Advice for a newbie

[pikestabber]

I believe I know the spear you're talking about as my back-up spear is a 9-tine L&M spear. It'll work just fine until you're ready to upgrade to a weight-forward model. It sounds to me like you're throwing too hard and perhaps aren't getting the spear down far enough into the water first...

People say "throw" the spear, but it's more of a "guide" the spear approach you should be concentrating on. Use one hand on top of the spear (your dominant hand) and one hand clasped around the middle or so of the spear shaft (your guide hand). Push with the dominant hand while guiding the spear to your target. Don't throw your spear with heavy force, but push/guide it with medium force. Also, how far are you putting the spear in the water? Move slow, put the spear in slow (as slow as the fish will allow) and get that baby down there before releasing. If a fish is four feet down, my spear is often three feet down...just above my target. The closer you can get the spear, the more accurate you'll be. Just be sure you are approaching the fish from behind so as not to spook it. If she's locked in on your deke or sucker, you'd be surprised how close you can get to her before throwing.

I don't have any footage of my own, but if you Go to You Tube and search for Ditchrider23 you'll see a guy who throws a spear the way you should. Watch several of his videos and you'll start to see it pays to get that spear in the water as much as you can and be patient but efficient. Hope that helps!

His video "Pike Spearing 2/15/11" is a pretty good one to start on.

[MJ1657]

Great advice Pikestabber.

I watched the channel 4 deal on spearing the other night and I thought the guy they were interviewing had a good explanation for throwing your spear. He explained it that you throw your spear like you shoot a pool cue.

[jvm1]

I'm barely putting the spear in the water now, and certainly throwing it too hard. Thanks again for the great info! I know I need to be more patient, I struggle with this as well during deer season.

[bowhunt]

Patience is the name of the game. It is easy to get excited, but with a little practice following the above advice, pretty soon it will seem very natural. When a nice fish comes in, I go almost in to an auto pilot mode. The spear is in the water an lowered as far as I can before I even realize it. Also just as a reminder, when you spear those 30+ inchers, you have to give the spear a little harder of a push then with the small ones, but you still don't have to throw it.

[pikestabber]

He explained it that you throw your spear like you shoot a pool cue.

That's as good an analogy as there is. Smooth, steady, and only as hard as you need to in order to get the job done...

[mwal]

Good advice by all.Another youtube explaining aiming and then demonstrating a fairly deep kill by Mike Holmes of the Michigan Darkhouse Assn. He also shows some cool decoys swimming and underwater photography. Look for Discovering - Spear Fishing for Pike on you tube it about 20 minutes

Mwal

[jvm1]

Well once again your advice was spot on, took 2 shots today and hit both. One was a dandy and it got off as i was pulling the spear up. Spear went straight as an arrow on both attempts. Thank you all, can't wait until next season now.

[mwal]

Jvm1

Cool Next you need a back up spear for those larger fish. Some require another poke. Did you follow through on the release? and let go of the spear? My B-inlaw had some issues with fish escaping even on what appeared to be good hit behind the head. I had him make sure to fully release spear and let larger fish thrash on the bottom before lifting them. Pinning them to the bottom if shallow enough. Otherwise I always have another spear tied off and ready and will not hesitate to stick one twice.

Mwal

[jvm1]

Mwal-

After reading everyone's advice i try to make the whole event one motion, once the spear goes in the water it never comes back up, lower it down slowly and gently guide it towards its target.

As I said before this is terribly hard for me, I usually get so excited when it's a bigger one I could jump on the spear and go down with it.

I always release the spear all the way and let it go to the bottom.

I saw the fish laying in the muck down the hole, when i picked it up it gave me 2-3 wiggles and off it went. Nothing but a bloody tine left for me to look at.

I have started a new spear fund, hoping to get a nicer one for next season!

[mwal]

JVM1

Sounds like following good technique. My b inlaw was jabbing at close fish without letting go of spear. Your sub conscious stops the spear or pulls back and you get poor penetration. Sometimes they just get off just like hunting or regular fishing. Nice that you took someone out what type of structure did you pick and what was the clarity. Spearing is a very satisfying way to spend a winter.

Mwal

[jvm1]

Weed edge in 10-12 feet

drop off on one side off the hole goes down to 20+.

Could see bottom once i cleared some snow around the house.

[mwal]

Sounds good. Amazing how many people do not think about shoveling some snow to let light threw. I am thinking of getting a micro camera this off season and maybe trying to carve a decoy. Hope to hear from you next season. And good luck saving for a spear. Remember to get it ordered soon as soon as you can as most of the makers do not make that many or buy raffle tickets to Metro Banquet.

Mwal

[jvm1]

When/where is the Metro banquet? Is it open to non members? I've been thinking about joining the MDAA and hoping to make one of the GTG next year.

[MJ1657]

A good quality spear will cure a big chunk of your problem jvm1. Lots of good spears out there for around $200. Best part about a quality spear is it will last your lifetime plus several others.

Mwal has given you some great advice on throwing a spear. I would throw in don't over think it. If I think about it to hard I tend to psych myself out.

[jvm1]

I have contacted Fabeck and Kraemer so far and no luck as they are not really making spears anymore.

Found some from a guy in Michigan that might do the trick.

Is there any others you guys know off?

[mwal]

Lee Moening makes the Dillo Spear I have. I got it at the St Paul Ice show.

The Metro chapter of the MDAA has one listed as part of the raffle prizes for the March 8th banquet in Spring Lake Park. My brother inlaw found a copy of the Dillo style spear at Runnings in Red Wing and I have seen copies at the Little Jim's in Annandale. The Amish also make a copy of the Dillo design. The main difference is the way Moening knurls the handle and makes barbs that seem to hold fish no matter what. They are not little cuts folded out they are nicely welded or forged out. Go back through the pages here and look at spears. Also look at sales, flea markets etc. look for spears that are weighted towards the head with good barbs. Remember well built spears can last more than one lifetime so they are out there. Sometimes they are on the see list on the internet as well under sporting goods. Michigan Darkhouse Assn may have a list of builders as it is a popular sport there as well.

Mwal

[9tine]

I have contacted Fabeck and Kraemer so far and no luck as they are not really making spears anymore.

Found some from a guy in Michigan that might do the trick.

Is there any others you guys know off?

jvm1, check your PM box.

[jvm1]

I guess I need to get my butt to the ice show next season again and talk to the guys at the spear booth.

When I went to the ice fishing show this year I had speared once 3-4 years ago. Didn't see a fish for 3 days (I was out in Winnie)

I loved it anyways but we (the wife an I) started a family and I haven't been able to go until this year now that the kids are a bit older.

This year I went at the end of December to Dixon's, had a blast, saw fish etc.

With my limited fishing time I can tell you happily that I went spearing every chance I got. I think I went fishing 7 times this winter, 6 of them were spearing, the other one was in the evening so I fished for crappies.

I LOVE IT!

Coming from Spain spearing is 100% new to me. I was lucky my father in law had the saw, an extra spear etc and he wasn't using it and was willing to part with them.

[Archerysniper]

I guess I need to get my butt to the ice show next season again and talk to the guys at the spear booth.

When I went to the ice fishing show this year I had speared once 3-4 years ago. Didn't see a fish for 3 days (I was out in Winnie)

I loved it anyways but we (the wife an I) started a family and I haven't been able to go until this year now that the kids are a bit older.

This year I went at the end of December to Dixon's, had a blast, saw fish etc.

With my limited fishing time I can tell you happily that I went spearing every chance I got. I think I went fishing 7 times this winter, 6 of them were spearing, the other one was in the evening so I fished for crappies.

I LOVE IT!

Coming from Spain spearing is 100% new to me. I was lucky my father in law had the saw, an extra spear etc and he wasn't uing it and was willing to part with them.

St.Paul to Harris is a lot closer than Winne. Remember the second Sunday of the month during spearing season we are on fish lake in Harris for next year.

[trebormorgan]

http://youtu.be/_nK6cwte1Ks

[jvm1]

I'll make sure I make one of those sunday's for sure next year, should not be a problem! I'm already looking forward to December.