Finding a float tube for less

If you are looking for a first float tube and need to save some money or have very little to spend, it can be hard to find something. However I think a good place to start would be the Bass Pro Shop www.basspro.com and search for float tubes. The Bass Pro Shop has a White River Fly Shop brand that look to be worth a further inspection. The cost is under $80 and from what I can see has got some great reviews, and you can also compare them to the higher end float tubes out there. Yes most will say spend the money and you will be happier but I was and still am in the same boat as some, money is important so shop around and you maybe just as happy as everyone else on the water. Below are a few pictures of the White River Fly Shop float tubes I found on line.

Local park fishing fun

I was going to go float tube today 5/25, but I have never done well in the tube in over cast weather like we had today. So my father and I headed out to the local parks to try for some catfish. Well I don’t have pictures of the cat’s we caught, they were very small, but we did catch about 10 total. I just wanted to share a few pictures I got of the park lake near my house, let me know what you think.

Puddingstone Reservoir (San Dimes CA. Frank G. Bonelli Park)

So there is this lake that I like to tube when I have the chance, and the reasons I like are numerous. The lake is Puddingstone Reservoir and the reasons that I find it a great place to Float tubes is 1. It holds large Mouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Carp, Catfish, and stocked trout. 2. it’s not as expensive as others lake is in the area. 3. It is fairly quiet most often, other than the skiers in the summer or Memorial Day, it stays fairly quiet. 4. Fairly easy entrance for float tubing, right on the boat ramp with no boats in your way (sail boat cove is where you launch your tube.) 5. Final reason and sometime the most important reason for me being I have small kids it is with in 3om minutes of my home.

Yes sometimes it is more important to fish closer than where the fish are biting. Don’t get me wrong the fish are there and if you are good you will find them. I have seen some great bass fishing done there and I myself have done great with the Bluegill in that lake. When Float tubing the lake you are confined to Sail Boat Cove, but that is nit a bad thing as far as I can see, to me I feel it is one of the better spot to fish do to all the structure available to fish, i.e. sunken trees and rock piles in and around the cove.

A few years back I hooked in to something that took me for a ride out there in that cove, I never got a good look at it. It made its way to the shore and hung me up in a sunken tree, I normally enjoy fishing near structure like this but, at this point I was cursing it. From what I could see there was know why I would have been able to land this fish on my tube I am think it was maybe (don’t forget a fisherman and the one that got away story) about 15 lbs. or more. So I keep going back to see if to day is the day I hook into that fish again.

But all and all this is one of my favorite lakes to float tube and I feel one of the most float tube friendly lakes near me. So if you have any information to share about Puddingstone or would like to share a store please do so as always stay floating my friends.

Lacation: 120 Via Verde Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 (909) 599-8411. Boat Rentals (909) 599-2667. Camping and RV Reservations (800) 809-3778

PVC float tube rod rack plans.

I had spent a lot of time tiring to find some body to help me make my own rod rack. There were people out there to help but in the end I had to design my own. I found that it is not very hard to do in fact I had my completed in just under about 1 hour and made or of 1 1/2 “ PVC piping. So I thought that I would post here on my blog how to make the one that I use. This is a rough drawing of the rod rack laid out in pieces with some rough measurements. I think with some time and imagination this can be adapted to fit most float tubes or kick boat. If you have comments please leave them and if you have plans that you would like to share with others please let me know and we I will post it up here as well.

On-line freebie's

This is something else that I would like to share with everyone. If you know of any thing that can be posted as freebie's as well please let me know so that I can post it for other to use. Here is the first of I hope many free items that can be used for fishing.


http://www.bluelaketackle.com/elog/
I have been trying to keep a log of my fishing trip and have been putting this in a paper journal. It has worked for me but I wanted something I could use on the computer, so that it was easier to find spicfic day's or situations. The above link is that program and it is free to down load, let me know what you think.

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/media/printable-fishing-log.pdf

http://www.futurebass.com/LOG.pdf

These two are printable logs and in some respects I think these are better, you have a little more ability to describe what was going on. I have not tried yet but mabe you can alter the text to fit your need better before printing them out.

Reports from the Tube

Me and my son headed out to Puddingstone May 3rd to fish form our tubes. We got there about 9am and headed out for a 4 hour trip, in sail boat cove. There was not much being caught, the water was very stained and still pretty cold to the touch. My guess is that things will start happening out there very soon, with the warm weather we are having at the moment. Below are some pictures of our day.

My son First In, and Enjoying nature

1 of the 5 crappie caught, and a Good shot of the wildlife

Me fishing the tree line

Report on The U-Boat 2000

The Creek Company makes a float tube by the name the U-Boat 2000 and I would like to talk about it right now if you don’t mind. The other day I took my son out float tubing it was his second time fishing from a tube. I had recently bought a U-Boat 2000 because it was on sale, and I though hay a back up. So this was the madden voyage of our U-Boat 2000. First I would like to say I have had this tube for a few months and would not take it out myself; there is no stabilizer bar fro the front like I am use to. This main reason that I would not try it myself, I figure the weight of me would fold it in half. My son is lighter than I am so he could use it right.
At 7 am I am starting to worry that I made a bad choose in buying this and putting him in it and on the water. But he sat down and floated away with no problems that I could see. The Creek Company has a patient on the stabilization strap that I made sure was set well be for we hit the water. The strap crosses around the back of the main tube from right front end to left front end and when set right help to hold the buoy open. After asking if he enjoyed the ride he said he had no problems, he seemed to maneuver with ease and was able to get in and out with no trouble.
This I feel would make a great first time Float tube or the perfect tube for that fishing bud that you are raising. I have to say I will be trying this one for myself soon, but there are a few things I think need to be addressed. First there are only two large pockets on each side of the tube an my son also made the same remark. Storage is lacking, and I miss having a pocket above the back rest. This tube only has the back rest. Creek Company does make the original U-Boat 2000 with this added. I bought the U-Boat 2000 for about $50 and it came with fins and a double action pump. But the true cost is about $100 to $140 so keep you eyes open you may find it cheaper at the next store.

www.CreekCompany.com

The Prowler Float Tube by Outcast

Outcast is one hell of a float tube and pontoon boat company. I spent a little time going through there web site and I have to say the have a lot to choose from. I just came across there Prowler Float Tube. If money was not and issue I would be ordering it right now, but it is, so I won’t. I just wanted to share with all what I found, I may be behind the times, and most people may already know about this tube. If you have one or know things about it please share with us. If you own one I would like to hear what you have to say, and if I could try it out that would be cool (LOL).
So it is made by Outcast the same company that made the Fish Cat 4 series of float tubes that so many people have and enjoy. Because of this you know this has to be a quality product. It looks some what similar to the Fish Cat in that it have the pontoon style tubes on the side that draw to a point in the rear to help move you through the water with no resistance. I like that it can handle up to 325 lbs. “no I don’t weigh that much”, “Okay I am close,” but it can handle me and anything else that I add to it. The strip apron is an adjustable table to fit your needs and from the looks of it is very sturdy and usable. One of the coolest things thing I found on this was that it came with a 54 once hydration bladder on it, so you can go on long trips and not need to stop to re-hydrate.
Is that not cool, I think that is a great ideas, yes I know you could just go get your own camel back but it already has one. I had one other idea a built in catheter system so that you don’t nee to get out to pee. Ok that maybe going a little far, but all in all I like the look of this tube and I think for any float tuber looking for there next tube this maybe worth looking into. As always stay floating my friends.


http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/