New Year's Eve spearfishing in Russia

[hyeparis]

My spearfishing buddy and I established a New Year eve tradition a few years ago. Every Dec. 31, we pack our gear and take a ride in his Russian-made off road vehicle - Niva - to this river, called the Vorya. Then we usually put on so-called hunting skies, put all gear in backpacks, clip the weight belts and ski across the field to the bank of the river, to the stretch that doesn't freeze in winter. Usually, viz is around 50 cm-1 meter and water temperature cannot be lower than 0 degree Celsius anyhow. Such conditions are good enough to spear roach fish as well as, if we get lucky, orfes and dogfish in pits which are some 4 meters deep or so. This year was no exception - we went to the same river, except for my buddy got a sore throat so I had to do it on my own. Spent about hour and a half in 10-mm thick Picasso wet suit. Found lots of roachfish, but speared just a few of the plenty roachfish to fry on a pan, but failed to find any dogfish or orfes.
getting into water

checking remnants of an old bridge against the current for orfes and dogfish

here is how the bottom of a typical central Russian small river looks like in winter if you enhance colors

my modest catch

have to comply with the Russian way of warming up (brandy in that one, spilled some into the river to please the river gods too) even though I am Armenian )))

[Pastor]

Oh dear God!!!! That would shrink the odd bit of anatomy

[hyeparis]

I accidentally gulped down about a liter of cold water when my snorkle got knocked sideways by a branch of a sunken tree during ascent - so I did pay a price - caught a nasty cold that kep me indoors for more than a week

[Erik]

Hardcore dude! I've done some freediving in similar conditions (lake) but no spearing as the sea is 1200km from here.
Very challenging and yes, massive shrinkage of 'parts' is a byproduct. Take off the lower suit and remember when you were 8 years old hahaha.

[hyeparis]

Shrinking does represent a challenge, but in a different way, sort of.
First comes the question what to do when you feel like peeing as you spearfish in a winter river.
Some spearos here cut out part of the pants in the groin area and glue on a tube of a sort to let themselves relieve themselves when the nature calls. And here is when the issue that you and Pastor have raised come to factor in. The question is always how long you should make that tube? I mean the organ does shrink a lot in cold water so that tube has to be fairly shot so that you can pull it out when you feel like peeing - open cell interior of your suit does make it hard to reach smth inside the suit - as you know. If it make it too long, you won't be able to retrieve what Armenians call 'chuchulik' in time or at all. But if it is short, than fellow spearos or ladies whom you flaunt your gear to when intoxicated at home may wonder whether you are man enough. That's a real challenge, I must say.
PS 1,200 km away from the sea? I thought such a distance is possible only in Russia. Where do you live in Canada, may I ask? As for the shrinking, it is not a real challenge, I must say.

[Erik]

I live in Edmonton Alberta- the closest ocean is at Vancouver or Prince Rupert BC. If I remember from school, Canada was the 2nd largest country after the old CCCP.
I hunt in the lakes inland mostly, and look forward to my sea experiences.
I actually tried a medical condom cather device with a tube running out the suit but it didn't work well at all. Buying the correct size is embarrassing as you know you'll shrink , plus the glue on the catheter is torture when you take it off ! Now I just don't drink any caffeine on the day I'm going diving. If I have to, I can usually swim to shore, stand up and pee with only my feet in the water.

[hyeparis]

Originally Posted by Erik

I live in Edmonton Alberta- the closest ocean is at Vancouver or Prince Rupert BC. If I remember from school, Canada was the 2nd largest country after the old CCCP.
I hunt in the lakes inland mostly, and look forward to my sea experiences.
I actually tried a medical condom cather device with a tube running out the suit but it didn't work well at all. Buying the correct size is embarrassing as you know you'll shrink , plus the glue on the catheter is torture when you take it off ! Now I just don't drink any caffeine on the day I'm going diving. If I have to, I can usually swim to shore, stand up and pee with only my feet in the water.

That's very interesting - where do you spearfish in that area and what, may I ask?
I also don't drink any caffeine, but I also eat salted dry fish which ties up water in the organism. It is out of question to try get out of the wet suit to pee in winter - so I just prefer to tie water in the organism!

[Erik]

We shoot Burbot, Perch, Walleye, Northern Pike, Whitefish, Suckers and Trout. There are many lakes in Alberta and many more on Saskatchewan, our neighbouring province. There are a few guys that hunt in rivers too, but I've never done it.
Visibility is usually not more than a few metres, but some of the more northern lakes can have 10 metres vis.

[hyeparis]

Originally Posted by Erik

We shoot Burbot, Perch, Walleye, Northern Pike, Whitefish, Suckers and Trout. There are many lakes in Alberta and many more on Saskatchewan, our neighbouring province. There are a few guys that hunt in rivers too, but I've never done it.
Visibility is usually not more than a few metres, but some of the more northern lakes can have 10 metres vis.

You guys are blessed. Here we have to drive 15 hours to the Volga delta to find decent fish, guaranteed. - the combined effect of Soviet industries dumping ruthlessly everything they could into rivers, lakes and continuing poaching - electrocuting fish, using nets - you name it. Lakes have less fish because of all that, than rivers.
And the visibility in the Moscow area for rivers hardly exceeds three meters even when it is greatest - in late fall/winter. A vizibility of a couple of meters is considered to be good.
I gotta make it to Canada one day.

[Erik]

Originally Posted by hyeparis

I gotta make it to Canada one day.

You have a warm room and a coffee waiting.
(As does Sara Lise)

[hyeparis]

Erik, thanks for the invite! One humble question though: do you always walk around your home in the same outfit that you feature in your avtar?
Check this video our if you are interested in trophy spearfishing in Russia -

You Tube

interested, you more welcome to come visit!

[beamjoel]

Erik,

you should do us all a favor and change your avatar!!!!

[Erik]

LOL! Ok I'll change it... just wanted to put it up for a day hahaha.

[ILDiver]

hyeparis, we are getting ready to dive in Wisconsin this weekend. It should be an interesting experience. Not sure what to expect in tempature in the water. The Air should be 9F, water I expect to be 28F - 40F. We will be near a power plant that uses the water for cooling. Hopefully it will be running, which will warm the water we will be in! Otherwise, it will be all 30F water!

Whopperhead has many videos of cold water dives and pictures! http://forums.deeperblue.net/681665-post54.html is one post, link to video's in his signature. Your welcome to join us as well!

[hyeparis]

Originally Posted by beamjoel

Erik,

you should do us all a favor and change your avatar!!!!

Thank you for suggesting this change. My question still remains if I accept Erik's offer of warm room, I need to know whether he is gonna walk around in his house dressed like that.