float tubers?

[bpm2000]

I've been reading up on float tubing and attempting rather poorly to save up for one (man tube+fins+waders, etc=$$$!).

Just curious to see how many people out there tube, what you have equipment-wise, and what you would recommend? Anyone got some tricked out tubes? lets see some pics!

I am eyeing the fish cat deluxe or the outcast trinity myself (need something that will deflate and pack into a backpack since I am car-less) while still keeping my butt outta the water.

thx!

[jmay]

Floattube are great, I've had a couple. My favorite one is a basic Caddis pontoon. It has a seat with a back. Don't skimp on flipper and watch the wind if you are in Eastern Washington. Other than that they are great

[Bigbass Dez]

HEY bmp2000 , I got a great deal on a pontoon boat from craigs list i paid $150.00 for nearly new pontoon that would hv cost me 250. @ joes .. I was on craigs yesterday and i saw another pontoon like mine on there for the same price $150.00 i got my fins from Joes for $20.00 ...you will be much happier with a pontoon over float tube .. you take more gear , poles , etc .. and you have the option to upgrade as you go along i.e. adding trolling motor and thing like that ...so for less than $200.00 bucks you can fish mostly any lake .. think about it and check out craigs list .. BBD:-"

[CraigVM62]

I had a Trinity for a while. The few lakes I took it to, you could drive very close to, so I never came to appreciate it's light weight and portability. I didn't like the fact that my feet / lower legs were always in the water. I would have to wear my chest waders on cold water lakes, but on sunny days, the rest of me would get too warm, even with light weight breathable waders. On warmer water lakes, No Problem.

For this reason I picked up a pontoon type kick boat. Normaly that would be my suggestion, but even the lightest are many times the weight of a light float tube so might not work for you.

If you haven't picked up waders yet, I would suggest getting the breathable type. I have neoprene waders which are great during winter, but sweat suits during summer. With the Breathable type, you can wear thermals or such underneath for winter fishing, but much cooler during hot summer days.

Dito with what jmay said about getting better fins. Cheap ones just buckle under hard kicking and decent ones are not much more. I see there as being two types: The first being those designed to fit over your wading shoes via straps.



Then there are those that don't fit well over boots if you have large feet, but do fit well over just your wader stockings. I like these the best as I get alot more thrust when kicking.



You do have to be careful since the heal of your waders are exposed if you have to walk on them. I keep some oversized water socks handy to toss on when I am getting in and out of the water for that reason.

I stumbled on a sight that had some very "accessorized" float tubes. This guy has multiple rod holders, color GPS / fish finder, live bait well..... I think many full sized bass boats envy all the gear he manages to drag around the lake.

[bpm2000]

CraigVM62, so the trinity DOES keep your butt out of the water? I was getting conflicting reports on that. Yea that guy has so much stuff on his tube - i think its the dude from the bigfishtackle forums.

Aynways, I'd love a pontoon but I dont have a car and I bus everywhere I fish unless I am fishing with someone so I need to pack it away in a backpack. Imagine me trying to drag a pontoon on a city bus! lol

[Bigbass Dez]

LOL I understand , i wouldnt do that either .. well i take that back .. if it was opening day and i had no car and hadnt fished all winter .. im crazy enough to try it .. LOL thats cool BMP it was just a FYI .. but those float tubes would do it for you , less stuff to carry ... BBD

[CraigVM62]

I can't say it keeps you out of the water. My arse is basically sitting just level with the water. I am a heavier guy at around 220 lbs. Perhaps a lighter individual won't sit as low. Many of their photo's give you the impression that these kind of "pontoon tubes" will keep you well out of the water. See link below:

http://www.riverwire.com/outcasttubereview2.htm

It was from the knees down where the cold would take it's toll on me. In hind sight, the Trinity was not the best choice for me as I should have gone with their Super Fat Cat or Prowler which are just a bit larger. It may allow me to sit a bit higher.

If really on a budget, you could consider a very small (2) person "one adult" raft. Years ago we used to hike 35 miles up to some smaller lakes and packed these up in back packs. In the pack, I would say it took up about the same space as the Trinity even with the little break down paddles. Main disadvantage is if you want to do any kind of slow trolling, you need to make some kind of rod holder. Some of the nicer ones have built in rod holders
Pretty comfy as at times, I would lay down in mine "with feet hangover the front" and take a nap on the water.
You can pick them up for about the same price as the better float fins alone.

[bpm2000]

Im only bout 155 so I dont think ill be sinking any tubes too low. Never considered a raft.. thx for the suggestion.

[Bodofish]

Check the surplus stores for a life raft out of a fighter plane. I bought one and used it to death when I could hike. They're made from laminated ripstop nylon. All up weight 4#. Get a couple ping pong paddles from a garage sale and you're sitting pretty. They roll up and fit in in a medium day pack but the bonus is they have built in rain gear just in case.

[tnj8222]

here you go bpm a couple of people on ifish are sellnig tubes right now. i also have a small raft you could have for free if you want it. its only been used like three times mostly by my brother at pine lake playing around.

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.p ... ost1587853

[bpm2000]

yea those caddis looked pretty good for the money but im still trying to hold out for a dry-butt solution.
thanks for the offer on the raft man, might take you up on it but still thinking about a tube at the monent. (something about an inflatable raft seems really unstable to me).

[Bodofish]

The surplus life rafts are very stable. Made to go in the ocean, I doubt you'd find any conditions like that on a lake. Even the little free one is stable if you sit in the bottom of it. Raft = No wetbutt

[sommysom]

Just got this one and have used it several times. Not bad for $90 with cheap fins and air pump

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates ... hasJS=true

[Bodofish]

Watch for Joes sales. I was out the door with the full giddyup for under a C note. Tube, fins and a pump. Just try and blow one up in a hurry. EWWWEEEWWWEEEEWWWEEEEEEWWWWEEEE.

Per my other posts.
Because you don't want to get your butt wet, you need to be able to carry it in a backpack and cost is a consideration. What you're looking for is a raft not a float tube. Unless the lake is very warm you won't make it far in a float tube with out waders. That will up the cost over a C note for a pair that will last more than one season.

Raft