For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD — The Marshfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Marshfield Parks & Recreation Department recently announced that AMS Bowfishing has chosen Marshfield to host the Sixth Annual AMS Bowfishing Big 30 Challenge. This will be the first time the event has been hosted in Marshfield, and the event will take place May 21 and 22 at the Jer Lang Show Palace at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, 513 E. 17th St. in Marshfield.

How does one bowfish in Marshfield? Participants do not actually bowfish here, but it is where the event starts and finishes.

The competition is an overnight race. Bowfishing will take place in lakes and rivers all over the state, and the beginning and ending point is Marshfield.

The boats have high-powered lights that draw invasive fish to the surface. Bowfishing helps keep Wisconsin waterways free from overpopulation of invasive species such as carp.

The competition will have up to 100 three-man teams — with trucks and boats in tow — who will scout central Wisconsin and beyond for the best bowfishing spots weeks before the event. The teams will meet at the fairgrounds on May 21 to register and get ready for the big send-off at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to come by the fairgrounds from 3-6 p.m. and see the latest in fishing boats and learn about bowfishing from the professionals.

The official start to the challenge will be at 7 p.m. and the teams will set off with a police escort. The public is welcome to watch the start of the race on the route from the fairgrounds entrance on 14th Street and Vine to Central Avenue, heading south out of town.

The public weigh-in will be at 8 a.m. May 22, also at the Jer Lang Show Palace at the fairgrounds.

For more information contact the Marshfield CVB via email at [email protected], by phone at 715-384-4314, or see visitmarshfield.com on the web.