Is the Squid Gun old hat?

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Greetings from the sweetwater, guys. A few weeks ago I had a reunion with a couple of guys I've been real close with since college (waaaaaay back when). Anyhow, to liven up our gathering, I brought along my PVC spud gun and some other toys. Neither had ever seen or heard of a spud gun before and they had a blast with it. Anyhow, about a week later, one of the guys went to Gulf Shores, ALA, for a family vacation. He just got back and sent me the following email, which I think is relevant to this board. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried the Squid Gun and what kind of distances you got. Any suggestions for improvements to the basic design?


... You'd be so proud of me.
PROBLEM: High waves and dangerous undertow. Too high to wade/swim to the first sand bar to cast my rig past the second sand bar.

SOLUTION: SQUID GUN!!!!!
Yes, I went the local Loew's and purchased all the items needed to make a spud gun! I went to the Coleman outlet mall store and bought a lantern sparker. One hour with glue and hack saw and voila', a spud gun. Trials sent spuds 150+ yards. I then carefully hollowed the potato to hold my 3 ounce lead sinker and brought the line out the top of the tater. I dropped my double hook rig with plenty of squid on each hook into the barrel and fed the line to the reel into the barrel. I then pulled out about 50-70 feet of line and "sand anchored" it to the beach at the edge of the surf to keep it from tangling. I then opened the bail of the reel (with the rod/reel in a PVC sand holder). For the coup de gras, three second puff of "Aqua Net", cap and "Fire in the hole"! Thunkkkkkkkkk! Easily 100 yards with the potato flying apart about half out into the surf! The sinker and rig dropped in just beyond the second bar! Caught two (double rig hit) slime cats ~1-2 pounds each. I caught a lot of slime cats that week up to ~5 pounds. But no other good fish. Bummer!!!!

Even though there was no one close to me, I still turned a lot of heads up and down beach when I fired that thing. One lady watched me for a LONG time after my first shot and acted mad that the shot had evidently startled her three mongrels dogs she was letting run and poop on the beach. I wondered if she was going to call the authorities! There's probably a law against squid guns.

[Cool Hand Fluke]

Now that will liven up the old Fall Fling...what say you Tim?

[gadwall8]

I love it!

[Cool Hand Fluke]

100 guys all dressed in rubber firing potatos at each other....let me get my teeth and my banjo.

[Breezy Kid]

Theres no law against potatoe cannons. I'v used it alot to shoot some bait in the bay. Aqua Net and hair spray arent the best things to use they, sticky up the gun and arent to powerfull. Try Car Starting Fluid it works great! Also I would suggest that you make an air cannon. They are more powerful and there's no firey explosion or smell with these to injure ure bait. The air cannons are a little more expensive but worth it! Good luck and keep abusing those spuds! :-}

[JPL]

huh?? I've never heard of one. Any pictures?

[grampa old spook]

we built a monster one a long time ago.8 foot barrel and 100 yards that would punk a windshield out.be careful......

[grampa old spook]

jp check your pm box....

[Ravenar]

Ive never heard of a spud gun before. See what northern living does. Im guessing like a mortar. Sounds cool, for those that lack casting skills

------------------
Robert

[feetinsand]

Do they work: Yes
Range: 300-400 yards depending on construction, propellant, and "hardness" of the tater.
Dangerous: You betcha
Legal: Have plenty of bail money.
My suggestion is to kill this thread before someone gets hurt.
Want to fish beyond the bar...learn how to power cast, use a kite, or buy a boat.

[jenty]

Why powercast when you have a squid gun?! And yes, they are illegal! Just don't get caught!

------------------
Johnny

[squidlips]

I'm flyyyyyiiiiinnng...

[IsmailG]

I built one last year, never shot it yet (a cop lives two houses down from me). There was a site where on guy built one like a gatling gun, pretty crazy stuff. They got a bad rap because some brain dead kid looke inside the barrel after the potato didnt shoot out, guess what happned next?

Kentucky,
What kinda glue did you use too seal the sparker to the butt cap? Thanks

[Cool Hand Fluke]

C'mon boys...send me some info on one of dem der spud scuds.

[IsmailG]

CHF, I'll bring mine to the Mudholeand we can shoot geese with it. heheheheee