Float Tubers

Comment

Comment by Ben Reyna on July 13, 2010 at 10:30pm

I have been using alot of surplus vacation time at the lake. I purchased an ODC 616 Kick Boat as a secondary/back-up pontoon and havent used anything since. The last several outings have been oustanding with large bluegills, sunfish, and redears. The lake I fish is stocked with rainbows and winter stockers that are left over getting big, several have been over 15 inches. I did take some pics and will try to upload them soon.
I managed to talk everyone into a short day of fishing and will upload those pics also.

Comment by will the fishing man on July 8, 2010 at 10:08am

oh yeah back in february i got my float tube. its a outcast fish cat its blue. i should i have pictures of it by today or tomorrow. its just been awlie since ive been on the site.

Comment by Vincent Ventura on May 31, 2010 at 1:31pm

got back about a week ago from kalkaska county in michigan and floated a section of the manistee only got one trout that day but it was really fun and i missed the only fish that hit on the fly rod i was heart broken maybe next year

Comment by Michael J. Searl on May 9, 2010 at 3:50am

There is no need to get the reel a long way from you to handle a tip wrap. Simply reach up ane seperate the rod at the joint. Lay the reel end in your lap and deal with the problem. A dunked reel won't last long at all. Illinoisgiler

Comment by Jonathan Byrne on May 8, 2010 at 9:57pm

I like that floating fish basket idea, may try that and see if it works well enough. I already have one, and it does have a fairly long rope. Long enough, in fact, that I often found it over on the other side of the tube with the rope past underneath after making turns, so I was planning on shortening its rope quite a bit. May have to re-think that.

I am using an ultralight rod, but it's nearly as long as my fly rod :-)

Comment by Ben Reyna on May 8, 2010 at 9:46pm

I would agree, a rod holder or holders is essential. I resorted to using mainly short Ultra Light rods it makes it fun. I watched a fellow tuber use his floating fish basket for that very purpose with his fly rod, he had a long rope attached to it.

I made it out on fri. and did well. a bunch of trout and some big blue gill. took a camera and forgot to take pictures.maybe next time

Comment by Jonathan Byrne on May 8, 2010 at 1:03pm

Things I learned on my first float tubing trip Thursday:

1) A rod holder is essential. Must buy or make one before my next trip.

2) Tangles at the end of an 8 or 9 foot rod are the pits when in a float tube. Very hard to reach the end of the rod without dropping the reel end into the water. To this end, I need to make a floating "rod buddy" on which to rest the reel and let it drift out from the tube and securely hold the other end of the rod. When I get a prototype built, I'll post a pic.

Of course, if anyone has already made one, feel free to post a pic so I can copy it :-)

Jonathan

Comment by Jonathan Byrne on May 7, 2010 at 5:48pm

I took the day off work yesterday and took my float tube ought to Bethany to break it in.

First impressions: the ODC 420 is nice, I would certainly recommend it. I got the set with the fins and pump on eBay for much less than the list price of an ODC 420 alone, which was an excellent deal. The pump is adequate and lightweight, I can fill the tube in just a few minutes because it's a double action pump. I can see that I will probably want bigger fins for a more powerful stroke, but these are nice and light and fit well over my wading boots thanks to the adjustable straps.

The only thing I see so far about the ODC 420 that I'd change is I would put the inflation valves somewhere other than under the main pockets. That position pretty much means taking at least much of my gear out of the pockets to deflate the tube. I'd much rather leave my stuff in the pockets at all times, ready to go.

Speaking of waders and wading boots, My boots are Hodgman, got them last weekend at Sports Authority for $30. I saw no advantage to the Caddis boots at $70 on the shelf next to them. My waders are LL Bean Emergers, they fit great and were very comfortable throughout a full day of tubing.

Somewhere, somebody (probably here on BG) told me that once you try float tubing, you'll never want to shore fish again. That is *so* true! I'm hooked! :-)

It wasn't a great day fishing except for the 10" red ear (my personal best by an inch), with half a dozen bluegill and red ear + a 13" bass going home to the kitchen, plus some baby largemouth and a baby striper caught and released. I caught the bass after dark on my fly rod, and wow, even a small bass like that puts up quite a fight on a 5 weight fly rod. It was so dark I couldn't see the fly at all and could barely see the strike indicator in a reflection of the sky.

The bass, like several other of the fish I caught, was taken from an area I couldn't have reached from the bank, so my tube really saved the day :-) Of all those fish, only the 10" red ear and one of the bluegill was caught from a place that would have been easy to reach without my tube (in water right next to the boat dock).

If any of y'all live in the SF Bay area, let's go tubing for 'gills sometime!

Comment by Ben Reyna on April 21, 2010 at 5:15pm

a couple of pics of the ODC 616 kickboat and the lake

Comment by Jonathan Byrne on April 19, 2010 at 11:28pm

Haven't been out yet, hope to make it in May. Just need to get some leashes for my fins (used to body surf; all fins come off your feet sooner or later), some cheap wading shoes, and my 2010 license. Then take a day off work and enjoy some weekday fishing :)

JB

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