Wow, these fustibali are more serious than I thought. I'm gonna have to read up some more.
Here is my nutbar article as I submitted it. I don't think anything was edited except my drawing which featured a goose standing on a golf course green with a thought bubble saying "This looks like a good place to poop."
I think it's fair to recommend The Backwoodsman since it doesn't compete with Primitive Archer, and especially since it was an article there about selfbows that ultimately led me here.
Fishing: For the Birds?
by Garett Beatty
I've got an idea I've been meaning to develop properly (ie. try it myself), but I can't escape the conclusion: I'll never get around to it. It's too good an idea not to share with those most likely to appreciate it, though: My fellow Backwoodsman readers. I will be tickled pink if somebody tries this out and reports back via a letter to Charlie.
A little background. Bolas, or boleadoras, are a variation of a weapon used by many cultures. It is made up of 2 or more weights connected by cords, spun overhead and thrown sidearm at the legs of the prey. The weights spread out in flight, spanning the length of the cords holding them together. Wikipedia tells me that the gauchos of South America use them to capture livestock, the indigenous folks from the same area used them for hunting critters I've never heard of, and that Inuit use their version to capture waterfowl.
Now. What if the bolas were thrown with the help of a rod? The force and range of the throw would be much improved, much the way the staff improved the sling, and the atlatl improved the spear. Now better yet, what if you could do it in such a way as not to require learning a new skill? You might even be an expert shot right now! And what if it was all attached to a sturdy line that could be used to retrieve game that might otherwise get away or get you wet?
Here's a scenario. You're on a hike-in fishing trip, and you get turned around. You only brought enough food to last until the day before yesterday. And the fish aren't cooperating. You need some protein, darn it! There are some geese and ducks swimming around, but you don't have the means to disrupt their plans for a skillet-free future. Or do you? Have you considered your fishing gear? What if you ditched the catfish rig and tied on your goose rig?
Now as I mentioned earlier, I may never get around to trying this out. But if our current economic fundamentals get any "stronger", we all might need to find an affordable way to put meat on our plates.
Here's how I suggest you rig up. Start with some superbraid line on a heavy action spinning reel attached to a short heavy rod. Tie a sturdy barrel swivel on the end, then tie 3 short chunks of superbraid line to the other end of the swivel. On the ends of the tails, tie lead teardrop sinkers. I would start with 1/2 oz weights on strings 2 feet long. Adjust as trial and error dictates.
You're going to aim at the neck of the bird you're after. It sounds like a small target, but in reality your bolas will cut a 4 foot swath through the air, so windage shouldn't be much of an issue. You really only need to worry about elevation. And if, like me, you practiced casting into an old tire from the time you were 6 years old, there shouldn't be nothin' to it. There's going to be some strict technique to your throw, though.
First off, you have to impart a sideways spin to your weights, because a goose's neck goes up, and you want your weights to wrap around it. But you also want to be mindful of keeping your main line clear of the weights to avoid mid-flight tangles. So here's how I envision the perfect throw: Start with your rod out to the side, as low as possible while clearing the ground with the sinkers. Swing the rod back and up. The object is to swing the weights up to about elbow height. Now quickly snap the rod forward, releasing, and following through with an upward sweep, keeping your line above the spinning arms of your weapon. Ideally, your rod should continue sweeping up until the bolas have made contact. And for maximum power, a two handed cast is suggested as well.
If all has gone well up to this point, you should now be watching in awe as your 4 foot weapon instantly wraps itself around your quarry's neck. I think a good throw might cut off air and blood supply, but likely you will now be in for a good fight as you reel in your catch. Be careful! Canada geese have been known to break the legs of grown men with their defensive wing strikes. Be ready with a club, machete, or your fishing net and filleting knife. If you use a club, don't forget to bleed the animal right away for optimum flavor come suppertime.
Now a variation. The main thrust of my project was originally to launch the bolas with a stiff rod, but releasing them completely instead of throwing them tethered. I couldn't quite work out a good simple release however. I wanted it to work like casting a fishing rod for maximum control and accuracy. Then by playing with the length and stiffness of the rod, as well as the weight and number of the balls, one could theoretically scale the weapon up to larger game, like hogs or deer. Heavier weights attached to piano wire would fly with minimal air resistance and lock around the back legs of a deer with maximum authority. You could finish the job with a machete or a spear. Anybody who would like to develop this, try it out, and report back with their release design will be my hero! But proceed with caution: If your release fails to let go, you won't enjoy the result! And please play responsibly: Trying this out on game is probably illegal just about everywhere. Check your local laws first.
