Pole-Spearing techniques... Got any?

[skarz]

Could anyone maybe help me, I'm new and i need techniques and advice.

[fishspearit]

Here's a link to some of the basics,
http://www.foldspear.com/tips.htm

[skarz]

Thanks a lot, some good stuff in there. Still too cold for me to get in the water around here

[Oldsarge]

Hmmm,
Fishspearit, old chum, have you used the Foldspear? Is it all it's cracked up to be? Looks like a good start for the experientially challenged, don'tcherknow!

[fishspearit]

Yes, I have used the Foldspear, and YES! it is all that it's cracked up to be. But I do have a slight conflict of interest since I'm the one making the Foldspear, so this could be construed as a shameless plug. The foldspear is a VERY effective pole spear, and the convenience of the holstered design makes it superior to all of the other travel polespears out there. But it's new, and different, and just looking at still photos don't do it justice. I'm working on some video, so people can see this isn't just some gimmick, the Foldspear brings home the fish!

[skarz]

I think putting the pole spear together underwater would be a bit of a hassle..... yea you can do it in 10 seconds, but doesnt it scare the fish away with all that clanking around? And why take it apart, swim, put it together, swim, take it apart, swim..... seems like too much for just spearing fish.

[fishspearit]

It's really more like 3 seconds to open it or to fold it back up. Because water has such a dampening effect, no there's not much sound involved, compared to say a diver exhaling through a regulator.
I agree, taking it out, putting it back, swimming, taking it out again, etc... would not make much sense. But say for example you're doing a shore dive, and you're carrying out your fins, gear, game bag or stringer, or whatever else you've got. Wouldn't it be nice while swells are smacking you in the face to not have to worry about dropping your spear while you're putting your fins on, or when your exiting the water. How about climbing back on a boat? Some spearfishermen like it as a handy backup to a speargun. What if you're main purpose in the water some day was other than spearfishing, such as looking at a wreck, practicing your breath hold, helping someone else out; and a great target of opportunity swims by. With the Foldspear, you've always got an effective polespear with you; whether your sole purpose is spearfishing or not. You may want to keep it out and in your hand the whole time, but you dont HAVE too.

[Amphibious]

I played with the Foldspear while at Dema and I'll give it my "dryland inspection" two thumbs up. this looks to be a solid peice of equipment and Star & Andrew presented it very well.

[skarz]

I still dont get how it stays sturdy when you tag a nice sized fish. I could just see it flopping apart and stuff. I dont know, for now im sticking to a regular old spear. I dont want to go too high-tech, im not even sure if i'll like it that much.

[sublimished]

How much does the foldspear run for?

[Oldsarge]

$119 or thereabouts, list, I think.

[scottwilson]

any updates on the fold spear? uit sounds good but since the last post was May 11 2004 it makes me wonder

[jimqpublic]

I saw their display at the Blue Wild spearfishing expo last weekend. Stephen Metcalf did a presentation on polespearing and he was pretty enthusiastic about the Foldspear. Stephen has many different polespears- he spends a part of each year in the Bahamas where you can't use any speargun with a trigger.

[Boomstick]

My wife got me one, not used it yet but looking foward to it as the gadget factor is through the roof

[bgill]

Here's a few pics of what a polespear can do for ya in an afternoon! Make sure to TWIST your band around the polespear while loading up the band to fire. It keeps the polespear from flexing as much.

If possible you should approach fish from below or swim up to them underwater....SLOWLY! - otherwise the fish may swim off feeling threatened.

Don't spear fish with a polespear that are TOO BIG...Like say a 30 pound fish...It'll take your polespear to Davy Jones Locker & maybe you too if you refuse to let go! Make sure to use a slip-tip and a float & line if you're gonna go for BIG fish.

A "three prong" style tip works best for smaller fish & also provides a small margin for error since the tip covers more area than a standard flopper tip.

Good luck....You'll never touch any other type of fishing pole again!!! May as well sell all your tackle!!!! Its addicting!!!!