Float tube fins

[Chris Krikorian]

I'm about to buy my first float tube and I need to get fins as well. I most likely will only be tubing when the water is warm and I do it in very clean and nice water. My question is do I need to buy flippers specifically for tubing or can I buy the ones used for swimming? What will be the advantages and disadvantages. Another question is can you wear fins(flippers) that are specifically for tubing withought having wading shoes (just bare feet or swimming shoes)? Thanks

[Gunga Din]

Sounds to me like you're trying to pinch pennies. Bite the bullet and buy the right stuff to begin with and you'll be much happier, successful, and safe. For starters, I wouldn't do it without neoprene waders, because water absorbs body heat fast. And once you have the waders the tube fins fit over your wading boot. These fins are good for helping you move around. A scuba diving fin will fit over wader booties, but are designed more for propulsion and not for tube control.

Do it right the first time, as it's all designed to work together (tubes, tube fins, & waders). Some bodies of water require a life vest and a spare flipper, so beware.

[rngrfshm]

Ginga is correct, Some of the best starter fins are the caddis and some of the most functional are the force fins. They have the greatest amount of lift for the fin. Another good set of fins are the turtle fins with great water displacement. I have all three sets and all seem to work great. The caddis is a great starter at about 30.00 and the force are around 90.00 for them. Turtle fins run around 50.00 or so. The Turtle Fins float. Madison river Catalog has them as well as cabelas, Hook and Hackle, Dan Baileys and others. Dont skimp as you will only end up buying the right stuff in the long run anyway. Fly fishing for all species is really fun and exciting. Email me if you have any questions. I am a board member of a state fly fishing club here and possibly can help out with questions.


1) www.cabelas.com
2) www.hookhack.com
3) www.mrfc.com
4) www.dan-bailey.com
5) www.urban-angler.com
6) www.westbank.com

Hope this helps.

[Clancy]

Force Fins are the way to go, although a little spendy. You will appreciate the power that this type of fin has when a lightening storm is coming over the mountain and you are sitting in the middle of the lake. I use neoprene wading booties over stocking foot waders, instead of wading shoes. Better insulation cold in cold water, not as heavy as shoes, and enable you to wade or walk the bank without risk of puncturing the foot of your waders. Make sure you get saftey straps if you go with the Force Fins. Unless they have changed the design in the last few years, they sink if they fall off.