Better Grip for Polespear

[sciencemike]

I bought a one piece tapered aluminum JBL polespear a few weeks ago, and i have really had to work to make the thing decently fast. The first thing i did was put a couple large custom made powerbands on it, which meant i had to bore out the back end because the bands were too large to fit into the hole. But even after this I was still not happy with the speed. I had put the standard spiral ribbed surface with rubber mesh overlay that everyone uses. I am used to my spear having full speed all the way to the end of my band extension.

The ridges did things i really wasnt happy with. Upon shooting they went phurrrrrp as the slid under my fingers (i really open my hand all the way up also) . They also spooked the fish and slowed down the pole through my hand and also had massive drag through the water as it approached the fish. Finally i came to a solution that suits all of my needs.

1. Very low drag through the water.
2. Excellent gripping ability i use two powerbands sometimes ( i was using an 18mm 20 inch band from riffe for spearguns, until i nearly dislocated my shoulder)
3. Low drag as it slides through my hand.
4. Noiseless underwater when fired.

I tried a bunch of tapes and rubbers, but finally settled upon a durable high grip solution.

SKATEBOARD GRIPTAPE. Cut long triangles out of it, so lower on your pole you have less grip, and higher up you have more grip (applies inversely for drag). Scrub your pole with a scrap of tape for extra binding force, and rub it down with ethanol. Then slap on the griptape.. Cammo or pink whatever suits you. I like high vis because i often ditch my pole when bugging. I am considering using only one piece on one side of the pole.

Also we all use 4 or 5 turns of teflon tape on our pole's threading to keep from loosing tips. (If anyone has any luck adding lead weight and foam core, or fins to their poles please comment)

[Silentspear]

I tried this technique out but it will end up just ruining my neoprene gloves. What gloves do you use?

Oh, and I just purchased a 6' one piece also. Do you know how to loosen the band on the end???

[sciencemike]

Yeah it does eat gloves, but then any grip will do that. If you want the grip to be softer, then you can run a piece of metal over the tape to get rid of some of the grip. You kinda just smash down the big pieces of sand in the sandpaper. A spoon works well, just use the backside of it. But you have to remember that the stronger and better the grip the more it will eat a glove. One thing i try to do always is to fully open my hand as the spear slides out. This makes much less SHHHHHHHHHHHH noise to scare the fish, and makes the gloves last longer.

AS TO GLOVE TYPE_
I use the kevlar ones they sell in sports chalet for about 25 bucks on sale or 35 full price.. Heres the only picture i have that i took when i was eating some scallops for breakfast and the glove is in the picture, because i use them to help me open my scallops. The glove is in the top center of the photo. Notice how the kevlar goes all the way around the fingers, this is an important feature. Lastly my gloves last about 5 months of spearing.

As for loosening the band you can put a little soap on the hole at the end of the spear, and pull on one side of the band. As it stretches it gets smaller in diameter and can then fit through the hole. The bands shouldnt be tied or anything. If they are let me know and ill address that issue. In case one band is tied pull on the other one.

[Silentspear]

Thanks, but shortly after posting, I realized I will be getting a different pole spear. I'm going from the 6' to 5'. It was just overkill.

So it doesn't tear up the kevlar?

[bluedvr]

in Hawaii we use bicycle iner tube and wrap the pole spear as you would a tennis racket.

[Silentspear]

Could you post some pictures please?