[KY Bighead]

Ok.. I've heard this a couple times when people ask to raise a deck or not.. but why is a raised deck supposed to be better for shooting big fish at night??

I understand for day time use a raised is better, no question.. and I understand why it would be better to get your lights under it.. And I get that shot angles are a little better with a rised deck..

I understand why a flush deck is prefered by many..

But the 2 things I don't get is.. Why a raised is better for Big fish.. And above what height does it ACTUALLY become worth raising your deck!! 12 inches or above, 18 inches or above??

 

[brad g.]

op:

 

[rum3002576]

op:op:op:

 

[ty_higg]

op:

 

[Carpn]

A flush deck is nice for nite shooting and when shooting smaller fish cause it puts you closer to them. But you can see fish alot better from a raised deck, even at night... Big fish are easier to hit than small fish...There for being high and seeing better is an advantage since bigger fish are easier to hit you aren't hurting yourself by being higher......
I still like a flush deck though but I have a high sided boat.

 

[clark3]

Having a raised deck has nothing to do with big or small fish advantages IMO, the advantages are there both day and night. If you raise your deck, you mount lights underneath there for you have more room, your line doesn't get tangled in them and you don't burn yourself. Also at night the bugs don't even bother you since they're concentrated around the lights under you. Plus you get better angles on shots, less deflection from the water, and you can see em better. Having a raised deck is the way to go, anyone who says different prolly hasn't had a raised deck. Just 10" can make a huge difference

 

[fowlplay]

I agree with clark3. I built a 12" raised deck on my last boat and it made a world of difference in being able to see fish. Didn't help me hit any more fish, but I sure got a good look at them before I missed. If your boat is big enough to build a raised deck on, do it. I just realized that this has nothing to do with the original question, so I will end my rambling, I just found it noteworthy that I was agreeing with clark3.

 

[Old Bald Guy]

For the way we fish a raised deck ain't nothing but a pain in the azz.

 

[T.S.B.Roscoe]

:laugh:I'm scared of heights so I stay on a flushed...lol

 

[Southern Draw]

I like them simply because you can see out farther away from the boat and you can put your lights up underneath it.

 

[hotrodderscott]

I went 9" over the rails.
1- gets all the lights and wires down out of the way (and heat from lights)
2- keeps the bugs lower (when we used to use spotlights they were in your face all night)
3- Big Reason! I only have a small 1648, with a raised deck it gives me a lot more room to store stuff (fish buckets, cooler, life jackets, ors....) Room much needed in a small rig that i would loose with a flush deck.
4- You can see farther out in front of the boat with better shot angle into the water.

 

[mike]

A raised deck helps you spot the fish much further out in front of you. This makes the longer shots possible as well as being able to run them down before they disappear

We use the same theory when we shoot the Campbells bowfishing challenge.

Our cameramans (being much higher) spots the fish and guides the shooters to the fish. You can't imagine the fish you drive by just 15-20 yards off to the side of the boat. Or the fish that bolt for deep water before the shooters even see them

 

[FWG]

I agree you can see better day or night with a raised deck. But to me that's it. Iv had both and fished off both for a few years now and I'll take the flush any day. It's easier to get big fish in the boat, the bugs are just as bad here on one as they are the other and I can see a lot better while I'm running the outboard. Now I will say with my hps lights heat from the lghts is not an issue but the glare is. Which is another plus for a aided deck over a flush unless you do an inclsed light rail or something similar. But that's just my 2cents

 

[garpike2]

Having a raised deck has nothing to do with big or small fish advantages IMO, the advantages are there both day and night. If you raise your deck, you mount lights underneath there for you have more room, your line doesn't get tangled in them and you don't burn yourself. Also at night the bugs don't even bother you since they're concentrated around the lights under you. Plus you get better angles on shots, less deflection from the water, and you can see em better. Having a raised deck is the way to go, anyone who says different prolly hasn't had a raised deck. Just 10" can make a huge difference

agreed! raised deck is the way to go.... if you got the money and are serious about bowfishing i would put atleast a 10 in. raised deck.

 

[VinnieG]

Cant answer your question bout big fish brother. I also prefer a raised deck though

 

[JpEater]

In my eyes a flush deck is better. But thats in my eyes. Its all 100% personal preferance. If you ask 100 people, you will get 100 opinions that really don't make a crap. You only have one opinon that matters. YOURS!! Try em all and make your own opinon.

 

[clark3]

I will say that the only reason not to have a raised deck is if you have a large boat (airboat, 2072, ect) because they sit further off the water than a smaller 1860,1648 ect, The enclosed light rail cuts the glare, keeps the lights tucked away, keeps you from burning yourselfm and your boat is large enough you dont mind taking up the extra space. Our old 1648 had an elevate deck and being able to store stuff under it helped alot. As far as big fish go its actually harder to handle big fish with an elevated deck because you hve to step down to get them in.

 

[JpEater]

agreed! raised deck is the way to go.... if you got the money and are serious about bowfishing i would put atleast a 10 in. raised deck.

Try and tell all the past world champs and record holders, that dont have raised decks, they are not serious about bowfishing. :dh:

 

[Old Bald Guy]

Plenty of room. No glare from the lights. No heat from the lights. Easy to see over when driving. Open underneath with plenty of room for storage and a 75 gallon fish tub. Can't think of a sigle reason I would want to raise it.

 

[DPhelps1652]

I just built a flush deck on my 1652 and have plenty of storage room underneath for bows, lifejackets, spotlights, coolers etc. I've never fished off a raised deck so take my opinion fwiw, but I've never had problems with a flush deck.