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Pros and Cons of Reel on Speargun

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Harley11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Pros and Cons of Reel on Speargun
    Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 5:56pm
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Looking at putting a reel on the Rob Allen.

Do you get more range? No need to drag a float?

What's the pros and cons?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BRUNTY Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 6:15pm
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Are you diving from a boat or kyack or off the rocks,
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Harley11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 6:27pm
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Shore and boat...
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BRUNTY Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 6:41pm
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I use a reel quite a bit, I just put fish on my mates float lol
Nice for snooping and weed lines,
Put a reel on and tow your float, you come into good snapper country tie ya float off and off you go.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Kona. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 7:06pm
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Read this.
Proud member of the Bluefins Spearfishing Club
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Nick. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 7:13pm
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Pros
no tangles in floatlines
floatline doesnt get caught up
less restriction when diving (especially deeper)
no floatline pulling you up
others will tow your fish for you (ask Crippy & CampbellWink

Cons
have to drop it if you see a cray, sometimes difficult to find after
diver location not easily seen by other
no floatline to pull you up so stop you drifting deeper than you'd like
not many places to stash your fish, end up clipping small fish to your gun or tucked under your jacket, big fish you leave under a rock and come back to a Moray eating it.
towing a float and drop weight to supplement is tedious sometimes, always have to swim back to it rather than working a one way route.  can supplement float with a boat instead.
may loose gun if shooting big fish


If its your everyday rob allen 110-120, then put a reel on it, learn how it all works, you'll probably love it.  You can always lock the reel off and use a floatline aswell- best of both worlds.


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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Snoop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 7:31pm
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Every setup has its advantages and disadvantages. I've used a RA reel of my 120 Effesub for the last two years. Most of the time I use a plat attached to a 10m rope line that I clip off to my weight belt. I drop the line when in favourable areas or clip it off to the base of kelp stalks. I've found this gives me the best of all worlds. Allows me to hunt without rope tangles or the giveaway float line over boulders etc. Pure freedom on weed lines but have a great dive buddy watching your back in deeper dives as no one will find you without a float line. That and you can borrow theirs for fish

On occasion I have run a 1m line off the base of the gun and have tied off fish but won't be making that a habit. Dah dah..... Regards reel guns and bigger fish - snapper aren't an issue. Reel guns the major consideration - normally talking about big kings (25kg plus models). I've shot them to 20kg using the reel gun but typically I'd be using a separate bigger gun with float line/Hippo float when diving an offshore pin/marlin potential spot. Think the 3 Kings story highlights the need for this

Won't be changing my set ups any time soon. Love the reel gun

Axemen Spearfishing... "Putting the crap back into elite"
www.axemenspearfishing.co.nz
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Harley11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 8:38pm
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Does it give more range?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote chalkeye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 8:40pm
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Nope.
float like a crowbar, sting like a bee
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote chalkeye Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 8:41pm
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It would make it easier to add a second wrap, if you're that way inclined.
float like a crowbar, sting like a bee
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote kolt45 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 10:02pm
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Second wrap? Don't be silly!

Harley, reels are great tools and in my opinion have far more pros than cons.  Don't forget that they are line storage devices, not "casting" devices, so they have nothing to do with the mechanics of firing the gun.  They also aren't used like fishing reels to "retrieve" the fish.  Just like a floatline, the fish is brought in hand over hand.  As mentioned in the excellent article linked by ooh-kona, you have to get used to managing your line, dealing with fish once you have them, and maintaining visibility to your boatman or dive mates.

I often use both and tie off my floatline when I need to, but still use the floatline to store my fish and trying to keep boaties from running me over.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BrettB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Apr 2013 at 2:18pm
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Use a double wrap n ul never need a reel haha.. Wel, for snapper anyway.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote SharkBite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Apr 2013 at 2:57pm
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Originally posted by BrettB BrettB wrote:

Use a double wrap n ul never need a reel haha.. Wel, for snapper anyway.
This piece of advice is a little gem! Why? Because you are absolutely right BB - you don't actually need a reel or a floatline for snapper, you only need a gun. So if you like the freedom of no float, then you really can just "free gun it". I'd draw the line at not using a gun though...unless...pole spear!
"There goes another moocher"
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BRUNTY Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Apr 2013 at 3:50pm
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Yeah you should step it up a notch and buy a bow , shoot em from the rocks and not get wet. LOL

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Kinabal Lector Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Apr 2013 at 3:43pm
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Ive used one for two years or so and think the pros do outway the cons and will only use a floatline for offshore pin diving. I shore dive and kayak dive 90% of the time though. I ususally put fish in kayak I have used drop weight with 5m line and doubled back for it but this is a pain in the butt I admit. Id feel more compfortable around this area in summer using a plat and drop weight. Once I can make an untippable plat
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