Starting to spearfish for carp? Whatcha think?

[whackemstackem]

I am going to start hunting for carp with a speargun this summer and am led to believe it's legal, just not popular here.  My question is, is there any other spearos here on this forum? Also anyone wants to chime in with info, I'm all ears.

[Bmcox86]

I've never spear fished in fresh water but I have speared fished all over the Caribbean and the biggest advice to anyone is two make sure your tip is super sharp. I've seen some shafts bounce off fish of a lifetime because of dull tips. Also, I reccomend a buoyant gun so you can left it go and fight the fish if you have to. Did you buy a gun yet?

[whackemstackem]

my gun is a Mares Viper 110 with a reel. I plan on hunting the shallows of the Columbia and side channels off of my pontoon raft. The gun is buoyant and can be attached to a bouy via the clip on the handle.
Bmx- What type of fish did you target down there? Ever think of spearfishing for carp up here?

[Bmcox86]

I mostly targeted hogfish, snapper and grouper, also grabbed lobster and conch all the time. When I lived in South Carolina I shot tons of spade fish under buoys, a lot of flounder and tried to shoot a cobia that wouldn't eat anything (bad idea)

I haven't thought about it, but mainly because I have know idea about the water around here or access. I look at my guns on my rod rack once in a while and my wife's always complaining about my bands being in the freezer

That being said, if you ever never a partner, I'd give it a shot with ya

[whackemstackem]

I am going to stick to the Columbia so I think it should be acceptable versus the ponds at lower elevation. If you come to the Eastside there is a lot of access and a lot of carp. I'll keep posting

[madcow41]

I spear all the time for carp... amazingly fun I have a pole spear and a actual spear gun. Great practice if you ever think you are going to Hi or Oki

[sirfunkeybut]

Ive always wanted to try, just no money to buy the spear.

[madcow41]

Ive always wanted to try, just no money to buy the spear.

Make 1

[cbond3318]

I have always wanted to try, I know a couple guys who do it around the tri-cities area and have said there are some absolute pigs down deeper that never come up within bow range. Good Luck

[whackemstackem]

Madcow- How was the water temp from June-Sept? Where do you spearfish, rivers or lakes?
Sirfunkeybut- Make a hawaiin sling, there cheap and effective. P.S. you get your "bike" situation figured out?


I  wonder about the safety issues if people understand the "diver down" bout since it is not a common sport and I have had people drive up thinking they were lost crab bouys Scary situation if you are the guy below to hear that humm getting louder.

[KFhunter]

I'd wear a full body suit.  For water temps and prevent rash. I got a lot of rashes from the parasites in the water, or whatever it was in the sloughs.
Maybe is was just grass allergy?  head to toe rash.

I used to do a lot of bow fishing until they made it illegal on the Lake Roosevelt for carp. 

[Rob]

I find carp to  be very wary fish.  should be a hoot.  you free diving or on scuba?  Free diving would probably be easier to get close.  I like a longer speargun for the power, however in low viz like the columbia it might be difficult to see one far away enough to swing a long gun and get a shot off.

Only freshwater fish I have ever speared was a catfish. 

[KFhunter]

probably have better luck ambushing them from a channel inlet or along a bank

[whackemstackem]

I'd wear a full body suit.  For water temps and prevent rash. I got a lot of rashes from the parasites in the water, or whatever it was in the sloughs.
Maybe is was just grass allergy?  head to toe rash.

Umm, never heard about this. Can you give some details or a story of how it went down.  Did it cure up with time/topical creams?  Was this in a lake or a river?  Just curious because this intrigues me?

[SeaRun1]

I am a spearo.  I would think you would have lots of opportunity with carp.  They are wary though.  Check out the freshwater section on spearboard.  Lots of help available there.

SR1

[Bigtine96]

I saw a Russian guy at Chelan throwing a spear and getting carp, it was pretty impressive.

[sirfunkeybut]

I did  ill look at the Hawaiian sling thing and try to make one for this summer. As a side note i was moving the bike the other day and crushed my foot, so im in a cast for a little bit 

Madcow- How was the water temp from June-Sept? Where do you spearfish, rivers or lakes?
Sirfunkeybut- Make a hawaiin sling, there cheap and effective. P.S. you get your "bike" situation figured out?


I  wonder about the safety issues if people understand the "diver down" bout since it is not a common sport and I have had people drive up thinking they were lost crab bouys Scary situation if you are the guy below to hear that humm getting louder.

[KFhunter]

I'd wear a full body suit.  For water temps and prevent rash. I got a lot of rashes from the parasites in the water, or whatever it was in the sloughs.
Maybe is was just grass allergy?  head to toe rash.

Umm, never heard about this. Can you give some details or a story of how it went down.  Did it cure up with time/topical creams?  Was this in a lake or a river?  Just curious because this intrigues me?

Would be in Lake Roosevelt June/July wading through ankle to nipple deep water shooting carp. Used to wear old tennis shoes and cutoffs, maybe a tee shirt maybe not.  Anyways after a day in the tall grass I'd have a rash from the water line down, which was usually up to my neck.  Small red bumps that itched but went away by the next morning.  We'd all shower soon as we could get out of the water.
Understand it's been a long time since we could shoot carp on the lake Roosevelt park.

Even now during the late summer anyone familiar with the park knows where to not swim to avoid "swimmers itch"  and it pretty much comes from areas carp like to spawn.

I'm not sure this is what it is,  but if I gave you my best guess I'd say it's cercarial dermatitis

[Rob]

I  wonder about the safety issues if people understand the "diver down" bout since it is not a common sport and I have had people drive up thinking they were lost crab bouys Scary situation if you are the guy below to hear that humm getting louder.

well now that nearly everyone has to take a boaters course I would hope the red and white and blue and white flags are more commonly known as diver down...  But alas they are not.  I feel safer diving without one as they tend to attract more boatds than they deter.

[KFhunter]

 

No boater safety course is going to make safer boaters.

[Rob]

At least if you are on SCUBA you only need to worry about "the hum of the motor" if you are in the shallows.  They can drive over you all they want the rest of the time!

[Carl]

I grew up diving in Florida, the Keys and Bahamas’ and when I speared, I used a Hawaiian Sling.  It’s a lot more challenging and I would have preferred a spear gun most of the time – but it can be done.   

Just my  on Hawaiian Slings.

Carl

[whackemstackem]

I will be free diving with not a whole lot of room to run downward but am thinking of just using a boat in the area so people may be more apt to steer clear.  My speargun is a 110 so it may be a pain to move in low viz but I wanted a gun that had enough power to shoot long shots at big carp. Any suggestions on where to get a good wet suit.  There just aren't many in my area.

Carl- I didn't know you were a spearo. You never cease to amaze me, I still have an extra sling available

[Rob]

Check this place out. 

http://www.leisurepro.com/

I have bought a lot of stuff from them in the past.  good prices.

[moocher97]

Most freashwater and marshes have "duck mites" there just little bugs that dig into your skin and cause little red bumps. Hence the word duck mite, duck mites come off ducks and geese and such so anywhere theres ducks theres duck mites which explains why you get those bumps. those carp love those back water areas ive always wanted to stick a coupl carp going into the potholes 

[madcow41]

Madcow- How was the water temp from June-Sept? Where do you spearfish, rivers or lakes?
Sirfunkeybut- Make a hawaiin sling, there cheap and effective. P.S. you get your "bike" situation figured out?


I  wonder about the safety issues if people understand the "diver down" bout since it is not a common sport and I have had people drive up thinking they were lost crab bouys Scary situation if you are the guy below to hear that humm getting louder.

I spear long lake near spokane and also the spokane river. I dont eat the fish I just clear out some carp. I wear a 3/2mm suit and am fine. I dont like hoods. I also use a 16lb weight belt to keep me down. Diver bouys are not required as you are not diving. it isnt abnormal for me to get about 20 carp during 1 float down the portion of the river that I spear. Great fertilizer or you could sell them to an asian.

[whackemstackem]

Thanks for the info Madcow