MCFARLAND — As a teenager in Monona in the early 1980s, this time of year meant one thing only: bowfishing for spawning carp.

My buddies and I developed our "boat legs" while drifting over the weeds on Squaw Bay, Inner Lake and Upper Mud. At 16, we never considered that two of us standing on the seats made our canoe dangerously unstable. We just called it "tippy." We almost never fell in, and it gave us a much better viewing angle on unsuspecting carp and gar.

With our Bear compound bows, Cabela's polarized fishing glasses and duck-bill push pole, we thought we were pretty high-tech. But after an outing with several entrepreneurial young bowfishing guides, I realize how advanced the sport has become.

I recently hopped aboard "Shock n' Awe," one of two rigs operated by McFarland High School seniors Anthony Heller and Ethan Day — congratulations on your graduation today, by the way — and their crew at MadTown Bowfishing.

Armed with generators and ringed by halogen lights, these boats allow bowfishers to do something my buddies and I never even considered — shoot carp, buffalo, gar, sheepshead and suckers at night.

With deckhand Parker Washa, 17, at the helm and Heller, 18, demonstrating his shooting prowess, we recently cruised the currents and eddies between Babcock Park and Lower Mud Lake.

Even with my earlier experiences in bowfishing, I had to claim ignorance when Heller asked me if I'd ever seen a buffalo fish. Described by Heller as "carp on steroids," he was quick to show me up close just what he was talking about.

Shortly after departing from the dock just below the dam in McFarland, he spotted a hulking figure nearly outside the reach of the spotlights and exclaimed "buff!" before sending a tethered arrow on its way.

The fiberglass arrow began dancing in the current, a tell-tale sign that the arrow hit its mark. The on-board fish barrel held its first fish of the night — a buffalo fish that easily exceeded 30 pounds.

Before giving up the prime perch on the bow to allow me a shot at it, Heller amply illustrated his skills. In an hour he stuck three dogfish, two carp, two buffalo and a sucker. If he'd stuck one of the numerous sheephead he shot at, he'd have taken every type of rough fish available, except a gar.

Most of his efforts were no less than impressive, yet he says Washa is a better shot.

Paul Stapelman, treasurer for the Wisconsin Bowfishing Association, said bowfishing is one of the fastest growing archery sports in the country.

He said night fishing has only recently been legalized in Wisconsin following a three-year trial period under the watchful eye of the Department of Natural Resources. Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and most Southern states, he said, allow for night fishing.

Stapelman, who also hails from McFarland and has a part-time guide service called Nighttime Bowfishing Adventures, is impressed by MadTown Bowfishing.

"It's pretty neat that they're excited about helping other people experience bowfishing," he said. "When people who've never done it actually shoot (carp) and realize how powerful these fish are, they quickly get hooked on it."

It's been more than five years since the day Heller and Washa came home from middle school and Washa's father Steve suggested they take pitch forks and try to spear carp behind the Washa farm along Lower Mud Lake.

"We actually got 32 carp using pitch forks that day," Heller said.

Hooked, it didn't take long before they were sporting the latest in bowfishing gear and tackle.

Their boats have evolved, too. They recently made the jump from battery power to generator power — and although they must now deal with the constant hum of the generators, the results are worth it.

How did their youthful enthusiasm evolve into a business venture?

Heller said that friends — some teachers even — began talking about the boys' tricked-out rigs and 35-fish days. Soon they found people were asking to come along to experience the thrill of tracking and shooting — literally hunting — for the large, rough fish. Recognizing rising demand, they elected to offer up their services to anyone.

They learned that being one of the youngest groups of bowfishing guides in the country has its advantages. Heller convinced Muzzy, a leading bowfishing equipment retailer, to sponsor the fledgling outfitters.

As the water and air temperatures rise, carp spawning activity will follow, which makes daytime as productive as night fishing. That means the entire MadTown Bowfishing crew works day and night to put clients on fish. In addition to Heller, Madtown Bowfishing has one other guide — Day, 18. In addition to Washa, the other deckhands include junior Nick Schuepbach, 17, and sophomore T.J. Howen.

Between them, there are more than 20 years of bowfishing experience.

With the blast of seven halogen bulbs lighting up the river bed and lake bottom, clients will get glimpses of more than just rough fish.

Our trip included sightings of several medium-sized muskies, numerous small northern, bass and bullhead, a few small walleyes, one large snapping turtle and countless bluegills, sheepshead and painted turtles. That alone is worth the price of a guided trip, which ranges from $35 for a two-hour day trip to $80 for a six-hour trip at night.

They guarantee the opportunity to shoot a minimum of 10 fish from "Shock n' Awe" or "Carpkilla."

Contact the boys at madtownbowfishing.com or 608-576-6799.