Puddingstone Lake is open

I found out sometime back Puddingstone Lake (Frank G. Bonelli Park) in San Dimas California has opened all waters to float tubing.  Now some of you might think ya so, but this is big there was only float tubing allowed in Sail Boat Cove, but now the whole lake is open to all float tubers.

The only draw back on this is that you have to launch from sail boat cove, so I hope you have some strong legs.  I have fishing Puddingstone many times, and I truly like Sail Boat Cove as a fishing location.  There is great structure all over the cove in that area, as well as areas that shore fishing is impossible.  But now with some an open lake tuber can venture out and try some new location to see what they might hold.  Of course please be safe the water skiers can give people a hard time.  So I am looking forward to getting out there and trying my luck in some new spot if you have already tried let us know how it went.

Buck Bag Float tubes

I have been float tubing for about 10 years and really never paid much attention to anything other than what I was using. Well now I am looking, and I wanted to show you the Buck Bag float tube. There are 5 different tubes to choose from and while they don’t look different than any other tube there is a big difference in the bag.
Most of the U-Shaped tubes do not have a cross bar to spread the front, instead they have a galvanized seat frame, relax the seat is padded for comfort. Some of the seat are also adjustable front and back and the they keep you higher out of the water than regular U- Shaped float tubes.
The cost of there products are from the mid $100’s to $400 + I would like to try the Mustang pictured hear on this blog. Does anyone out there have any experience with a Buck Bag float tube and if so let us know what you think. As always stay floating my friends.

I just found this online Catalog for buck bag product I think you will find it worth a look.

http://www.bucksbags.com/images/08.pdf

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

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

Float tubing is a chance to bond

I will be heading out to Perris Lake this next Sunday for a small Tournament (listed below in the tournament section). This is going to be my first tournament I have fished since I was a teenager. And even better than that is this it is going to be with my oldest son. I am so looking forward to this for us, I think this is a great opportunity for the two of us to bond and grow. See my son is now hitting his teen years, and in full swing I might add, most of you know what I mean, for me this is not easy as it is new for me. The only other teen I have ever dealt with was myself so how does one prepare for these years with there kids.
If you are a new parent let me say congratulations, and enjoy your life it will change, challenges are ahead. For those of you that have been through this before, help me please. OK it is not that bad all the time, but when there are moments like this (he wanted to go) I know I need to grab it and take it for what it is worth. We will set out on Sunday morning to try and hook up with as many bluegill and crappie as we can find, and to try and win this tournament for the 1st place pay-out.
But I will also be using this time to teach my son how to tube and why I find fishing and float tubing to be one of my favorite activities. Again, it's a great time to bond with my son while floating on the water catching fish. If he learns something that is a plus, and if he catch’s something, even a bigger plus. But just being there with him is the biggest plus of all. Perhaps one day when he starts his family he will understand why this tournament, if his son wants to fish with him might be one of the best tournaments of his life also. As always stay floating my friends and I will be posting pictures of our big day.

Reports from the water

This is for everyone to add to, I will start off. Ok I know that this is about float tubing, but even the best laid plans change. I could not make it out in my tube this weekend, so I hit up the local park Ralph B. Clark. Not much to report it was windy and noisy (you know parks on weekend).
What I would like to report is that I tried my black widow fly on the water today and it held together than I though. I tie my own flies, and this is one of my creations, so I gave it a toss today for the first time.
Again I caught nothing, but the bluegills were all over this fly, they were just to small to hook. Sorry the report was not more exciting, but there will be more trips. Please add you comments or blogs to this and let get things going. As always stay floating my friends.

Introduction about me and my idea

Hay there my name is Jeff and I live in Southern California. I am a fisherman of over 20 years and of the past 8 years I have had the joy of float tubing. This something I found as a kid and always wanted to try it, but could never get my father to get into it. so like I said about 8 years ago I bought my first tube and almost a soon as I had it out I had it in the waters of irvine lake.

I have to say my heart was racing, just a little nervouseness and, just pure excitment. I don't remember much after that, only that I could not wait to get back out on the water. Well I have had plenty of more trips scenes and tried many other lakes, but what about you.

Sign in and share your stores and your tips with the other people that well find there ways here. I would like to set up a place for other float tubers and belly boat fishermen and wemon to find other people that may be interested in the same things as the rest of us.

And maybe one day this will be a community of float tube and belly boaters from all over the U.S. I can see group meetings and trips and maybe a touny ot two in the future.

So please sign in and let us know what you think; stores, tips, tricks, or just try and find some one near you. I look forward to hearing from you, thanks and stay floating my freinds.