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reel vs. floatline?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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seamoss

New Member
Mar 10, 2009
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Hi All,

What is the advantage of reels vs. float lines vs. just a shooting line attached to the gun? What are the conditions that make a person choose a reel over the other two?

I freedive, been using a shooting line attached to the gun, have not shot anything much over 10lbs. but the possibility of a 40+lb. fish exists.

Thanks!
 
Reactions: Mr. X
Oh man! Where to begin. There must be countless threads covering this, but I'll do a quick and dirty.

A reel, assuming that its big enough and with the right size line, lets you have far more line than most people would be willing to tow around as a float line. But if all that line is taken by a fish, then you may lose the gun. A reel makes it a lot easier to get in and out of the water as opposed to deploying a float line, coiling it back into the boat, etc.

A float line, if rigged as breakaway, lets you keep the gun safe in your hand while the flsh is connected straight to the float line. If you have a large enough float, the fish can't take it under. But even if the shaft, shooting line and float line are all taken, you still have the gun in your hand.

Having the gun in your hand is a mixed blessing. If its attached to a reel line, then you can just release it, perhaps while diving to get a fish out of the rocks or kelp, and know its not going to float away.

If its not attached, you have to keep track of it. One standard is to stick your arm through the bands and shoulder the gun. That's OK in open water, but I don't like to wear a gun when I'm trying to get down through thick CA kelp. Another option is to clip it to the rear end of the float line.

I think I'll stop for now and wait for input from others and/or more questions.
 
Reactions: Mr. X
I agree with all points that Bill posted, I always fish with a reel, but lately I am using a float as well (float and reel) with a little weight to mark fishing spots and also to not get run over by boats.
 
As bill has stated above it all really depends on the type of diving you plan on doing. If your into blue water and want to shoot really big fish, use a breakaway and float line.

If you want to be able to shoot fish and let go of your gun attach a float line to your gun.

I personally use a reel 90% of the time as most of the diving I do is mid to deeper reefs. I like the reel because it doesn't inhibit your depth, Its not affected by surge, waves, or wind on the surface, and it still gives you the extra play when shooting fish at depth.

I still carry a float/flag and float line for safety purposes but usually anchor it when we pick a spot to dive or take turns holding it if we are doing a drift dive.

Many large fish have been taken with a reel as apposed to float line as well, You just have to be willing to hang on for a ride... or let go if need be.
 
If your new to spearfishing, I don't recommend a reel.
I have had it happen several times now where my reel has jammed on me, leaving me in very bad situations. I truly love diving with reels but when there are possibilities of big fish and deep water things can turn rotten for you and your gun!

Float lines are a pain but much more safe, there are many good uses for them out at sea. Fish storage, Boat safety, fellow divers can see you, tools, water, as well as what everybody has said about how they help land big fish with your gun at your side.

Diving with only spearline is nice and quick to reload but you will have to tell yourself NO when that big fish swims by, because you may very well lose your gun (or worse if you dont let go) if you shoot it.

Just a few thoughts of mine, hope it helps

Ben
 
Thanks all!

I just spent 30 minutes typing a reply but when I was done I had to log in again and the whole reply was lost, and now I have to go to bed.

Thanks again.
 
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