Questions for experienced VERTICAL reel users

I wouldn't call myself an experienced vertical reel user, but I've had them on a few guns and currently have one gun set up with a vertical reel. I prefer to retrieve the line like it's a conventional fishing set up, with the gun upside down, reel up, crank on right side (I'm right handed), rotating clockwise. This way I can guide the line with my thumb and pointer finger. Similar to using a horizontal reel where I turn the gun sideways, barrel on the left, reel on the right and now vertical, hold the barrel with my left hand, guide line with thumb and index finger, crank clockwise with my right hand. In both cases line is retrieved the same way, the only difference is where you're holding the barrel, under the reel on vertical setup, on side of the reel for horizontal setup. In both cases I prefer drags that go into freespool.
Edit, I really dig that vertical reel with trigger guard.

I own both those reels pictured I prefer the horizontal reel for reef fishing as it does not matter so much about retrieval of line, and like Nate said they go into free spool easier, allowing me to beat a hasty retreat to the surface... which is a plus for me, I cant breath underwater like most of you here
The vertical reel I really like for midwater fish as the fighting of the fish is key in some of the species I have shot, the vertical drag pictured is a progressive drag by simple one click implements and does not free spool easily, which is amazing fighting fast running soft fleshed midwater fish. And again just as Nate said is how it works for me, so long way of saying DITO to Nate :laughing:

I use them like Nate said with the exception that I don't have to flip the speargun with the vertical reel (Sporadub One 50 reel), I inverted mine so that the crank is on the right side instead of the usual left side (I am also right handed). The horizontal reel is the default reel on the Salvimar V-Pro 75 and I will use it exactly like Nate said (it's my new reef gun and I haven't had time to take it out).

En español por tener un dolor de cabeza grande en este momento.;)

Cuando enredo de regreso lo pongo hacia arriba.

Lo sostengo metido entre le brazo y el torso, la mano derecho agarrando en tubo y dando presión a la línea entrante y obvio la izquierda dándole a la manivela.
Enredo a favor de la manecillas del reloj.
Lo prefiero en free spool en las arrancadas del pez.

Buen azul.

Vertical reels should have the handle on the left side if looking from the top of the gun so that you can flip them over and wind all the line in with your right hand and use your left to steady the gun and evenly distribute the line going on the reel. All i use is verticals these days, much more user friendly IMO.

Vertical reel better if the drag is opposite to the lever/handle.

I like to spool it clockwise with my right hand. It must be freespool when a fish takes off. Bottom up, reel up.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but with open muzzle spearguns, how can you have free spool before shooting? Won't the wrap become undone? My new speargun is open muzzle and although I have not tried it in water, on land it comes undone and the spear falls off (without the slings pulled back, I haven't tried to pull them back on land).

The drag while the gun is loaded is actually tight. Once the drag knob is tightened down, the reel won't spin unless the line is tugged causing it to spin slightly, then it goes into freespool after that initial tug. The tightened knob is plenty enough to keep your line wrap from falling off.

Quote from Nate

The drag while the gun is loaded is actually tight. Once the drag knob is tightened down, the reel won't spin unless the line is tugged causing it to spin slightly, then it goes into freespool after that initial tug. The tightened knob is plenty enough to keep your line wrap from falling off.

So a tug will untighten it, is that what you are saying? So I cannot use the tightness to play with the fish, so it doesn't unwind too fast?

I haven't actually used my reels yet, this will be my first season, I usually use a float.

Yes. The freespool drag isn't really a true drag. It's only got 2 settings: tight enough to hold your wraps on, and freespool after the shot (most of the time the tug of the shaft stopping after firing is enough to put the reel into freespool.) They don't have a setting to apply constant pressure to the fish, which is what Dan was referring to here.

Quote from Dan

4. When fish starts taking line, do you prefer the drag to loosen up/go into free spool, or stay at the pressure you set it before the shot?

It comes down to personal preference really. Personally, I've always preferred freespool reels, even modified reels that weren't designed to freespool to do so. If I feel like a I need drag, I'll just palm the spool with my hand.

As to unwinding too fast, I don't really think it's possible for it to unwind "too fast." Salt water is almost 800x more dense than air, your reel won't birdsnest underwater like it would if you tested it out of water. Even if a fish is really taking line fast, it doesn't go from full tilt boogie to a dead stop, it will gradually slow down, allowing the spool to decelerate as the fish slows down. If you shoot a fish that can really run, or get your shaft stuck in structure on the bottom, being able to ascend with virtually no resistance on your part is a huge asset in my opinion.