Meet Masnari Howell: The Killeen Native Shaking Up Texas Angling Traditions

Meet Masnari Howell, a Killeen native who is changing the game of fishing here in Central Texas. I came across his page on TikTok and realized that he was from the same area where I grew up fishing. When I was growing up, fishing around Belton, Temple, and Killeen was very common. As I said, I fished all the time with my dad, but I had never seen someone with a skill set quite like this, especially when it comes to fishing with a bow and arrow.

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The Rise of Masnari Howell: Redefining the Texas Fishing Scene

Masnari goes by the name “Dark Arrow,” and the unique form of fishing that he does is called bow fishing. I had never really seen anyone in the area accomplish it at the level that Masnari does. He’s been bow fishing for about 10 years after a friend introduced him to the sport, and now he has gained a lot of popularity on social media because of it.

Is This Killeen Native the Future of Texas Fishing Culture?

I’ve seen fishermen of all backgrounds, so that part isn’t unusual. What caught my attention was seeing a young man of color who not only took an interest in this hobby but was exceptionally good at it, if I do say so myself! You can tell that this is something Masnari genuinely enjoys, but it’s also something he plans to continue doing. He understands the impact he’s making and the recognition he’s building through bow fishing. He’s showing other young men of color that it’s okay to step outside the box, try something new, and discover that you might actually be amazing at it. Masnari is a prime example of exactly that.