subject: Using a gidgee underwater [print this page] Using a gidgee underwater Using a gidgee underwater
A gidgee is otherwise known as a pole spear. Basically they are a long pole made out of aluminum, steel or fiberglass with a spear tip on the end. Some of these have 4 prongs, whilst others have 5 and some have only one. This depends on the fish that you are shooting with them. At the end of the pole there is a hole drilled through it which a cord attaches a rubber to. By pulling the rubber up towards the spear end of the pole and holding the pole tight, you can fire the spear forwards. To do this, you simply remove your hand from the pole. Some of these spears can fire several meters, although it takes quite a lot of skill to fire them correctly. If you don't know how to fire one correctly then have a look at a Spearfishing Video on YouTube. Gloves are a great idea because your hands will get blisters from holding the rubber up the pole for too long.
A lot of people get into spear fishing through the use of a gidgee. I know that this was the first tool that I used underwater to catch fish, and instantly fell in love with it. From there, I progressed to a cheap speargun and eventually a much more expensive gun that I currently use. A lot of people catch big fish with a gidgee or pole spear, but they require a lot more skill to do so. Some of the big pole spears are well over 2 meters long, and the rubber takes some serious strength to pull back. Combining these two factors you can get a spear that will easily penetrate a decent sized fish for dinner! You can purchase a gidgee from most outdoor sports stores for in between 30 and 50 dollars, or it goes up if you want something that is a bit stronger and more professional. It's important that you get something with good quality prongs on it though, because these will bend as soon as you miss a fish and hit a rock!
