Lincoln, Neb. -- Carp spawning activities usually peak around Memorial Day weekend -- the ideal time to try your hand at bowfishing.

While spawning, carp thrash around in shallow water and are challenging targets for the archer. Carp and other nongame fish may be taken year-round by archery and surface spear, from sunrise to sunset between September 1 - March 30, and 24 hours per day from April 1 - August 31. Two Rivers, Louisville, Fort Kearny, Fremont, Mormon Island, and Windmill state recreation areas; Platte River and Eugene T. Mahoney state parks and trout streams are closed to bowfishing year-round.

Bowfishers are required to use a hand-drawn traditional or compound long bow and an arrow with one barbed point. The arrow must be attached to the bow by a line at the time the arrow is released. While there is no minimum draw weight required by law, most bow fishermen use a bow that pulls about 40 pounds so the arrow enters the water with enough energy to penetrate a fishs tough scales and skin.

Most modern bows have a threaded hole in the riser where a stabilizer or bow- fishing reel can be mounted. Many traditional bows have no hole, but brackets to hold the reel can be purchased or made, then strapped to the riser. Hand-wrap drum reels are available at some stores, but closed-face spinning reels, such as the Zebco 808, are more common for holding the line. Heavy braided line is easier to use with a hand-wrap reel because it wont cut your hand or glove as easily when you pull the fish in, while the line used with a closed-face spinning reel is often 200-pound, thin-diameter monofilament that can easily cut your skin. The heavy line is important because the fishs scales are sharp and can fray the line if the fish rolls, and because carp are usually shot in shallow water, where other objects can easily cause line abrasions and fraying.

Carp are plentiful in many areas, are strong fighters and can be a challenge to land on any tackle. They also grow to good size – the state record bighead carp weighed 53 pounds, 3 ounces; the record common carp went 33 pounds, 12 ounces; and the record grass carp weighed 64 pounds. Four and five pounders are common. Carp are very tasty, whether scored and fried, smoked, canned, or grilled.

Pawnee Lake near Emerald, Branched Oak Lake near Malcolm, Stagecoach Lake near Hickman, and Standing Bear Lake in Omaha all offer excellent populations of carp, as do many other lakes across the state.

Before heading to the lake, be sure you have a 2006 Nebraska fishing permit and Aquatic Habitat Stamp, which can be purchased online from the Game and Parks Commissions web site at www.outdoornebraska.org, from a Game and Parks office, or any of some 900 permit vendors across the state. With a few exceptions, any angler 16 years old or older is required to have a Nebraska fishing permit to fish in Nebraska. The resident annual fishing permit costs $21, a nonresident annual fishing permit is $51. The required Nebraska Aquatic Habitat Stamp and the $1 permit issuing fee is included in both prices. .Resident one- day fishing permits are $7 and three-day permits are $16. Nonresident one-day permits are $9 and three-day permits are $20 Also pick up a free copy of the 2006 Nebraska Fishing Guide, which has information about fishing regulations and public waters across the state.