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.
I was recently asked why would you choose a standard float tube or a Hybrid float tube. Here is was I said for a response.
I believe that it is really up to the individual and their personal needs and wants. I can see that is a fisherman that float tubes a few times a year would see value in a basic bladder type float tube. You would not have to spend a lot really under $200 and you are in a great tube that will do great.
But if you are like me and when you fish it is from a float tube then they hybrids are the boats you should be looking for. They are pricy, but you know the old saying you get what you pay for. They Hybrid boars have no bladders and are made of PVC or Hypolone materials. They are long lasting materials so if you take care of them they will last you for years to come.
This is just the basic and there is more to this than this but, simple food for thought here guys are you a die-hard tuber. Or are you just the type of fisherman that loves to break out a tube for the trout opener and maybe once or twice more for the year. Once you understand this about yourself you can make a better choice Standard or hybrid.
If you have any questions or want to know more come check us out at the Float Tube Fishing Forum
That is right the Maxxon XPW 240 is on sale for $999 that is a $300 savings. Not sure how long this will last so you don't want to miss out on this sale. The Maxxon XPW 240 is one amazing inflatable watercraft that will last you years to come and keep you safe in the water. I have been using it now for the past year and I can safely say it is one of the very best float tubes out there.
If you are interested in purchasing the XPW 240 you can contact us at the Float Tube Fishing Forum ( floattubefishingforum73@gmail.com ). We at the FTFF are also offering a Layaway program that will help you break up the payments. Reach out to us to find out more.
This one of the most common questions on our forum and what people ask me is what type of fins should I be using. That is a tough question to answer or is it. Here is my thought, after 20 years of float tube fishing I can say this get a pair that fit and use them. The more important question is what type of waders are you using. Boot waders require a specific type of fin and stocking foot waders a different type. The following video cover the basic's that you need to know and as mentioned in the video Muscle Memories is something we don't take into account.
Here is the video and explanation on how to mount your fishfindermounts.com system on your hybrid float tube. I was lucky enough to be able to add mine to my Maxxon XPW 240 here is how to do it and some pictures of how it turned out.
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.
It is that time of year everyone the holidays are here and it is also time for us to reflect on all the good things in our lives. While you do your reflection, lets make sure we have take time to think about all those kids that don't have it as good as we do. Or maybe you were one of those kids and remember what it was like to not have much around the Holidays. Well here is our chance to once again make a difference in one of those kids life.
This is our 4th year running our FTFF Toy Drive, where we collect toys from our members and the public to donate to the Spark of Love in December. We have had a great time over the years and this year is going to be no different. There are to events open to the public, one is held in Newport Harbor, and the other is in Lake Perris. Both events are being run in early December and all information can be found in the attached flyer, and on our forum. You can also e-mail me with any questions (jeffcpr@hotmail.com)
I have searched and searched and have never found a magazine that was all about Float Tube Fishing. So if you cannot find it then I guess you have to create it. So that is what I decided to do, and it worked out pretty good. The first issue that was published on line has done well with over 46,000 view so far. I am working on the next issue right now and it will be ready in September. Here is the first issue and stay tuned for the next issue.
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.
Sorry I have been away from the blog for some time now and have been working on my forum. Well I had to stop by and share this deal with everyone. http://www.coverbonanza.com/ has a U-Boat float tube for sale, it is called the Spinfly float tube, it is an entry level float tube, but an very good deal if you are looking for your first ride. The Tube sells on for $49.95 http://www.coverbonanza.com/ and they have plenty of other great tubes to choose from, as well as fins and double action pumps.
Again the Spinfly is not for the advanced tuber, but is for those just looking to try float tubing out, or maybe a back up or an extra tube for you son or daughter to get out on the water with you. Also we are on the Float Tube Fishing Forum getting ready to hold 2 different on line contests to give away 2 of these Spinfly float tubes. So if you would like to play along join up with the forum and maybe you will win one to try out for yourself.
Ok it has been some time scenes I have posted here on my blog, and I would like to let you know way. I have been working on building custom rods for some customers, been working hard (very glad I just have a job) and finally I would like to post up that I have started a forum. this forum is dedicated to float tube fishing of all kinds and all locations. http://floattubeforum.do-talk.com/
First of all it has been fun building, it is just a free site but I have learned a lot already, not that there is not more to learn. I have gathered a few sponsors, partners and affiliates. For member of the Float Tube Fishing Forum you will receive discounts of up to 25% from some of our sponsors and others will be sending sample lures for me to past out to members as well.
Our affiliates are Bass Pro Shop and West Marine and order through our site link will result in money back to the forum. My goal is to one day be able to purchase my domain and no longer be a free forum. Of course that would mean that I was making money with the forum.
As for now I am just looking for members to join up and start sharing with others let us know what is going on in your waters. Meet some new friends in your area that maybe able to meet up with you and start some fishing groups of your own.
http://floattubeforum.do-talk.com/ stop by and take a look it is free to join and it will be fun the more people we get involved in this forum. Also the next 3 members that join will receive a free sample of Alluring Baits so what are you waiting for become a members today.
