Wisconsin Dive Flag Regulation:

[dotey]

now thats a picture that you have to keep it has to be one of the funniest things i have seen did he just have to short of line on that float or did he/she pull it down to get it past your dive lines ??

 

[fleshy]

Do you guys connect your guns to your floats so that you can "shoot and drop"? My new rob allen is positively buoyant, but Id still like something to connect it to my float with.

 

[Whopperhead]

Our floats are connected to our guns (at least with me) That way if I shoot a mig carp I can let the gun go and let it drag the Float. Also, Don't want to shoot a huge powerful carp and have it rip the gun from my hands and be gone.

 

[ILDiver]

Floatline is clipped to the gun. Mine has a speed stringger inline as well. I use a tuna clip tied to the handle of my gun and clip it to the loop or speed needle on my floatline.

 

[unirdna]

Our floats are connected to our guns (at least with me) That way if I shoot a big carp I can let the gun go and let it drag the Float. Also, Don't want to shoot a huge powerful carp and have it rip the gun from my hands and be gone.

Pffff. I'd like to see the carp that can yank the gun out of your burly mitt.

My floatline is attached to my weight belt. When the wind starts rippin' at my float, I don't want the waves spoiling my accuracy. Not a big deal if you have a rearhandle gun. PIA on a midhandle (like mine).

 

[ILDiver]

I'm not worried about a carp pulling the gun out of my hand. I like to be able to let the gun go and not worry about where it floated off to.

It prolly does not matter too much, I usually leave the fish on the spear until I have it strung.

Remember though, if you drop the shaft in deeper water and the shot line does not allow the gun to get to the surface and is harder to find.

It comes down to preference.

 

[Jon]

Mine gets clipped off to my belt- nothing big enough around here to worry about loosing my gun and now that I am mostly shooting sling there's no place to attach it even if I wanted to. It also makes swimming easier.

Ted, you need to run a loop of line through the hole in the rear of your gun- I did on mine. There are times where I will tie off my gun to the float and drop it while I get out the camera to film or tie another anchor onto my float that I just found.

Here's a few shots of Ted (unirdna) in action with his float line tied off to his belt. I don't remember how he tied his off, but I have D-rings threaded through my weights to clip mine off to.

Jon

 

[ILDiver]

Look at that predator. He looks like one conservative, environmentalist mother father. :inlove

 

[unirdna]

Ted, you need to run a loop of line through the hole in the rear of your gun- I did on mine.

I'm threatened by change...

----------------------

How old is that photo? Why am I hunting with your gun???

 

[Jon]

I'm threatened by change...

Change is good- especially when it comes to underwear.rofl

 

[fleshy]

He looks like one conservative, environmentalist mother father. :inlove

A conservative environmentalist? Oh well... My rob allen tuna has a clip on the "butt" or bottom of the handle on the gun. I just need a place to get some floatline, I dont want very much, maybe 40'? Just enough to hit to bottom wherever I go.

 

[bglaeser]

Has anyone ever reported to the DNR or Coast Guard a boat coming too close to your dive flag? If so, what sort of response did you get?

Yesterday I got buzzed twice by a jet ski at 50-75 feet. Thing is, it didn't even look like the guy even saw me or my flag... or was just completely oblivious to it. I never felt like I was in iminent danger, but it is a bit frightning and maddening to have a jet ski at 40mph that close when he had the whole lake to be on.
~Brian

 

[fleshy]

When helping instruct SCUBA classes, I will tattle on various boats if they are REALLY pushing it. The lake we do most certifications on is NO WAKE, and yet very large pontoon boats go full throtle through the whole thing. The most DNR guys have done for me is give them a word or two, but it keeps them at a safe range...For that day at least. :head

 

[Jon]

When out on lake Michigan, on the charter boat, I'll get on the radio and read off their bow numbers and ask them to slow down- that way everyone, including the Coast Guard will hear.

in inland lakes, where I don't have a boat or radio, I'll video tape them, and try and get their bow numbers, as they go past so that my widow can turn the tape over tot he police if anything happens to me.:blackeye

At a harbor meeting in Milwaukee one of the Coast Guard guys was bragging about a ticket they gave to a jet skier. The guy broke the water barrier line 3 times- it was closed off area for an air show. After the second warning they arrested the guy and gave him a $32,000 ticket! That was sweet!

Jon

 

[unirdna]

For years, I used a sporasub float to mark my position. It was (is) not legal, and if I were to get plowed by a boater, I doubt I would have a strong case for litigation. Recently, I've upgraded. I've only been out 2-3 times with the new float, but have already noticed a substantial improvement re: boater distance. You gotta get that flag in the air if they are going to see you - especially on the windy days.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v340/unirdna/floats003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v340/unirdna/floats004.jpg

 

[bgill]

I'm happy to see that most of us have upgraded (if you wanna call it that) to better floats and "regulation" sized flags. I sure would'nt have wanted to hear about someone gettin' a ticket. Or worse yet getting struck by a boat or Jetski. :naughty Not to mention in the event of an 'accident" it could be construed as being partially "your fault" for not having the "proper" dimension flag.

I'm not usually the type to tell people "the rules", but when it comes to safety I have no problem with it at all.

I hope this thread atleast opened peoples eye's a bit - I've seen LOTS of guys freediving/scuba too - who did not have a proper/legal dive flag as of lately...

YOU NEED ONE! It's bad enough that even with a "legal" flag boater's seem to not notice us sometimes! I've been "buzzed" THREE times this year already! :mute It's been hook & line fishermen trolling...Paying attention to the back of the boat but not the front! :head

:mute The scary thing is is that you don't even hear them until they are REALLY close to you! Scary image seeing a prop throwing bubbles just yards away while the hull zips by!!! :vangry

:vangry Silly, but for some reason it seems a "natural reaction" to surface and yell at them while shaking you're speargun up outta the water for them to see!!! :vangry

Dotey....You get a regulation flag yet?

Gettin in the Big Lake soon - Real soon...The Perch are calling my name! My dive gear is coming to work with me if I'm working anywhere near Lake Michigan - It's pretty much "prime time" for the striped green and gold beautie's!

 

[allhunter]

how far out do you have to be to need a dive flag???

 

[Whopperhead]

allhunter- Legally I think- If you are more than 50' from shore. BUT.........We use one regardless- just to be safe. Plus they usually can hold all of our other stuff.

 

[allhunter]

ok i made one and it is hard to carry around and i cant afford a float

 

[Whopperhead]

It wouldn't be all that hard to make one- The most costly part would be the FLAG. Go to a CRAFT store and buy the biggest stryofoam BALL you can find. Then Get either a Figerglass pole or 1/2" PVC (about 5'), Put a hold through the middle of the ball and put the pole in, attach a flag to one end and on the other end attack a 4# weight. - That would work. OR................But a cheap boogie boad from 'Menards' and basically do the same to that- That would be a little bit better. (Yes, MENARDS! They sell boogieboards- It's weird- I know)