Posts by Nate

  • Best streamlined gun holding position

    I've always extended my right arm straight out with the gun, pointing it directly at the bottom. I tried several other positions and keeping it close to my body, but it never really stuck and I'd end up reverting back to pointing it without ever thinking about it. Do you duck dive with both legs? I used to only use one leg, then several years ago I started using both legs and it made a huge difference in my duck dive. Now, properly weighted, I can get the top of my body close to 10ft or so below the surface without using my fins. I've dove with people who would point their gun towards the bottom as I do, but they'd let go of it, do a breast stroke on the duck dive and grab the gun on the way down. Tried it, definitely not for me, but it seems to work for him.

  • Questions for experienced VERTICAL reel users

    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.

  • Questions for experienced VERTICAL reel users

    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.

  • 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.

  • Reefchiefs Ameri-euro reef build.

    Looking pretty legit dude, great job. I didn't even notice how you integrated the line anchor for the wraps into the muzzle with that little hook as opposed to where the line actually anchors too, looks really slick.