Pole Spear with a Reel

[OceanEd]

I am tinkering with trying to use a pole spear with a reel. The idea I am testing right now is that I have a 9 ft. pole spear with a detatchable tip. The tip is not attached to the pole spear.

The tip is attached to 18ft. of thin diameter dyneema line. This means that when I shoot the pole spear there is not a lot of drag from a large diameter line as it shoots forward. The line comes back from the slip tip and then I hold it in the same hand as the rubber when I am pullling it forward. When I let go of the rubber the loop of dyneema shoots forward with the pole and there is very little drag.

The dyneema is attached to a line with a larger diameter line that is easier to "hand line" when I am fighting a fish. This line is in a reel that is attached to my BC with a quick release buckle so that I can release the reel under load if I need to do so.

The idea is to be able to hunt big, strong free swimming fish such as very large amberjack with a pole spear.

I have taken this rig out once and it seems that it will work, but there are still a couple of modifications I need to make.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to make this work, please don't hesitate to add your two cents worth.

[CountrySpearo]

do you have any pictures of said tip and set up? that might help facilitate ideas

[OceanEd]

Brad:

I will post some pictures in about a week. I want to make a modification before I show the picture, and right now I am diving every day of the beginning of lobster season.

You are right, though, you need to see it.

[isibrigade]

I've toyed with this idea before. It seems a little dangerous though to have a fish fighting a reel that is attached to your body. My original idea was to make a super-low-profile reel that attaches to your wrist like a watch, something you can see and work with easily. Obviously, quick release. ..

I must say, I had people laugh at me when I brought up the idea earlier this year. Theoretically, it should work, and there would be many times and places it would be useful.

That's what I love about this sport, the innovativations are endless. . .

[OceanEd]

The reel with a pole spear does work, no question about it. There are several things you want to incorperate into the design in my opinion:

1. For safety you need to have the reel on a quick release that will release under pressure. (not a problem, and this is how I attach it to my BC)

2. The line needs to be of a large enough diameter so it is fairly easy to "hand line" the fish because you will not be using the reel to reel him in to you. This means limited amount of line of the reel, but you really don't need that much. I am using 80 feet of 1,200 lb spectra.

3. It would be nice if the reel itself had a drag on it that could be easily applied while the handle is spinning. That is why a reel with the drag in the middle of the handle is not optimum.

4. I don't think the reel has to be low profile. It just has to be able to stay out of the way.

5. If the line is attached to the rear end of the pole and the slip tip is attached to the pole spear, I have developed a way to keep the excess line out of the way. If the slip tip is not attached to the pole and is instead attached to the line, then I have not yet developed a way to keep the needed excess line out of the way while swimming with the pole. I am working on it.

I have used one with this set up and it works fine. I just have to fine tune it to take care of the initial problems I encountered.

[carsonwild]

Hey OceanEd I have a 7' 1 piece JBL pole spear.
How can i get it to perform better.
I see you talking about tweeking your pole spears but I would like some input on that.
Thanks carson

[mnguy]

Hey OceanEd I have a 7' 1 piece JBL pole spear.
How can i get it to perform better.
I see you talking about tweeking your pole spears but I would like some input on that.
Thanks carson

Depends on what you want it to do.
Generally I would say:

Wrap a grip of some sort around where you want to hold the polespear. If it is like the 1 pieces that I have owned/seen from JBL, it will be smooth all the way with a taper to it.

If it is too slow for you:
Plug the back end behind the rubber with some silicone sealer when you replace the rubber. Keeps it from flooding which, although it gives it more punch, slows it down.

I've been tempted to drill a hole from the rubber port hole through to the other side of the AL wall and use regular spectra wishboned rubbers instead of the JBL style. This way you can also add stronger rubbers than the JBL, which is designed to fit through that small hole out the bottom. Dunno if it will weaken the structure excessively or not but I may do that when I get some spare time.

[NateSmith]

Where would you be mounting the reel? Would it be a huge issue to mount it on the end of the gun?

[kjflyfish]

There are a few Euro companies that offer arm-mounted reels. Maybe this could be incorporated into the design, using a quick release buckle for the strap.

[OceanEd]

Carsonwild:

I would definately follow the advice above. I would also add a longer, stronger rubber to that list. Nothing will give you better performance, but you also need the things mentioned above like someplace on the pole that will allow you to hold it better when the sling is pulled back.

KJFLYFISH:

Do you know where I can see any of the arm mounted reels? Internet sites? RIght now I have the reel attached to my BC with a quick release clip. The idea would be to pretty much hand line the fish once I stopped him from running, and then once I have him bagged I could wind up the line once again on the reel. I always have the option of holding the reel in my hands if I am fighting a big fish like a big AJ.

[kjflyfish]

Here is Omer's arm mount for their match reels:

http://www.omerdiving.com/product.aspx?product=169

it appears to have a velcro strap. I would much rather have a quick release clip, like you see on a lot of backpack straps.

[carsonwild]

Hey guys do you think if I filed the spear with epoxy and aided some foam and a bigger band that the performance would get any better. Right now i don't have a problem holding the band on the pole spear at 3/4 cocked.

[OceanEd]

If you fill the spear with eposy you will add mass which means that you will have more "punch" to go through fish. You will sacrafice a little distance, but if you increase your band diameter and length then you can take care of that.

What is your goal with the pole? Do you want it neutrally buoyant? Negative? I have used both and I don't really care much one way or the other. The mass of the pole is more important to me.

[carsonwild]

Thats what i wanted to know.
I just want it to have more mass and be a little more stout.
I''ll be shotting around rigs with and some open water to.
I will put a bigger and longer band on it.
I will get a better pole spear when i have more money.

[OceanEd]

I know several people who have actually taken a hawaiian sling shaft and put it inside a pole spear like yours and then filled around it with epoxy. They wanted the extra weight and rigidity. It produced a pretty strong pole with a lot of mass.

KJFLYFISH:

That's interesting. I would love to see one in person to really understand how it could work with a pole spear. I would still want a way to quickly detach it from my arm.

I will be testing all this stuff out when I head back down the to S. Bahamas in November. Can't wait to see what works and what does not.

[carsonwild]

OceanEd I just wanted to see how your reel setup is coming.
It sounds like a really sweet idea.
Carson

[OceanEd]

Carson:

The only thing I can really come up with is a reel attached to my BC with a breakaway attachment so I can release it under pressure if I have to.