Pole Spear Band

I need a new band for my pole spear, it is a 6'. Is there a certain brand anyone prefers?

I saw JBL's for about $8 and Riffe's for $20.

That Gat-ku pole spear sure looks good, my fiberglass pole spear is about 15 years old...

I need a new band for my pole spear, it is a 6'. Is there a certain brand anyone prefers?

I saw JBL's for about $8 and Riffe's for $20.

That Gat-ku pole spear sure looks good, my fiberglass pole spear is about 15 years old...

PM Desertdiver if you don't get good answers on here.   

 

Sincerely,

Jim

http://xtremespearfishing.com/freediver.net/freedivelist/faqstuff/faq_polespears.html
Holy crap I'm digging up some oldies but goodies info.  General info is use heavier polespear tubing and use a nylon strap.  The tubing itself is to narrow and will dig into your hand making your holding power much lower.  A nylon strap spreads the weight out and allows you to really get some good punch.  Also get a new pole spear.  Those fiberglass ones sorta suck.  My favorite is a carbon fiber one that is sealed so it's super light and super fast.  That's for up here.

The jbl bands are sold according to the size of the polespear.
The riffe bands are thicker which makes it harder to hold onto for a long period of time.
Makes it harder just to pull back.
Just make sure it fits your style of fishing. Are you a guy that swims around with the polespear loaded? or a guy that loads when he sees a fish?
It's all about style

Note that if you over power the polespear with too thick/short of a band, it may flex or whip and you'll lose accuracy.

Those fiberglass ones sorta suck.

+1

I bought surgical tubing by the yard from a medical supplies store on Clement Street in SF a few years ago. Cheaper and more convenient in that you can cut the band to any size you want.

This was the shop:

http://www.ableforlife.com/

Andrew

Thanks for all the info. The write up from the freedive list brought back some memories. I have not dove out of a kayak for years but will try it out with my buddy.

I have not been spearing in a long time, I usually go out and get an ab or two and head back in. Too many regulations to keep up with! I would like to get back in to it. I have a couple of Riffe's but but in the past I used my Mares Cyrano quite a bit. Pole spears are cool though. It is nice to have room in a kayak to keep all this stuff I'm going to look into that Gat-Ku one of these days.

Do you guys know where they sell the Gat-ku in the Bay Area or North Bay? Or is on line the best option?

Thanks,

Loren

Thanks for all the info. The write up from the freedive list brought back some memories. I
Thanks,

Loren

Loren, were you on the FDL?

Nate

Hi Nate,

I was on the FDL about a year after it started, things sure have changed on the internet!  I never moved to the spearboard. Actualy I am still on the FDL but very little is posted on it. I went on a couple of trips to san bentios with Wallin's on the Horizon out of San Diego. That was fun!

I am primarily an ab diver... snails are a good speed for me

I really got in to crabbing off a yak though...

Hi Nate,

I was on the FDL about a year after it started, things sure have changed on the internet!  I never moved to the spearboard. Actualy I am still on the FDL but very little is posted on it. I went on a couple of trips to san bentios with Wallin's on the Horizon out of San Diego. That was fun!

I am primarily an ab diver... snails are a good speed for me

I really got in to crabbing off a yak though...

Hah! That's awesome.  I think I signed on about the same time you did.  Man, those first few years were just awesome.  Did you go to the first FDL party at Robin Carden's house down south? 

Yeah, it's a shame how quiet the list is now.  I think Bob Hurwitz is single handedly trying to keep the list alive. 

Pedxing on here is the moderator for the FDL. 

I don't dive much anymore.  But I like to write like I'm a dive stud though. 

See you on or in the water,
Nate

Loren,  nice to see another primal pole spearo.  I use my pole spears almost exclusively.  Some good info from the folks. Re banding can range from too weak to even penetrate a jelly fish to overpowering the pole spear and developing fish missing wobbles/flex. I ran double bands on my fiberglass poles for years to be able to punch through a cab or ling head. but at max load  for range longer than the spear,  had some flex/wobble and missed alot.   For a while  my favorite was the  JBL tapered (smaller at head increasing to tail helped grip fatigue)  aluminum with barbed paralyzer tips or 6-8" extension with rotating triface tip with double floppers.  The last couple years I have been a Poseidon fan.  7' heavy tapered tube , larger dia. at head and tapering down to tail,  heavy stainless head assembly with  rotating rocktip/double floppers.  It is approx 8 ft in length with short tips and will stone fish at 10'.  Band load will top out at about 60-80 pounds pull compared to about 25 with avg. fiberglass.single band set up. The Poseidon is heavy but does not flex.  The larger dia.  Poseidon sort of goes against the traditional  narrow is faster and more accurate concept. but I am extremely happy with mine.  I will be at  DOTY Potluck 2/23 if you would like to check it out.
RussfromReno

Nate,

I still kick myself for missing that party, it was talked about for years. There were a lot of interesting characters on the list. I don't dive as much as I use to... a lot of my friends got out of it so I had to find some younger guys to go with. They are enthusiastic about diving, nice to see it in their eyes.

See you in the blue!

Russ,

Thanks for the info on the pole spear and bands. I am going to look for a new pole spear but I will keep my old one setup. I know the tapered ones you are talking about. I may go on to spearboard and do some poking around.

Loren

Hey Loren just show up to one of our hookups and we will get you back in tune.
Knowing the rules and regulations is part of the deal. Ask Bigjim about the smallest fish you can shoot
Welcome aboard!

Wow Loren,

I remember your name from the early FDL days too! I've got a plethora of sticks in my quiver and you're welcome to try one.

Gat Ku
Crist Spear
Puig
Korf
JBL

Maybe some others but that's about all I can remember right now.

Arthur

Thanks fellas! I'll be out there again one of these days. The ocean was a bit rough last weekend so we tried the new used yak in the river. It was good to get out.

Now i have the thought of getting a couple of river kayaks... is this some kind of sickness or what I need a bigger garage!