Meet Cal Straub

From Appleton, Wisconsin, Cal has been spearfishing for over 6 years, starting with 3-pronging panfish in Wisconsin’s inland lakes and eventually moving into the cold, clear waters of the Great Lakes. He regularly hunts species such as lake trout, walleye, and freshwater drum, and also spends time spearfishing in saltwater when traveling. Diving in low-visibility, cold-water environments has shaped his approach to gear, where reliability and maneuverability matter most. Cal is an active member of the National Freshwater Spearfishing Association (NFSA) and has contributed to the growth of the sport through photography, videography, events such as Freshwater Worlds, and helping manage NFSA media and social channels. Through @Base.camp.outdoors, he documents the reality of the outdoor lifestyle — from hunting and fishing to diving and exploration. Cal brings a dedicated freshwater perspective to the Aquila team and relies on his 120 cm Aquila Raptor and open-cell 5mm and 7mm Aquila wetsuits to perform in some of the most challenging spearfishing conditions in North America.