Yes Bill some guys in certain areas make good use of a reel, especially the deeper divers who hunt in holes and kelp.
I was really referring to the type of fishing that Mr X and myself tend to prefer rather than a generalisation.
I have had to leave my gun a few times when a fish has tangled the line in weed or kelp but as I rarely fish in more than 8-9 meters, the gun remained visible from the surface.
I mainly hunt the shallow weed beds, mostly in around 1- 5 meters although this may be some distance from the shore.
I swim amongst the weed and kelp that grows on submerged reefs and find a reel catches on the weed and becomes a nuisance.
I also dive over sand and gravel and in strong tides while hunting for flatfish, here the water is much deeper but open and clear and as the fish are rarely over 5-6 lb I have no use for a reel.
We used to get much larger flatfish up-to 30lb but overfishing has taken its toll.
I also spend a lot of time searching in holes for lobster and crab but in all my years, I have never, ever, seen a bass in a hole, I think this must be a regional thing as in certain areas in the U.K. hunting bass in overhangs and holes is quite standard.
So I leave my gun on the surface when searching holes!
At one time we had a huge stock of conger eels that lived in the holes, they were big powerful creatures that were very popular for competition divers but alas they are now like hens teeth!
So basically for my preferred style of hunting in the shallow weed a reel becomes a real pain rather than a asset .
I was really referring to the type of fishing that Mr X and myself tend to prefer rather than a generalisation.
I have had to leave my gun a few times when a fish has tangled the line in weed or kelp but as I rarely fish in more than 8-9 meters, the gun remained visible from the surface.
I mainly hunt the shallow weed beds, mostly in around 1- 5 meters although this may be some distance from the shore.
I swim amongst the weed and kelp that grows on submerged reefs and find a reel catches on the weed and becomes a nuisance.
I also dive over sand and gravel and in strong tides while hunting for flatfish, here the water is much deeper but open and clear and as the fish are rarely over 5-6 lb I have no use for a reel.
We used to get much larger flatfish up-to 30lb but overfishing has taken its toll.
I also spend a lot of time searching in holes for lobster and crab but in all my years, I have never, ever, seen a bass in a hole, I think this must be a regional thing as in certain areas in the U.K. hunting bass in overhangs and holes is quite standard.
So I leave my gun on the surface when searching holes!
At one time we had a huge stock of conger eels that lived in the holes, they were big powerful creatures that were very popular for competition divers but alas they are now like hens teeth!
So basically for my preferred style of hunting in the shallow weed a reel becomes a real pain rather than a asset .