7:30 am and the 3rd walker has noticed me and stopped with an inquisitive look, and yet again I hear what is that, what are you doing, are your legs in the water. These questions are so normal any more I don't even stop in my backcast to answer. Yet no matter how much time we spend in the water people cannot help but stop to find out more. I think people generally think I am crazy, but truth be told I think they are crazy. Why do you float tube what is it that makes you want more time on the water? I believe it lies in the 5 senses.
I have been float tube fishing for the last 20 years now, never as much as I would like but I do get out and enjoy my time when I do. When I was fresh out of high school my hobby was mountain biking, and then like now I have always had a smile on my face after a day immersed in my hobby. Think of your 5 senses which feed our soul all the outside stimuli we crave. The sights in most cases are very important and being on the water feed this need very well. The sunrise from most waters are just amazing, and there is why we do what we do.
watching the sunlight dance on the water. Me personally I love to look through the water to the world below, my mind is filled with unlimited possibilities as I soak in all the visual stimuli. The smells of the outdoors have always been a pleasure to me, and when I am floating on the water you are in the middle of all those smells. Smells lead to memories and when I am out there certain smells will trigger those memories from the past, of fish caught and good times spent with friends and families.
The sound of the water or the wind, are very instrumental in our absorbing the environment. Add to this the sound of the birds, wildlife, and the anticipation of hearing a fish break free of the water and return to the deep. These sounds help heighten your senses and keep you in a sense of calm excitement. Not many would agree that the taste of the outdoors would be a great thing but I say they have not experienced it as it should be. To start early in the morning and
get that taste of the salt in the air from the harbor we are float tube fishing, grounds you and give you the feeling of being one with your surroundings. This leaves us with only touch left and I hold this for last because the ultimate reward for a great day of float tube fishing is to have a chance to touch your objective. To be able to touch your reward the fish you are hunting is to make the moment real. To hold your catch up as a picture is taken is a reward within a reward. And even better yet with the chance to touch or hard work, we can let it go and hope to conquer it again sometime in the future. Why do I float tube, as you can see its to feed my soul through the 5
senses and because of the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and
touch I can never get enough and I always am looking for more. I hope you can join me someday as I am sure you will see that your soul is craving the same.
So we at the Float Tube Fishing Forum have been running a Float Tube Tournament Series for the last 2 years now. Things have gone very well and we will continue to work hard to improve and build this is to something big for the Float Tube Fishing World. Do you think you have what it takes to battle Float Tubers from all over the US, in a Tournament Series style platform? If you can do this come to the Float Tube Fishing Forum for more details and sign up for our June - September Tournament. Tell your friends and spread the word, because you know, the more competitors the more fun we will have.
So I was lucky enough to receive 3 kick boats from Seven Bass USA Design. They are currently selling 6 different tubes and the 3 I received represent the 3 different levels of tube they have available. The 3 boats I received where the Element, the Explorer, and the Flatform. I will in this thread review the EXplorer and the Flatform, as they are the 2 boats that we have had the privilege of putting on the water.
So let’s start with the Explorer, and explain the basics first. The boat comes complete and ready to go. You receive the boat, an inflatable seat, Motor Mount, Backpack straps, a crossbar, apron with a pocket in the apron, a foot pump, repair kit, and a carry bag for all. This boat is a bladderless float tube which is important to know as it is built very different than most float tubes. The outside boat material is a very thick rubber with heat sealed ends. This boat is built with the most amazing quality, you can see it when you first pull it out of the box.
So in preparing to get out on the water, I pre-inflate the boat at home which has to air chambers which are both pontoons as well as like said earlier the inflatable seat as well. All use the summit valve, which I believe have a very good feature we will talk about later. So when I am done inflating the Element I quickly notice that it has a pretty narrow profile. The boat itself is very lightweight and with the backpack straps very easy to transport to the water’s edge. Now for the test ride, and GT would be handling that part of the day. As per GT the float tube was built very well and he really liked the clipline and the fact that the bags were removable (sold separately). He mentioned to me the boat looked very fast as it is light and tight. The drawback was that it was narrow. This aspect would work great for a thinner smaller person but for me personally, I can see it would be hard for me to get in and feel comfortable in. That, of course, does not mean that it is an uncomfortable ride. While on the water GT mentioned that the seat did not feel good to sit on “too hard” which would lead to discomfort and ending the day sooner. But quick-fix simple release a little air to make it softer. After doing that on the water all was better for GT. Another issue was the crossbar it was tough to connect when on the water. Seven Bass said, “the key is to roll it in, and as you roll you pull back a bit and it pops in.“ I also feel that the more you connect it the easier it will become. The overall handling of the boat on the water seemed great as it glides through the water with ease, and keeps you high and dry. Cost is about $550 and weight capacity is 350 lbs. As far as how they stack up to what we have out here already there is not too much on the market like it, so it is in a class all its own. After discussing some of the concerns with Seven Bass the did mention that then the Expedition Kick Boat had a wider sitting area, it is called the Big Boy and can handle 400 lbs and runs for $600 with all the same supplies. I think this boat has its place here with individuals that can see its value over other boats we have here in the USA. I cannot express this enough I think the overall plus here is their quality, just plan top notch.
Now onto the Flatform I myself have had my eye on these tubes of kick boats for the last few years so to finally see one in person, I was impressed. The boat is about 6’ 7" tall and 4’ 4" wide with there air chambers. The boat is bladderless with a unique construction concept, called drop stitch. The drop stitch construction allows the boat to in flat (no bladders) but not round out simple hold its flat platform style. It does not look like the 2 side pontoons are drop stitch as they kind of round out some, but the largest chamber is flat which is the center and largest portion of the kick boat. The boat comes with a crossbar, a kayak type seat, a repair kit, a motor mount, large center scag, Oars and mounting hardware, a stand-up pump with a pressure gauge (important) and a carry bag for it all. A note; right off the bat this boat is heavy at 41 lbs. But with that being said once again you are struck with the overall quality and construction of the flatform and all Seven Bass Products for that matter.
So with the boat all inflated and ready to go I made two trips to the water one for the boat and the other to bring rods, fins, and side bags for tackle storage. If you are looking to backpack or have to carry your tubes a distance to get to the water this is an issue, but there still is the option to inflate at the water's edge. Not really an option for me but I feel it is important to note. Once I was ready I shoved off and I was quickly struck but its ease of movement in the water. There was no real effort to kick and turn, I was under the impression that it was going to be tough to move and turn but no not at all. Don’t get me wrong you can feel the extra weight but only slight it is not an issue and is far outweighed by its ability to move in the water. A concern that some people had was would it fight into tight spots for me into boat slips when needed. Yes it will I did slip into one boat slip to retrieve an errant cast and I was able to slide in between the dock and a smaller tied off boat. I backed in turned around and back out without hitting anything. The overall size will limit your ability to get into the tightest spots but you won’t lose this all together.
I was very comfortable on the flatform after I adjusted the kayak style seat to seat me back a little more. The flatform I would say is just like have the best of a kayak, a SUP Board, and a float tube. You have oars that work well (more on that in a moment) you have the ability to stand up on it. This is a great feature that I know has intrigued many, I did not attempt this but I am sure I will be testing this out soon. One thing I can see that is an issue is the oars, They are short and when in a strong current and wind, they don’t provide much movement for you. It is designed for you to pick up your legs out of the water and row, but I found that in the current and wind it was better for me to keep my legs in the water and kick while I rowed. The best features it posses like a float tube is the fact that you can deflate it and store very easily. Plus it can also be packed into the trunk of a car and transported to your favorite lakes and bays and inflated on the spot. The Flatform is in my eye one of the top performers when it comes to Float Tube / Kick Boats. Over the years I have used quite a few and I feel this one is on the top of the list for me. The Flatform retails at $1199 and is worth every penny, it is about 6’ 7" tall and 4’ 4" wide and is very stable and maneuverable. It comes with oars although I because the oars are small they don’t provide and strong rowing ability I still like having them as they can add you to getting out of some bad situations when needed. The Flatform can hold an impressive 450 lbs and while heavy at 41 lbs still has a great some great agility on the water. I think I have found my new favorite float tube.
There will be some more testing and reviewing going on with the Seven Bass Kick Boats, and in time I am sure we will push them to there edge. They have asked us to point out any downsides so that they can address them for the U.S. market as they continue to grow. I have been waiting for the last 3 years to test out their products and I can say so far they have not disappointed. Expect to see more from Seven Bass in the future quality product will always find their niche and Seven Bass will find there very quickly.
There newest float tube is a upgrade from there Caddis Pro 2000. This new product looks to be very similar to the Pro 2000 but there are some big differences between the both of them. The top and pockets are made of heavy-duty rip stop material and heavy duty Tarpaulin bottom to reduce resistance in the water and protect against punctures and wear. All critical seams are double stitched. Foam seat and adjustable backrest sits you above the water for less drag and warmer days of fishing. Storage features include two large and two small pockets, front rod holder straps, two dry fly patches and cargo area behind seat. Custom Boston Valves and bladder-to-cover attachment points make filling and deflating your Premier Plus easy. Also includes florescent safety accents behind the seat, stabilizer bar and stripping apron and D-Rings for shoulder straps. The maximum weight capacity on this float tube is 325 lbs. This is a weight increase of almost 100 lbs from the Pro 2000. The seat or back rest appears to have been made a little taller which is a great improvement over the Pro 2000. I would also like to point out that the two pontoons are now attached unlike the Pro 2000 create better stability in the water. I had a Pro 2000 and I will say it is a good way to get in to a stadium seated type float tube. There was a lot lacking in the Pro 2000 and it looks as if they have addressed some of these issue. The tube sells for $200 which again is not a bad price for a decent entry level float tube of this quality. I have not heard any reviews on this float tube as of yet. If looks are any indication it should have some pretty good reviews.
We have been running our forum for about 5 years now and have been growing like crazy. The Float Tube Fishing Forum, is now I feel in the for front of this unique fishing activity. If you are a tuber or love to get out on your Pontoon, or maybe you have been thinking of trying then you need to join our forum The Float Tube Fishing Forum. We hold occasional friendly gatherings and run giveaway contests for great prizes and enjoy helping others to learn the in's and out's of float tube fishing. So check us out at www.floattubeforum.com
The ODC 420 by Creek Company I have now had the pleasure using one and I will say I was very happy to finally use one. This is the tube I have wanted since I first started tubing, and I was not disappointed. I have now had a chance to ride in quite a few float tubes and this one comes second on my list as far as quality and us ability.
The ODC 420 is a great tube for the money, it rides very high in the water and is very comfortable to sit in for hours on end. The pluses are as I stated above including the PVC coating under the tube witch is very a nice thing to add to a tube.
There are some down sides to this tube as I stated it is now second on my list as top quality float tubes. The down sides are the valves are in the pockets, which is rough, because to get to the valves you need to move all the gear to the side or take it out of the pocket. This is just a pain but not a really bad issue. The other issue I see at least for me, is my legs rub on the inside of the tube so it seem to be slightly narrow for the inside diameter.
Over all the tube is very comfortable and tracks great in the water, you can spend along time on the water and take most everything you need for a simple day of fish. And the cost is just right a great deal can be had as well if you wait for one of the many sales Creek Company has going on. If you are in the market for a new float tube I do suggest you take a look at the ODC 420 it will be worth your time and would make a great tube for most anyone.
Over on our Forum we are getting ready to have a gathering, which is just a chance for us to get together and fish as a group. Also an opportunity to pass out all the donation from tackle companies Big Hammer, Pro-Cure, and The FTFF tackle store just to name a few of our sponsors and partners. There might be a few others companies joining in as well only time will tell.
At this point there is about 17 members of the site all meeting up at the Southern California Location (you will need to become a member to learn date time and location.)
I just wanted to post this up so that we could let everyone know what we have going on over at the Float Tube Fishing Forum. If you would like to join in the fun please sign up at http://floattubeforum.do-talk.com/forum and start posting. There will be more to come so keep checking back and see what else we have going on.
Ok so I have not been to this blog for sometime and I am sorry for that. I have been working on to other sites of mine http://www.customrod.webs.com and http://floattubeforum.do-talk.com.The Float Tube Fishing Forum is my newest endever and so far it is slowly growing.I have worked on partners and sponsors and have a few deals for my members ranging from 15% to 25% off of tackle and lures for members and affiliation programs hoping to bring money into the forum in time.
So as far as float tubing goes for me I have been doing alot of tubing in Newport Harbor and The LAB as well not to much freshwater fishing. Just end up being cheeper then paying to get in to the lakes. There have been some good fish but more just learning than anything.I di get a newer tube recently it is a Kennebec TU float tube very similar to my Gallatin TU except there is a seat in this one.I will be posting a review very soon, but let me say I like it alot so far got it off of craigslist for $70 only used twice.Well happy holiday to everyone and have a safe New Year, check me out at http://floattubeforum.do-talk.com/ and I will be back to the blog to see what else I cam share with everyone.
