brady, I am so glad you made these video's and posted it....I have been trying so hard NOT to post on this thread......I usually try to stay neutral with products publically, but this one has gotten me in some rather heated discussions over the years.....with suicidal tendancies for tying to the back instead of being safe and using slides...
this is just my opinion, mark's,,,,not officer, not anything but someone who bowfishes, and has HIS OWN personal preferences......
when safety slides came out I gave them a try along with other things that come and go....watching the gator gar go one way with your arrow, and the slide come back when your reeling in WITHOUT your arrow got old...... quick! The screws they used that hold the stopper would ALWAYS come out by the end of the night causing me to lose arrows...I lose many an arrow, but for no other reason than my own fault....
I have been told that if I did not fish with safety slides then I could not shoot from someone's boat.....needless to say, I did not shoot from someone's boat! I have had the line wrap around the reel handle, my hand, and reel, and NEVER had an arrow come back or get in ANY situation to where anyone in the boat was in danger....the only problem I have had was watching the arrow fly in slow motion and fall by the fish!
I personally will not use a retriever without safety slides, but with spinners and 200# ff, I always tie to the back....