3 prong vs. flopper

[ddown]

just venturing into the world of pole spears and curious why a 3 prong is preferable to a single flopper for hunting fish under 10lb? I just ordered a 7' Lance Ohara I'm quite stoked and got a shorter spear as the water here in the NE is generally quite murky. Is this pole strictly for use with a 3 prong (I ordered the threaded one) or can I affix a flopper tip as well. Thanks to all for any imput, David

[cksea]

I would say a 3 prong paralyzer tip is best for fish to 5lbs. I would use a flopper for anything bigger. Not to say you can's shoot 5+lb fish with a barbed paralyzer. If its threaded then you can switch between the 2 tips. I would use loctite on the 3 prong they will unscrew. Good Luck

[SD Waterman]

i took a 22 lb shovelnose with a 3 prong. but then, it was a bottom fish.

[fish impaler]

i took a 22 lb shovelnose with a 3 prong. but then, it was a bottom fish.

same here

[cmburch]

I lost a large Ling Cod with a non barbed 3 prong paralyzer. I hit it in the head 3 times and fought with it for several minutes. It rocked up and I think I lost it out a rear exit. I should never had taken the shot and regret killing the fish. I now use a slip-tip for large fish.

[SnpperWhisperer]

6-10 ponds is a bit marginal on a 3 prong, as the chances of landing some of the tougher species becomes a bit too low. It is irresponsible to take some of those marginal shots (but legendary if they pay off!). It depends on the average size of the fish you take. If the average is more like 1 - 5 pounds then a 3 prong is better than a single flopper because it locks the fish up very well so they don't fight, whereas a small fish strung on a shaft can wriggle around and tear itself off.
A single flopper is faster and has better range and has better holding power on medium sized fish fish up to about 20 pounds. Beyond that, you really need a heavier spear - possible with a sliptip - for reliable results.

[fishyak]

i took a 9 lb tog on a 3 prong... it sucked though! i shot it in 7 ft of water with a 5 ft polespear and i only kept it by leaning on the polespear to keep the tog pinned to the bottom. tog wiggle too much!

[ddown]

thanks for all the imput guys. I think I'm locked into the 3 prong as I don't think the Lance Ohara is threaded to take a flopper. I'm mostly after scup/porgy or whats pretty similar to taraki (sp?) out nz way

[polespearpaul]

I have shot a 36" cobia (but the only reason I got the cobia is I hit him perfectly in the head) and a 23" flounder with a 3 prong tip. The 3 prong would be great for porgys though. But if your going after big fish I would say to get a flopper or a slip tip.