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South Devon Report 2008

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
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Went in at good ol' Budders today and it was rubbish! Very little fish today but the bottom was covered in spider crabs much to the delight of Killien and his friend Chris the Chef. Water was not as clear as expected with lots of algae and brown scum about. Easterlies have rubbed it all the wrong way. Still on the flip side we had a great night out in the boat fishing.

Will try the the reef as tide rises tomorrow morning.

Nice to put faces to names and look foward to meeting more people.

Tribs

Out
 
Nice to meet you too Tribs.
Hope you get the dinner for the BBQ today.
I will probably come back down during the week if the weather holds. I'll give a shout.
The spiders are full of meat and that red/brown stuff, yummy...!

Were the crabs nice North1 ?
 
Nice to meet you too Tribs.
Hope you get the dinner for the BBQ today.
I will probably come back down during the week if the weather holds. I'll give a shout.
The spiders are full of meat and that red/brown stuff, yummy...!

Were the crabs nice North1 ?

Went again this morning but again it was poor. Saw one bass of about 3lb but i was running empty and had to breach, took a quick gulp to see if i could get back quick enough but he moved on at speed. Legs were killing from the mammoth trip out yesterday and my old man (bless him) was tired after 30 mins bobbing around in an unweighted 7mm suit so we headed in.

Will try later in the week, Tuesday or Thursday after work??:)
 
Advice please!

My line parted yesterday when i fired at one of the very few fish i saw and it prompted me to review the set up of my gun. I have a Gabbiano 90 Elite and fitted the reel to the gun but i really don't like it. How can i get hold of some line/braid to rig the gun on a boingee again as i've looked everywhere (B&Q etc) for some appropriate line but its too thick/thin and rubs to almost disasterous effect. (I retrieved the spear with parted line tail).

Tribs

Out

Also, the bands on the gun seem very stiff, when i looked at Spearo webshop for the guns they were sold in different lengths and widths. I think i need 20mm width for the Gabbiano but if i had longer bands would it be easier to load?

Do a good deed, help an idiot today!

Tribs
 
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Most british spearo's rig their usual single band 75cm - 90cm guns with mono. Some measure the mono by thickness but I prefer breaking strain. I use 160lb mono (between 1mm - 1.5mm diameter). Good angling shops sell it as it's used for making heavy traces for angling for conger etc. That's sure to be your best bet. They also should have crimps ect but not bungees. You need to get bungees from a spearo supplier. A commercial fishing supplier may be a bit cheaper for mono and crimps if you can find one. You can of course buy everything on the internet.

Heres a thread that will help http://forums.deeperblue.net/beginner-hunting/64504-dummies-guide-rigging-speargun.html

Dave
 
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Most british spearo's rig their usual single band 75cm - 90cm guns with mono. Some measure the mono by thickness but I prefer breaking strain. I use 160lb mono (between 1mm - 1.5mm diameter). Good angling shops sell it as it's used for making heavy traces for angling for conger etc. That's sure to be your best bet. They also should have crimps ect but not bungees. You need to get bungees from a spearo supplier. A commercial fishing supplier may be a bit cheaper for mono and crimps if you can find one. You can of course buy everything on the internet.

Heres a thread that will help http://forums.deeperblue.net/beginner-hunting/64504-dummies-guide-rigging-speargun.html

Dave

Two great bits of advice in one day. I must have used up my quota already but i'll ask again anyway. What about the bands? If they are longer, are they less stiff? quicker to load?
Thanks Dave that rigging link was great.

Tribs
 
Tribs

I got some mono for you if you want, I bought 50 meters of the stuff a year ago and still got plenty, if you want just drop us a pm

Went in this morning on my yak ( damn I love that thing) took the dive gear and the rods. Caught a big squid and mackeral on line as well as a few baby pollack. Got in the water and found a nice big spider crab and 3lb pollack. Saw lots of bass and tons of pollack, got burned to a crisp and a " I told you so " from the other half so might give tonight a miss:)
 
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cheers mate, just used a cheapy TRAGO MILLS spoon that came in a pck of 3 for a quid something.

I was well stoked when it came up. Managed to clean it without breaking the ink sack aswell so very chuffed.
 
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Just been diving incoming tide Budleigh.

A big nice wrasse for dinner and a smaller one for neighbour.

Saw one mullet and small pollock

Keep me updated Tribs.
 

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Scott, very kind offer Thanks i will take you up there. I think i've got crimps ahve you got a crimping tool?

Killien, Nice fish but i still can't believe you eat them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I promise to try one though, promise. Do you want to go Tuesday, it seems its my only free night!!

Thanks guys

Tribs

Out
 
Tribs and Killien,
Good to meet you both. The spiders were very nice thanks, but aren't they hard work to pick? Spines everywhere.
Glad you managed a couple of nice wrasse. I like to use them for fish soup.
I had intended to get in at Budleigh on the Sunday morning tide but was late getting there. So I took the family fishing instead. Not a sausage!
Tribs, the bass will be out there. Keep the faith.
Look forward to meeting you down there again.
 
Most british spearo's rig their usual single band 75cm - 90cm guns with mono. Some measure the mono by thickness but I prefer breaking strain. I use 160lb mono (between 1mm - 1.5mm diameter). Good angling shops sell it as it's used for making heavy traces for angling for conger etc. That's sure to be your best bet. They also should have crimps ect but not bungees. You need to get bungees from a spearo supplier. A commercial fishing supplier may be a bit cheaper for mono and crimps if you can find one. You can of course buy everything on the internet.

Heres a thread that will help http://forums.deeperblue.net/beginner-hunting/64504-dummies-guide-rigging-speargun.html

Dave
I had trouble finding thick fishing line & crimps locally, so I use garden strimmmer line. Cheap and readily available in a variety of garish colours. I've used 2.5mm (bit too thick), 2mm (standard on RA guns) and I think think currently 1.6 or 1.8mm (more euro-like) -- i.e. gradually moving thinner. I see Veal.co.uk sell spools of 1.5mm line -their thickest. It's probably clear, which might be good. Black would be my preference but brigher colours might help your aiming. You can also buy little sets of spear-line with crimps which are fairly cheap (although not good value if you do this regularly -- 2 or 2.5mm line will easily last 2 to 4 years but thinner lines probably less).

If you use crimps, use a crimper that is cupped on both sides. Important: crimp against against the thin sides (see Leadertec website for details). I used a nasty, rusty, cheap electrical crimper for mine and it seemed to work fine but you need to be careful not to overdo it. Also blob the mono end & pull the blob upto the crimp before crimping - per Miles instructions on the above link. I put superglue into the crimp afterwards as an additional precaution.

Alternatively, if you don't have crimps, you can scour/roughen the mono where the joint is to be with a hot needle/soldering iron & then whip the joint with whipping cord. Superglue the whipping as a precaution. [This was Magpies idea but I've used it a lot].
 
I use 160lb clear mono & double stye crimps, readily available from most coastal tackle shops.
I have had buggies break, spears break & rubbers break but as yet my mono has stood up to its use, I do change it every year or sooner if necessary.
 
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