Spear One Seminar, What did you learn?

[Shooter Dan]

I'm starting this to help those who have not been to one of Kevin's Seminars yet.

What have you learned that you will apply on your next hunt?

What have you learned that is different from the way you do things now?

Here's a few:

Shoulder your gun (as most of you know, I'm still working on this)

Start the fish on your stringer before you open it and do it with one hand if you have the correct type of stringer (B & B Stringer)

Don't spaz out after you've fired a shaft and look up just to see the largest hog of your life. Quick, jerky moves shows aggression and spokes most everything (except Jacks)

[richhermes]

Well, you pretty much summarized what I learned.

[seastalker]

that you were a no show......:D

why the diameter in the commercial muzzle is not smaller...
shaft flutter

why the slide rings were changed to spring types...welds were a weak point for possible failure on line shafts.

why double bands cause my trigger to hang sometimes (Kevin fixing)

why I can never seem to stone and AJ.......bad shaft placement

work the outside perimeter first before blowing up a wreck or rock pile.

Scott sold the Venture

plus all the above you mentioned........

considering making a run on the east coast tommorow...interested?

[Grande]

definitely starting to string the fish before you actually open the stringer. when kevin went over that i was thinking what the hell, how simple, why didnt i think of that. I also liked the way he had his stringer rigged to his BC. And the most important i thought was shot placement, angle and PATIENCE/discipline. last time i dove as soon as i hit bottom there were 5-6 gags right there. so i am lining up one and then a bigger on swims into my field of vision and of course i start tracking him, shoot, and hit him-not a kill shot. I take off after him, pin him to bottom and begin stabbing it in the head. By the time its over i cant see anything because of all the sand kicked up around me. needless to say i didnt see or shoot another fish that dive. wont happen again.

[Brad B]

The most important thing I learned was that I had been shooting too low on the fish, that the spinal cord was higher than I thought.That alone was worth the drive. Of course I didn't drive, Mark did:D I also learned that any excuse to get out and hang with your shooting buddies is a good excuse.

[johnnydinx]

One of the things I think that will be the hardest for me is to be disciplined and not taking the shot unless the situation is right and allows me a high percentage shot. Also, I've almost always fired with two hands, but never realized what a difference it can be relative to "shooting from the hip" as Kevin calls it. But of course, the most important thing is that now I have to save up to either upgrade my gun with a commercial muzzle or buy the commercial gun... decisions, decision???

[Steel Shootin']

Other than what has been stated already, coming immeditately to mind:

1. I got a mini "how to tie your own bands" seminar during break from Spear One's better-half, as well as DJ, who works for Spear One. A big thanks to both of them for their patience, as I was "all thumbs., lol.."

2.. I learned to bring a flat of "deans" with me and use an onion bag type mesh to chum. I learned to do what was psychologically necessary to not be thinking of sharks during all of this, although I thought it odd that Kevin was passing out photos of a Great White sharks while making this point. :D

3. I learned a lot about body language, and avoiding the "herky-jerky" type movements that could send a signal to fish that you are a predator, and keeping your back as much as possible to them while reloading.

4. I learned when to expect that a moving grouper will show me his lateral line, his anticipated next move, and the timing of the shot, thereafter;

5. I learned more about the importance of a two handed shooting approach, especially with the bigger commercial guns that may be more difficult to swing with the spare shaft in the holder;

6. I learned that Seastalker thinks I should look at the Mirage, now that the Venture is sold. :D

7. I learned that the "sweet spot" of a jack is even smaller than I had thought, about the size of a quarter.

8. I learned that I retain more information at a seminar when I'm drinking Diet Dr. Pepper, as compared to Bud Light. :D

And that's just some of the things. I hope you enjoyed my field trip report. :D

[Hogwild]

The way Kevin holds the back of his gun as he shoots for better aim, instead of shooting from the hip is something I am dying to try out if the weather does not go to shit.

Also, the spinal cord shot is high on my must try list. :cool:

[rusty]

I like the idea of starting out 5lbs heavy to account for the air-bladders of the fish that will be coming back up, and to only pop some of the fish bladders to keep the stringer equalized.

[poorshot]

Being a newbie I thought of different things Kevin had said all day while I was working. At supper my better half asked what I had learned and all I could think of was a couple of things. But now as I read everyones thought it all comes back. It was a great idea to start this thread and help everyone remember more.

[Steel Shootin']

9. I learned that Kevin has a kick-ass flashlight holster, and I forgot to ask him where he got it.

[johnhermes]

Yeah, I second that flashlight holder. That thing was badass.

[dlock]

I saw them at Bill Jackson's on US19. They are definitely badass!!

[swimndive]

What did I learn?
Confirmed that Kevin is still the most dangerous predator in the ocean. Nice jaws Kevin. ed

[Speargun]

Everyone has pretty much hit all of the high points so far. I'll definately be going to another seminar.

The main thing I learned was.... I'll drive poorshot to any of the other seminars in the future. He is just one lucky SOB! First he wins the JRII trip and then his name gets drawn for the Groundskeeper trip!
poorshot, I hope you're playing the lottery this week! I'll be more than happy to split that with you too!
:D :D :D

[f94gator]

What exactly did this flashlight holder look like? It seems weird that a flashlight holder can be 'badass'.

[richhermes]

You obviously were not there. It was pretty cool. It's a plastic holster type thing that fastens to your BC. You drop the light into it butt first and it locks in. Beat having the thing hang from D-ring.

[f94gator]

Originally posted by richhermes
You obviously were no there.

Yeah, no shit, genius. If I was there, I WOULDN'T BE ASKING!!!

That holder does sound pretty cool, though.

[Spear One]

You guys are so compassionate..... I admire the way you guys are helping to build gators self confidence! HAaaaaaaaa!

[richhermes]

I think it's inate to give your brother shit. God knows, Paul deserves it!!:)

[dlock]

:confused: the flashlight holder I was talking about attaches under the front of the speargun not your BC.

[fishkilla]

i learned that if you bring a hot chic who doesn't have a speargun you can keep the free shaft she wins.