A float tube at 50 - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T05:28:41Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/a-float-tube-at-50?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A509573&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI'm cheap, so when a buddy of…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-05-24:2036984:Comment:5193032014-05-24T15:57:00.052ZHook Uphttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/HookUp
<p>I'm cheap, so when a buddy offered to lend me his float tube for a couple mile float in the potomac, all I had were my old boogie board Makapu's and some neopreme socks. They worked.</p>
<p>But if you have the coin & you're going to me in a tube allot, some good advise given on this thread.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm cheap, so when a buddy offered to lend me his float tube for a couple mile float in the potomac, all I had were my old boogie board Makapu's and some neopreme socks. They worked.</p>
<p>But if you have the coin & you're going to me in a tube allot, some good advise given on this thread.</p>
<p> </p> Thanks Earl!tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-28:2036984:Comment:5111322014-04-28T00:09:52.546ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
Thanks Earl!
Thanks Earl! Doesn't work Greg!tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-28:2036984:Comment:5113902014-04-28T00:08:32.326ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
Doesn't work Greg!
Doesn't work Greg! Thanks, I went with these and…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-27:2036984:Comment:5112892014-04-27T23:42:01.315ZEarl W Storyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/EarlWStory
<p>Thanks, I went with these and am very pleased!…</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks, I went with these and am very pleased!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=709457&destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct.jsp%3FparentCategoryId%3D104793480%26categoryId%3D104721480%26subCategoryId%3D105607080%26indexId%3D104334480%26productIdks,%C2%A0" target="_blank">http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=709457&destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct.jsp%3FparentCategoryId%3D104793480%26categoryId%3D104721480%26subCategoryId%3D105607080%26indexId%3D104334480%26productIdks, </a>;</p> These are inexpensive and wor…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-27:2036984:Comment:5112322014-04-27T23:25:46.620ZGreg McWilliamshttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/GregMcWilliams
<p>These are inexpensive and work GREAT!!!!!! …</p>
<p>These are inexpensive and work GREAT!!!!!! <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Float-Tubes-Pontoons/Float-Tube-Pontoon-Accessories%7C/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/105607080/i/104334480/Creek-Company-Lightweight-Fins/732349.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffloat-tube-pontoon-accessories%2F_%2FN-1102584%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104334480%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104721480%253Bcat105607080&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat105607080%3Bcat104334480" target="_blank">http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Float-Tubes-Pontoons/Float-Tube-Pontoon-Accessories%7C/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/105607080/i/104334480/Creek-Company-Lightweight-Fins/732349.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffloat-tube-pontoon-accessories%2F_%2FN-1102584%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104334480%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104721480%253Bcat105607080&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat105607080%3Bcat104334480</a></p> Thank you, Jonathan!
"If you…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-24:2036984:Comment:5097982014-04-24T01:00:06.274ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>Thank you, Jonathan!</p>
<blockquote><p>"If you have stiff knees, you're going to love the float tube!"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>My sentiments exactly!</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p>"In spring/summer/early fall, I can be out all day in lightweight breathable waders and not feel cold at all, even in my old and somewhat leaky ones lol. Neoprene would be like a sauna in those conditions, I'm sure."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I don't intend to tube or toon in the dead of winter, either. I'm going with Frogg…</p>
<p>Thank you, Jonathan!</p>
<blockquote><p>"If you have stiff knees, you're going to love the float tube!"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>My sentiments exactly!</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p>"In spring/summer/early fall, I can be out all day in lightweight breathable waders and not feel cold at all, even in my old and somewhat leaky ones lol. Neoprene would be like a sauna in those conditions, I'm sure."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I don't intend to tube or toon in the dead of winter, either. I'm going with Frogg Toggs "Hellbender" breathable waders, an editors top pick in the under $150 class. Here in SC, our season goes from March-November. 9 months of tube and toonin is enough adventure for me.</p>
<blockquote><p>"Hot Spot fins are a brand I was unaware of, will check them out for sure. Since I do live in SoCal, so maybe I can even get to see some in person."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><br/> The Hot Spots are retailed through the 15 or so Turners outlets, there in the Southland. I have to order them direct from the company, as they are NOT sold in SC.<br/> <br/> I don't really like the compromise of boots and folding fins, etc. I get why people do it - because they have to trek to get to the wafer. Or the bottom is rocky - or both. But most owners I've noted abandon the folding boot fins, because they are gimmicky and inefficient.<br/> My terrain is soft and woodsy. My bottoms are mucky and soft. I rarely, if ever, make long treks to reach water. My plan is to attach some indoor/outdoor carpet to my bootie bottoms and have wading walkies.<br/> <br/> Should I want to make longer hikes, or noodle around the shore for extended periods, I have dedicated water shoes that fit in my kit with no worries.<br/> For fins, I'm favoring a fin and bootie set up, on the premise of "the right tool for the job." If I want to walk, I'll don walkers. When I want to tube, its propulsion over compromise.<br/> <br/> Each if us has to make these decisions. I don't have a local tubing fraternity with gear to test and try out; I gotta make calculated decisions and adapt. Being averse to reinventing the wheel, Im basing my choices on what I see the largest percentage of successful tubers already doing.</p> Thanks! This is something I'v…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-23:2036984:Comment:5094772014-04-23T18:23:51.723ZEarl W Storyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/EarlWStory
<p>Thanks! This is something I've considered for years. It's going to be an awesome adventure.</p>
<p>Thanks! This is something I've considered for years. It's going to be an awesome adventure.</p> I'm in your age group too, an…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-23:2036984:Comment:5095732014-04-23T18:19:04.251ZJBplusThuyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JonathanByrne
<p>I'm in your age group too, and a great fringe benefit of tubing is it does wonders for my knees. If you have stiff knees, you're going to love the float tube!</p>
<p></p>
<p>David has a lot of great info, so +1 to all of that, including about the waders. In spring/summer/early fall, I can be out all day in lightweight breathable waders and not feel cold at all, even in my old and somewhat leaky ones lol. Neoprene would be like a sauna in those conditions, I'm sure.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The setup…</p>
<p>I'm in your age group too, and a great fringe benefit of tubing is it does wonders for my knees. If you have stiff knees, you're going to love the float tube!</p>
<p></p>
<p>David has a lot of great info, so +1 to all of that, including about the waders. In spring/summer/early fall, I can be out all day in lightweight breathable waders and not feel cold at all, even in my old and somewhat leaky ones lol. Neoprene would be like a sauna in those conditions, I'm sure.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The setup I've been using is Creek Company lightweight strap-on fins over wading boots. The work, but the downside is the blades are kind of small, so propulsion isn't the great. The upside is that the step-in, strap-on design lets them fit over big wading boots, something most fins can't do. I'm planning to get a new tube this year, or maybe a pontoon, so will be looking at David's info closely myself. Hot Spot fins are a brand I was unaware of, will check them out for sure. Since I do live in SoCal, so maybe I can even get to see some in person.</p>
<p></p>
<p>If you use wading boots + waders, you'll find that your feet tend to be buoyant; if I just stop kicking and stretch my legs out, they'll float up enough that the fins break the surface; nice and restful.<br/><br/>Somebody also makes fins that are hinged so that you can fold the blades up for walking. Don't know how well they perform in the water, but it would sure make things easier on land, I guess.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Welcome to the tubing world!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Jonathan</p> Booties?? Back to Cabela's we…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-23:2036984:Comment:5095702014-04-23T17:03:53.416ZEarl W Storyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/EarlWStory
<p>Booties?? Back to Cabela's website!</p>
<p>Booties?? Back to Cabela's website!</p> Neoprene waders are good in t…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-23:2036984:Comment:5095692014-04-23T17:02:04.398ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
Neoprene waders are good in the cold water. Once summer hits, they will be a burden.<br />
Make sure you get booties, though, so once you chuck the waders, your fins will still fit!
Neoprene waders are good in the cold water. Once summer hits, they will be a burden.<br />
Make sure you get booties, though, so once you chuck the waders, your fins will still fit!