Confused about Spearo gear selection :-|

[ArcticFree]

Hi all.
I have freedived a fair bit, but never tried spearfishing. Just the ole line, reel and tackle so far.

So, after deciding to step it up a notch and move into Spearfishing for my dinners, I find myself quite confused about what gear to go with, what setups to run and other various unknowns.

My situation: I live in Northern Canada right now, so will be hunting in fresh water lakes, great visibility in green waters, rocky bottoms, average fish sizes from 2 - 15lbs (whitefish, pike, pickerel, trout, arctic grayling). I currently have OMER winter fins, Alien mask, snorkel, and all the other gear save for my gun and peripherals.

My questions:
- What size gun should I go with? I really have no idea. On a side note, I will likely be moving to the Maldives in the next 2 years, so would like something that would work there also, if at all possible. If not, oh well.

- What line setup? Reel, maybe? A float seems like a good idea, especially for a beginner. Losing a gun to a big fish would blow. That said, I will likely hunt in waters no deeper than I could dive if I had to retrieve a lost gun. Any comments on line-setups would be appreciated.

- Are AB Biller guns good units? How about the Pardauk? They look quality. Good price. Any suggestions for a first gun?

I thank any and all that take the time to reply, in advance. Very much appreciated. Due to my location, I really don't have the option to try any setups out and decide which is best for me through that route.
Thanks. :wave
Clarke

 

[colt.45]

scence none of the fish you are shooting are too big I would recomend a 100cm gun with a single barb tahitian they're relatively cheep, powerfull, easy to handle, and you can allways add thicker/more bands (to a point of course)

 

[sdspearo]

what colt said. i use a 100cm rob allen and it works beautifully around rocks and in shallow water.

 

[srmccall]

Hello and welcome to the great sport of spearfishing!

I live in the midwest and I can give you a little background on the setup I am using in the midwest to hunt the same sized freshwater fish.

Gun- 75"cm Omer Excalibur 2000, Great working, smooth trigger and a very affordable spear gun. I really like the 75" as it allows a nice smooth, quick swing and works well is slightly lower visibility. The 75" is strong enough to shoot some decent sized fish too. I took a carp close to 30 pounds a few weeks ago and the gun had no problems going all the way through the fish at a decent distance. Also, there really is no need for a reel with the sized fish you are shooting.

Float- OMER Techno Float, Really nice easy to pull float that has tons of space to hold stringers, water and cargo space.

I attach my gun to my float with some Riffe float line and I can happily pull around my float and shoot fish all day. I picked up all my stuff at www.spearfishinggear.com. Have fun!

Seth

 

[ArcticFree]

Hello and welcome to the great sport of spearfishing!

I live in the midwest and I can give you a little background on the setup I am using in the midwest to hunt the same sized freshwater fish.

Gun- 75"cm Omer Excalibur 2000, Great working, smooth trigger and a very affordable spear gun. I really like the 75" as it allows a nice smooth, quick swing and works well is slightly lower visibility. The 75" is strong enough to shoot some decent sized fish too. I took a carp close to 30 pounds a few weeks ago and the gun had no problems going all the way through the fish at a decent distance. Also, there really is no need for a reel with the sized fish you are shooting.

Float- OMER Techno Float, Really nice easy to pull float that has tons of space to hold stringers, water and cargo space.

I attach my gun to my float with some Riffe float line and I can happily pull around my float and shoot fish all day. I picked up all my stuff at www.spearfishinggear.com. Have fun!

Seth

Thanks all for the help.
Seth, good advice, considering you're hunting about the same type of quarry as I am. How long is your short line attached to the spear / gun?

 

[srmccall]

The line that attaches the spear to the gun is about 6-8 feet long I would guess. The gun I have came pre-rigged and it works great for the conditions that I spear in. It allows you to shoot fish about 10-12 feet away I would guess. The line that attaches the gun to the float is a 75-foot line but I only really use about 50 foot of it. If I were to shoot a big fish and had to drop the gun to come up for air it would still be attached to the float thus not loosing the gun or fish. Hope this helps!


Seth

 

[Erik]

Hi Clarke, I'm just south of you in Edmonton, and spearfish a lot when the lakes are liquid
I use an OMER T-20 75cm gun attached to a 20 metre OMER float line. The line is attached to a scuba float that is canvas wrapped around an inner tube. Works great, extra line sits in there as does extra weights, water, coffee, etc. I also have a fish stringer 'binered to the bottom of the float.
Whatever you buy, since we're up here away from a resupplier, consider buying: an extra shaft, extra shaft line, and a set of spare bands. It sucks waiting 2 weeks for the gear to show up.
E-mail Mark Labocetta at OMER in the States: he will sell you stuff directly as there is no retailer in Canada. He is a good guy- 5 of us in Alberta regularly order from him, with great result.
Peace,
Erik Y.

 

[ArcticFree]

It's all making a little more sense now :duh
Float+Float line = gear storage, never losing gun or fish, and little to no hassles in anything but heavy surface kelp (which certainly doesn't apply to my current situation).

Erik: "...I'm just south of you in Edmonton, and spearfish a lot when the lakes are liquid"

Roger that. I'm sure we'll be iced up here in another month or so
This is all prep for next summer, and possibly for my trip to Hawaii this Jan.
Maybe we can find time to hook up for some hunting next summer?

"Whatever you buy, since we're up here away from a resupplier, consider buying: an extra shaft, extra shaft line, and a set of spare bands. It sucks waiting 2 weeks for the gear to show up."

Done.

" E-mail Mark Labocetta at OMER in the States: he will sell you stuff directly as there is no retailer in Canada."

Oh. I just ordered a fin/mask/snork combo from Spearfishinggear.com. If, however, I decide to go with more OMER gear, I shall make use of your fabulous advice. Cheers!

Thanks again to all.
Clarke

 

[Amphibious]

Talk to Mark @ Omer, he'll hook you up. Omer has been a great friend to us Canadian spearos.

I would mirror Erik and tell you to look for a Omer T-20 between 75cm and 90cm. I've been spearfishing in Canada since 1996 and can tell you a 100cm gun is WAY to big, 90 is pretty big for most freshwater applications up here. a small single banded 75cm gun is damn near perfect for inland canadian waters. freshwater fish are pretty dumb, range isn;t all that important, but eventually you'll want to play in some fo the faster rivers, or rapids like I do, thats where a short (75cm) low profile (euro style) gun comes into it;s own. to me, the biller guns are junk, but some guys like them. I just find them to big and clunky. I'd stick to a light Euro like the Omer.

Welcome to Deeperblue, you;d surprised at the amount of Western Canadian knowledge you can get here.

 

[Asturven]

ArtictFree,

Check your PM's

Cheers

Ivan

ivan@spetton-usa.com
ivan@freediveforlife.com

 

[feign]

Arcticfree,

Don't worry about having a gun that will be applicable for the Maldives. You will always find use for a 75-90cm gun. In great vis areas it can become your tight reef/hole gun. If you get something too long then on poor vis days (quite common up here), you will be pissed.

Lee

 

[ArcticFree]

It sounds like a 75cm gun is the way to go for me. More useful in poor vis, tighter confines, cheaper, powerful enough for dumb sub-20lb fish, and easily just as useful for other locales, like Male, for a lot of the same reasons. I had a hunch Lake fish were less wary of hunters given the lack of natural predators, compared with the average saltwater fish.

That leaves one big choice: Pay for the true artisan's finer creations (RIFFE, WONG, etc.), or go for the cheaper units that still perform admirably (OMER T-20 or Excalibur, etc.). I'm always drawn to the things in life that show without a doubt, that somebody has put a lot of skilled devotion towards its creation. When I look at the RIFFE competitor, for instance, I drool. It's messy. Then I
Then I look at my bank account and :waterwork Still, is it warranted to buy a sweet handmade teak gun as my first without having even shot one before? True though it may be that in a 75cm config. it will be approaching affordable, but should I cut my teeth on something more entry level to help me appreciate what a truly well honed custom can do for me, or should I jump in and go for a gun that will last the ages and make me smile just looking at it?
Tough choice. I'm sure it's just a personal choice in the end.
Thanks guys/girls.
Clarke

BTW: Why the T20 over the Excal.?

 

[srmccall]

I personally have never shot the T20 but I can tell you that my Excalibur is VERY durable and super accurate. I still think the trigger is my favorite part though..... Silky smooth.... I would definitely go with a sub 200 dollar gun for your first one. Like the previous poster says you can always use it and get proficient with it then move to a Riffe later and use the T20/Excalibur as a beater gun. Honestly after getting used to my Excalibur I don't want anything else..... Granted, I have never shot a Riffe or a Wong before.....


Seth

 

[feign]

ArcticFree,

I won't blame you if you go for a riffe or wong....I have two riffes and live here in Canada (MT#1 and Competitor #2), basically equivalent to 75cm and 90cm. I love them and could let you know what I have learned as far as set-up with line/bands/shafts for these guns in our waters if you decide to go that route. Although, as you said you have a tough choice, because the Omer T-20 is a very nice gun at a nice price too. Erik has a lot of success with his T-20. I watched him last weekend come out of the water with a stringer full of beautiful fish. I think the main reason they suggest the T-20 is that it is just dollars more and has a stronger/better trigger mechanism and handle.

Lee

 

[Bill]

" in a 75cm config. it will be approaching affordable, but should I cut my teeth on something more entry level to help me appreciate what a truly well honed custom can do for me, or should I jump in and go for a gun that will last the ages and make me smile just looking at it?"

Clarke

One question, do you take care of creations that you drool over? I could probably list over a dozen divers that sold a well used wooden gun for more than they paid for it. That 75cm Riffe is very close to the gun that I used for decades, in viz from 1 to 4 meters. Almost unlimited choice of shafts and power too.
I never bought an expensive sports car nor one of those fiberglass sailplanes but I did spend a lot of money on my first bike and every year I was happier with the decision.

Aloha
Bill

 

[Murat]

i also preffer excalibur over T20. Excalibur has far smoother trigger and better feel in hand for me. Hovewer i like the line release of T20

 

[Erik]

Clarke, it would be very nice to hook up and dive together. We have a very active (if small) group of 4+ spearos here in Alberta, including the Master (Stu) who lives in Ft MacMurray.
Check out our little group: http://groups.msn.com/altasub
Peace,
Erik Y.

 

[Spaniard]

I own many single-rubber euro-style guns; sporasub, cressi, omer, practisub, beuchat but my two favourite and, luckiest, guns are my Omer excalibur kevlar 90 and my Omer excalibur carbon 90. I cannot say enough good things about these two guns Still, it's a very personal choice at the end of the day and best not to splash out the big bucks on day one.....

 

[Amphibious]

That leaves one big choice: Pay for the true artisan's finer creations (RIFFE, WONG, etc.), or go for the cheaper units that still perform admirably (OMER T-20 or Excalibur, etc.).

oh my, I hope Mark Doesn't read that!!! rofl

I love Teak, why I just bought an Omer Master America. but the problem with these wider guns (like the Riffe) is their tracking in fast current. if you;re just hunting lakes it's a non issue, but if you jump in one of our fast moving mountain rivers it will become a big prob (think grayling). the T20/excal aluminum is going to take a bit more of a beating then the riffe, and still stay pretty. the thinner profile makes tracking a tad eaisier, the simplicity of a single band is always an advantage to the rookie, and there is far less cost involved (this shouldn;t be an issue, but the fact is it usually is). don;t get me wrong, Riffe makes a gorgeous gun, it's more of a Lamborgini vs. Ferrari argument

 

[ArcticFree]

Originally Posted by ArcticFree -

That leaves one big choice: Pay for the true artisan's finer creations (RIFFE, WONG, etc.), or go for the less expensive units that always perform admirably (OMER T-20 or Excalibur, etc.).

Did I just quote myself? :wave
It doesn't sound too good, huh? I was caught up in the moment, saying that. I certainly didn't mean to say less about OMER guns. I know they are top notch. I have a hard-on for shaped wooden things I guess.

:hmm -- <What's he talking about?>

Good point about the sort of beating teak would likely take around rocks in the rapids chasing grayling (there's a spot on the river in Lutsel'ke that I can take our sched flight to with guarunteed rainbow coloured little dorsel finned guys). That kind of makes the decision for me 'cause I am the type of dude that takes care of his gear (and would be upset for weeks if I gouged it)
Man, this is going to be a long winter. Thank the spearo god for my trip to Hawaii this Jan!
Clarke