Check out this big ol pig my brother shot friday night while we were out bowfishing on my lake! I thought it might make a cool bow backing so I skinned it out and froze the skins. Does anybody here have any experience with putting fish skins on a bow? Do I just salt it to dry it and then treat it as a snake skin or what? I have seen grass carp skinned bows but never a common carp. Any pictures would be appreciated! thanks guys!

Lee, A thread about fish skins is going on the powwow. Do not salt! just scrape clean and dry. Some dudes over ther will now plenty to set you up.
WOW! on the fish by the way. what did she tip the scales to?
Chuck

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=103891

Thanks Chuck! A little over 40#!

Not as pretty as grass carp but common carp are usable. Not as big as your carp but this carp was speared by hand with a bamboo pole and hunting knife in the Ohio River.






My Grandsons 1st birthday (a bow from Pop Pop)


Cant forget the grandaughter either

Couple a good looking kids and sticks Joe.

Thanks Kris. And, I have not forgotten the bow I owe you either!!!

Joe, while maybe not quite as glamorous as the Grass Carp I still think the "generic" Carp looks pretty dang nice, has a soft subtle quality to it.  I just might have to see if I can't get my hands on some.

Thanks for sharing.

(P.S. Nothing beats kids & bows!)

Who knew carp would look so nice on a bow? I might have to go out and kill one myself.
I know this is a rookie question, but haven't seen it mentioned yet........do you remove the scales just like on a snake skin, or scale it first?

Nice job Joe and what cute pair of little critters ya got there!
Future Archers I presume?  

We removed ours on grass carp before we skinned them.

Where the heck you been Shane!???  Comin' to CDale?

Hey John.  I've been around staying pretty busy with this and that.  I am thinking of taking a trip to Cloverdale this year.

When I get back I think I have found a use for gar in ks they have some pretty spots on them and I bet one big female would do a few bows.

Really hard to scale a gar.  I have seen bows at MOJAM backed with gar skin and it almost looks like jeweling on a rifle bolt.

i hear they bite.


ill have to go get pictures for you of our local blue carp... come to think of it that might back osage nicely...


-hov

never heard of blue carp...sounds interesting

i havent seen anyone that has any information , and i  have yet to hook into one of them , so im not sure if its just a water thing making them look blue , but they look BLUE. have gotten several of the whites , and they are very fun on a 5wt fly rod. they can really scream the reel.


-hov

I wonder if they might be Black Carp?

I have a sweet little 7'3" Penn 3wt that is fun on them too but you better be prepared for a lengthy stint on the rod