Slingshot Fishing Rod

Intro: Slingshot Fishing Rod

This is a fishing device I made using a slingshot to launch the line. I haven't used it yet, but I hope to try it out soon. The main body is made up or a piece of bent metal. It is held to the slingshot with zipties and duct tape. The reel is held on by two bolts. I forgot to add an eyelet to the end of the metal, and will do that soon.

Comments

[David Justin Laylon]

It would be perfect when attached to a short medium-heavy action rod! Great idea!!

[Robertart10]

Very detailed guide, thanks!

[eugenius]

Nice DIY. But I didn't understand what kind of projectile do you use.

[darrenhall]

Have loved this from the first time I saw it.

I have just produced a bow from a bike wheel and was thinking how I could use the bow to shoot an arrow for hunting fish but I could not think how to deploy a line to bring back any catch - mounting a reel under the bow would be ideal.

Great build and thanks for the instructable that solved my quandry.

DZ

[Jer_da_bear_9000]

Could you show me how you did the bow from the wheel

[freeza36]

Thanks! I'd love to see a picture if you finish your bow

[darrenhall]

oh the bow is finished, in fact that is me in the little picture off to the left with it - I know a lot of folks are hunters and might like the fishing idea - am happy to keep mine for fun and practice, but who knows when I get back out on the water when the weather is warmer, maybe get me and the wife some free dinner.

[msuchman1]

I made one & did not like how it functioned. So I added a "whisper bisket" to it & now can use it as a fishing archery setup. I also added 40lbs test line so I can go after large catfish in the Mississippi River.

[XboxCODGTA]

I was actually the first one to make one

[R.JStorey (Rodders)]

I agree that both the flexibility of the bar and the lack of eyelet may be a problem for larger fish (a problem that I know you're unlikely to encounter with the smaller fish that you're going after). However, a solution could be to use a spring (like this http://www.emmrod.com/kayak-king-spin-pole/) to absorb the fish's energy whilst maintaining the small profile of your set up. Great project, and good luck :)

[laffinm]

Might be kind of difficult to launch the lure but otherwise I think this would work.

[theparacorders]

Not gonna work...

[bcutnbords78]

only issue I see would be keeping bait attached to hook.. unless you just plan on using jigs/lures... But like the Idea. You could prolly ad a tube inline to shoot a small dart..

[freeza36]

About the dart, i had thought about making a "spearfishing" like thing using either this or a blowgun, so stay tuned.

[cody.lomas]

hey great idea is that a daisy b52 if so i have the same thing rigged to shoot arrows with a toilet bowl brush i might try a similar setup for bow fishing have you tried drilling hole in the steel so you can use the handle screws to attatch it to the handle and remove it

[freeza36]

I had thought about it, but i would need longer screws and didn't really want to modify the slingshot itself (too much)

[Fat_Head_Carl]

1. The rod also applies constant pressure to the fish, so they have a less of a chance to spit the hook
2. Leather pouch + hooks = bad idea...especially with treeble hooks (trust me I know).

[freeza36]

I haven't quite worked out the hooks yet... I think I might try and make some sort of a leader than wont let the hook go back, but will release it forward.

[M3talhead]

Nice idea, but I see a few problems if you intend on using it for fishing:

1. That (aluminum? steel?) flat stock will bend like a twizzler if you hook anything larger than a 5" Red Drum. Remember, its not just the size/weight of the fish, but also the resistance it gives.

2. The majority of a fishing rod's strength comes from the leverage the pole provides the fisherman by amplifying his own. Also, you may be able to cast out pretty far with the slingshot, but I'd bet not nearly as far as a cheap 5' pole with practice.

3. With no eyelets, the filament has no direction. No direction means no way to control a fish. No control of the fish means increased stress on the reel with possible malfunction/breakage of internals if you attempt to bring it in from any degree off dead center with something on the hook.

4. Safety. I can see no safe way to cast a lure without placing the operator in danger. Personally, I like to keep barbed hooks out of my soft fleshy bits.

Nice idea, but it may be better suited for shooting cable leaders over obstructions.

[freeza36]

Its steel, and i agree that it wont suffice for semi large fish. I plan to use this just for small creeks, for small (8-10in) brookies. The same thing applies to the distance. I just had the worse times on the small streams putting the lure where i wanted to. I plan to add an eyelet onto the end of the steel. As for the safety, I have yet to figure that out.