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question about a speargun reel
- Thread startercalicohunter31
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Not being a reel user as of yet I cant honestly say but I do know this much...
Your line to your spear is there for a few reasons, one of which is to retreive fish and enabeling you to go to the survace without letting go of your rig. The other is to be able to play fish should you shoot a big one that runs and also enabeling you to keep the fish off reefs or the bottom stuctures of the water you hunt seeing as alot of runners tend to head for the bottom and in this way run along the bottom in a effort to remove the spear and Ive seen this work on big yellow tail. So your line should be long enough to let the fish run but also enable you to keep the fish off the bottom so Id say line lenth would be determined by how deep you plan to hunt, so say your deepest hunt will be 20m youll have 25 or 30m line just incase you get a real big one that an drag you down...
But like I said I dont use a reel so maybe take my advice with a drop of salt water and see if someone else also replies
Your line to your spear is there for a few reasons, one of which is to retreive fish and enabeling you to go to the survace without letting go of your rig. The other is to be able to play fish should you shoot a big one that runs and also enabeling you to keep the fish off reefs or the bottom stuctures of the water you hunt seeing as alot of runners tend to head for the bottom and in this way run along the bottom in a effort to remove the spear and Ive seen this work on big yellow tail. So your line should be long enough to let the fish run but also enable you to keep the fish off the bottom so Id say line lenth would be determined by how deep you plan to hunt, so say your deepest hunt will be 20m youll have 25 or 30m line just incase you get a real big one that an drag you down...
But like I said I dont use a reel so maybe take my advice with a drop of salt water and see if someone else also replies
O
octopus
Guest
It also depends on a lot of condition (like first of all how much you are willing to pay for your line, how strong you want your line to be, will u be targeting species that tend to run into the coral seabed and mess the line or you'll be blue water hunting etc...), and accordingly, and you have different options:
1- Kevlar line: Those are the best quality I guess but also the most expensive. They are very resistent to abbrasion and tear, they are very solid and can handle up to 450lbs or more. They are also thinner than dyneema line (therefore you can fit up more line in your reel than you would do with dyneema line). They dont burn easily so for the rough end of the line you will have to super glue it.
2- Dyneema line: Those are pretty good too, and I am using this, and they come in different strength and thickness. A more economical choice than kevlar line. It is easier to hold underwater than kevlar line (when playing a fish) but it is less resistant to abbrasion/tear than kevlar, and you can select your thickness and strength accordingly. I use 30m of 250lbs dyneema line and Im pretty satisfied with it performance, and it is still thick enough to give me a good grip when playing a fish...
3- Monoline: I don't think this is a favorite choice for spearos, but still some use it. I never used it in spearfishing to judge on it except for the 6m of mono connecting the shaft to the swivel which connects the reel line. Monoline give you a lot of strength per cross section, but the thicker the mono, the more it tends to distort and lose its original shape when stored for long periods. Also mono is harder to grip and is not that cheap either. Mono isn't a very common choice among spearos as a reel line.
4- Other synthetic lines such as those polyester spectra or nylon spectra line: I don't have much experience with those, but I think they are also a good choice and some of those lines are extremly tough too...
I hope that was useful !
Regards...
1- Kevlar line: Those are the best quality I guess but also the most expensive. They are very resistent to abbrasion and tear, they are very solid and can handle up to 450lbs or more. They are also thinner than dyneema line (therefore you can fit up more line in your reel than you would do with dyneema line). They dont burn easily so for the rough end of the line you will have to super glue it.
2- Dyneema line: Those are pretty good too, and I am using this, and they come in different strength and thickness. A more economical choice than kevlar line. It is easier to hold underwater than kevlar line (when playing a fish) but it is less resistant to abbrasion/tear than kevlar, and you can select your thickness and strength accordingly. I use 30m of 250lbs dyneema line and Im pretty satisfied with it performance, and it is still thick enough to give me a good grip when playing a fish...
3- Monoline: I don't think this is a favorite choice for spearos, but still some use it. I never used it in spearfishing to judge on it except for the 6m of mono connecting the shaft to the swivel which connects the reel line. Monoline give you a lot of strength per cross section, but the thicker the mono, the more it tends to distort and lose its original shape when stored for long periods. Also mono is harder to grip and is not that cheap either. Mono isn't a very common choice among spearos as a reel line.
4- Other synthetic lines such as those polyester spectra or nylon spectra line: I don't have much experience with those, but I think they are also a good choice and some of those lines are extremly tough too...
I hope that was useful !
Regards...
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A lot of the answers to your questions depend on where you dive and for what fish, and you don't seem to divulge that information. However, based on your user name, I'm going to assume that you are in Southern California and aspire to be able to handle a nice sized yellowtail or white sea bass.
I use Spectra on all my reels, and I think you need a minimum of 100 feet, with 150 feet being better. A big white sea bass can wind line all through the kelp and spool you even in shallow water, and you can't get directly over the fish.
Thickness- the thicker the better, but that is as long as you have a big enough reel to have at least 100 feet of it. I grip the line with my hand to create drag, and if you are trying to stop a big fish and force it to tie up in the kelp before it gets to the bottom, it will cut right through a glove if its thin.
Masahiro Mori (morifsh@aol.com), (310) 628-8082 is a dealer for Marlow Spectra and sells it much cheaper than it can be bought at West Marine. On my largest reels, I use 3 mm line (30 cents/foot) but that takes a big reel.
A nice compromise is his 2.5 mm line. Marlow doesn't usually made that thickness, but Mori got them to do a special run of it as a compromise between the 3 mm, which is too thick for a lot of reels, and 2 mm, which is harder to handle.
If you can't get enough 2.5 mm on the reel, then my favorite is the 2 mm bright yellow kite line Spectra available by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
Bulk Spectra Line at WindPower Sports Kite Store
It shows up very well down in the shade and murk, and it has a very tight weave and good stiffness so that its not limp all over you.
The stuff on the black gun with an Aimrite reel is the kite line, and the stuff on the Rob Allen stainless steel reel is the 2.5 mm.
I use Spectra on all my reels, and I think you need a minimum of 100 feet, with 150 feet being better. A big white sea bass can wind line all through the kelp and spool you even in shallow water, and you can't get directly over the fish.
Thickness- the thicker the better, but that is as long as you have a big enough reel to have at least 100 feet of it. I grip the line with my hand to create drag, and if you are trying to stop a big fish and force it to tie up in the kelp before it gets to the bottom, it will cut right through a glove if its thin.
Masahiro Mori (morifsh@aol.com), (310) 628-8082 is a dealer for Marlow Spectra and sells it much cheaper than it can be bought at West Marine. On my largest reels, I use 3 mm line (30 cents/foot) but that takes a big reel.
A nice compromise is his 2.5 mm line. Marlow doesn't usually made that thickness, but Mori got them to do a special run of it as a compromise between the 3 mm, which is too thick for a lot of reels, and 2 mm, which is harder to handle.
If you can't get enough 2.5 mm on the reel, then my favorite is the 2 mm bright yellow kite line Spectra available by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
Bulk Spectra Line at WindPower Sports Kite Store
It shows up very well down in the shade and murk, and it has a very tight weave and good stiffness so that its not limp all over you.
The stuff on the black gun with an Aimrite reel is the kite line, and the stuff on the Rob Allen stainless steel reel is the 2.5 mm.
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One last question. How do you keep the shockcord on your gun even if you have a reel on it?
thanks for the answers
thanks for the answers
You don't keep the shockcord. The main purpose of that thing is to just provide some stretch when you are stringing up the gun. With a reel, you just reel up line to keep the gun strung up. If a fish hits the end of the line hard, it just pulls line off of the reel, so there is no "shock" to worry about. I keep my drag set just tight enough to keep the gun strung up, and then when I hit a fish, I usually release all the drag and provide drag by grabbing the line with with my hand.
Just to provide more detail of rigging- the usual thing is to put a snap-swivel or pigtail swivel on the end of the reel line, and attach that to a loop in the rear end of the mono shooting line.
Also, you don't fight the fish from the reel as you would with a rod and reel. You just pull line in hand over hand until you get the fish under control, and then reel the line back onto the reel later.
If a fish has reel line strung out all through a kelp bed, there is no way you can follow that path, either with the gun from one end or the fish from the other end. So the usual thing to is brain the fish, then detach the shooting line from the reel line and bring the fish straight up. Then after you have it strung or otherwise under control, you go find your gun floating, and reel the line back through the kelp.
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I said that was my last question.. Could you just answer these pleases
How much pound test should i use? I Go out at Baja mexico and Southern California. How do you conect the line to the shaft? Do you need anyu other parts to connect it?
Thanks
How much pound test should i use? I Go out at Baja mexico and Southern California. How do you conect the line to the shaft? Do you need anyu other parts to connect it?
Thanks
I assume you mean what pound test mono shooting line? I've mentioned thicknesses of Spectra reel line, but I don't even know what pound test they are. It doesn't really matter, because all of them are too strong for me to break pulling against a fish.
I use this 400 pound test green mono that I get from the Jig Stop in Dana Point. If you are not close by, they have a web site where you can order it.
I like it because its the most visible at depth that I've ever tried. And if you haven't tried to follow black mono through the murk in thick kelp at 50 feet, then you'll just have to trust me that visibility really matters.
To connect the line to the shaft, you need a good crimper and double barreled crimps that are the proper size for your mono. I use 2.2 mm crimps for that mono in the photo. I also use a big commercial grade crimper that costs about $110, but you can get a decent hand crimper for the mid $30s at any tackle shop.
I'm showing a photo of the line connection to the shaft, and since it shows a spring loop protector, I'm also showing a photo of the box that they come in just in case you wonder what you are seeing. However, I'm kind of anal, and most people do just fine without them.
You really should have someone who knows what he is doing from a tackle shop (reasonably likely) or a dive shop (much less likely) demonstrate this crimping thing to you.
At most dive shops, the people are just concerned with selling dive gear and filling tanks, and don't know much about spearing and spear guns even if they sell them (That is why too many people end up with Riffe Metal Techs).
But at tackle shops, at least the boss probably knows how to rig tackle.
Don't worry about asking one more question. That's what these boards are all about- giving a chance for old farts to feel important.
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BTW- of you are willing to come to my house in San Clemente, we could probably cover more in an hour of show and tell than in a million questions on the board. Its a lot better to see it in person and get all the questions answered at once than to read about it and look at photos.
That fish in my avatar is a 50 pounder that I took off the mainland coast in June, and I took another 50 pounder in May. That doesn't prove I'm very good at it, but at least it indicates that I know how to rig so that they don't break off.
That fish in my avatar is a 50 pounder that I took off the mainland coast in June, and I took another 50 pounder in May. That doesn't prove I'm very good at it, but at least it indicates that I know how to rig so that they don't break off.
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I know that your good/amazing at spearfishing cause of your fish pic and all the pics you sent me. I live in Enicinitas there is a dive shop close to me, but i dont know if there good at spearfishing. They selll Woody Riffe and alot of riffe gear and jbl gear. I am gonna go there pretty soon and see if they can help me set it up, if they cant well. I will ask you some questions or if we could set something up i could come over. Thx for the help
I seriously doubt that the shop in Encinitas really knows much about setting up your gun. The only shop I've heard of in San Diego County that is said to be dedicated to Spearfishing is James and Joseph, although I have not been there myself.
There is a shop in Dana Point that must stock more Riffe guns than anyone, as well as many other guns. But like most shops, their main business is selling scuba gear and scuba training. They will be glad to sell you a Riffe gun too, but I doubt that you will run into anyone with the time, interest, or knowledge to help you set up or explain much to you. They simply don't do much spearfishing themselves.
But maybe I'm trying to push you beyond what you are ready to hear anyway. If you haven't done much spearfishing, then its hard to even know what to ask or understand the answers. That is perfectly normal.
Just know that the offer stands. I'll try to help with any questions that you ask here, and I'll be glad to arrange to meet with you if you would like that.
You just have to realize that you would have to listen to more stories than you might be willing to hear.
There is a shop in Dana Point that must stock more Riffe guns than anyone, as well as many other guns. But like most shops, their main business is selling scuba gear and scuba training. They will be glad to sell you a Riffe gun too, but I doubt that you will run into anyone with the time, interest, or knowledge to help you set up or explain much to you. They simply don't do much spearfishing themselves.
But maybe I'm trying to push you beyond what you are ready to hear anyway. If you haven't done much spearfishing, then its hard to even know what to ask or understand the answers. That is perfectly normal.
Just know that the offer stands. I'll try to help with any questions that you ask here, and I'll be glad to arrange to meet with you if you would like that.
You just have to realize that you would have to listen to more stories than you might be willing to hear.
Well it really depends on the size of your reel. Make sure you don't fill it entirely but leave at least 1cm of drum-space beyond the thickness of the spooled line, this greatly reduces chances the line will tangle.
i go spearfishing alot, its just that i got a reel for my gun and i dont know how to put it on and things like that i never used one before. Also i am only 15 so not the most expenrcned in the world.
So do you think if i go to a fishing tackle shop they will know more than the ppl and the dive shop?
just wondering what types of gun you havE?
I like storys.
So do you think if i go to a fishing tackle shop they will know more than the ppl and the dive shop?
just wondering what types of gun you havE?
I like storys.
Neither the people in a fishing tackle shop nor the people in a dive shop are likely to know how to mount a particular reel on a particular gun. The exception might be a dive shop that sells that specific reel and gun, but even then you are likely to run into a tank monkey that doesn't know a damn thing about spearfishing equipment.
What brand is your gun? What brand is your reel?
What brand is your gun? What brand is your reel?
I have a jbl gun not the best but its fine and i got a jbl reel. I know how to mount it but i dont know get the crimps and things. Do you need a special too for the crimps? the only thing i dont understand now is the crimps and how you connect it to the shaft. I know you already told me but i didnt really understand it soryy.
Read the crimping tutorial at Leadertec, maybe it will make sense:
Tips & Techniques > Basic crimping techniques
Calico,
if your talking about North county Scuba.... the guys in there are nice guys, but definitely not spearos. id have to agree with bill that they would only be guessing about how to rig your reel. ive bought some stuff from their shop and the guy is always trying to get me scuba certified when all i wanna do is free dive and shoot fish. maybe try blue water tackle off of lomas santa fe by the train station, they have all kinds of sh-t and might be able to hook you up
if your talking about North county Scuba.... the guys in there are nice guys, but definitely not spearos. id have to agree with bill that they would only be guessing about how to rig your reel. ive bought some stuff from their shop and the guy is always trying to get me scuba certified when all i wanna do is free dive and shoot fish. maybe try blue water tackle off of lomas santa fe by the train station, they have all kinds of sh-t and might be able to hook you up