Help with spear fishing

[JustinF267]

Hey all I'm new to the forum. I made a bet with a friend that I could spear a fish with all natural materials. I don't think it will be that hard and I don't really have a time frame of when I have to do it. I'm planning on some time in the summer and practicing a lot before that. The only constraints are it has to be made out of natural material and I can use any tools; I have from sun rise to sunset to make everything and get a fish.

I looked on YouTube and stuff and found a decent way to make a 4 prong spear. I made a couple testers tonight and they were decent but I couldn't really keep a good point on them. I looked a little online and really only found fire hardening which I don't think I'll have much time for. Any tips with keeping a nice point would be appreciated.

I think the best place for me to do this is a creek by my house that has creek chubs up to 10" and a couple carp or something similar. I don't see the bigger carp or whatever very much and haven't seen them since the summer. I think those will be the easiest but not sure if I can find them. Should I get a container or worms and dump them in the creek so the fish all bunch up by them? It's a pretty high dollar bet, really sure why I agreed to this but a deals a deal.

Thanks
Justin

[Rick]

You need to check the laws in your state. Many states regulate the type of fish that can be taken by spear or gig and in which waterways they can be taken that way.

[LowKey]

Your spear only needs to be sharp once. In fact, a fish "spear" doesn't really need to be sharp at all.
And like Rick said, there are laws regarding fishing in this fashion.
Game wardens have this crazy ability to be nowhere in sight - until you do something they can write you up for.

[JustinF267]

The regulations say carp, suckers, and catfish, so if i can find a carp I'll be perfectly legal. I really doubt a game warden would be there anyway it's a little creek that runs along an old railroad that's a walking trail now. Most people don't even think there are fish in it

Would the worm baiting thing be legal? I can't find anything for pa on it

[kyratshooter]

What you are asking is so easy a cave man can do it.

No, really, cave men did it, people find fish bones and spears in the caves all the time.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ehensive-video


I have speared carp along the shores of a lake when the water was at flood stage and the carp were laying against the bank sucking air and croaking like frogs. We also used to have contests to see who could take the most carp in a day using our bows. We did that fron the shore too.

[hunter63]

I guess I haven't heard of "chumming" carp with worms?.....so have no clue.

But yeah, I would thing your chances are pretty good of spearing one with your 4 point spear....if they are there to spear in the first place.

Nephew caught several in the cattails in the shallow water next to our duck blind, by just grabbing them and tossing the onto the river bank.
Hunting was slow....

Remember to take pic's or make a You Tube.

[JustinF267]

I guess I haven't heard of "chumming" carp with worms?.....so have no clue.

But yeah, I would thing your chances are pretty good of spearing one with your 4 point spear....if they are there to spear in the first place.

Nephew caught several in the cattails in the shallow water next to our duck blind, by just grabbing them and tossing the onto the river bank.
Hunting was slow....

Remember to take pic's or make a You Tube.

The worm thing would be for the creek chubs that are smaller than 10" in case I can't find any carp. Any tips on what kind of wood to use?
Maybe I should try to find a lake with a lot of carp and do it there.

[hunter63]

River bank wood......?

Use what you can find..... as you would in a "survival situation".
I you are gonna make a habit of this....buy a spear fishing head.
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shop...ductextensions

PS as a hedge to your bet....try all this out,... before you put your money down.

[JustinF267]

I'll use wood I can find I just wasn't sure if I should look for a certain kind. I'll make a lot and practice before I actually do it.

I tried to get him to let me use some more stuff but he isn't budging anymore lol. Has to be out of all natural stuff I can any tools though. Maybe I'll like it and look into something like that. I have a bowfishing kit I bought a couple months ago I haven't used it much yet though.

[crashdive123]

I have speared a lot of fish. I never baited or chummed for them, but rather did it in deeper water and swam up to them and speared em.

If it is legal to do in your area, and you plan on doing it from the shore you will need to practice a little. If you are not familiar with parallax error, you will need to become familiar with it. Practice by trying to hit targets you place in the water at a depth that you plan on spearing. Once you can hit them consistently you are ready to move on to fish.

[JustinF267]

I have speared a lot of fish. I never baited or chummed for them, but rather did it in deeper water and swam up to them and speared em.

If it is legal to do in your area, and you plan on doing it from the shore you will need to practice a little. If you are not familiar with parallax error, you will need to become familiar with it. Practice by trying to hit targets you place in the water at a depth that you plan on spearing. Once you can hit them consistently you are ready to move on to fish.

Is the parallax error what causes you to have to aim lower? I did some target practice with my bow fishing rig and got decent but still not good enough to consistently hit where i was aiming. Ill definitely practice and make sure I have a good technique before I do this.

[madmax]

It's cool you're developing a survival technique. Way to go.

[crashdive123]

Is the parallax error what causes you to have to aim lower? I did some target practice with my bow fishing rig and got decent but still not good enough to consistently hit where i was aiming. Ill definitely practice and make sure I have a good technique before I do this.

Yes. Another term for the same "phenomenon" is light refraction in water.

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[finallyME]

This is one of those things where you just have to go and do. Make sure it is legal, go to the spot, find a stick, sharpen it, throw it. Then repeat and change what you need to. It might take you a while, or maybe not, but the only way you will do it is if you go out and do it.