gar, tilapia, and buffalo and work for both boat and shoreline shooters. If you are chasing trophy fish or shooting in tournaments, look for reinforced internal gears, dual pickup pins, and high-pound test line. Crossbow shooters need a dedicated mount like the AMS Sleek-X to attach a reel to the quiver mounting holes.
Set your budget based on what is included. A reel seat alone runs about $25 to $50 and pairs with any compatible Muzzy reel or other brand you already own. Pre-spooled reels in the $100 range come ready to fish out of the box. Premium tournament-grade reels with high-end components sit at the top of the price range. If you already own a reel, a standalone seat or mount is the lowest-cost upgrade path.
Bowfishing Bow FAQs
A bowfishing reel manages the line attached to your arrow so you can retrieve fish (and your arrow) after a shot. Without a reel, missing arrows become a constant problem since every shot sends the arrow into the water with no way to recover it.
No. Bowfishing reels use heavier line, faster retrieval, and mounting systems built for a bow. A standard rod-and-reel does not attach to a bow and is not built for the fast snap shots and heavy fish involved in bowfishing.
Most bowfishing reels run 100 to 200 pound test braided line. Lower test (under 100 pounds) is fine for smaller fish, but heavier line is the safer choice if you are shooting at gar, big carp, or anything you want to land cleanly. Many reels ship pre-spooled with the right line spool capacity so you can fish out of the box.