Float Tubes

[Chris Krikorian]

Hi,

I have a few questions about float tubes.

Can you were smimming shoes(thin) instead of wading shoes with fins that are supposed to be worn with wading shoes?

Doesn't water seep into wading shoes and can't this be very annoying if you are in cold water?

Is it very hard and dangerous to smim with waders and wading shoes+fins on if you had to for some reason.

What happens if you flip by accident with a standard tube. What about a U tube. Is their a safety strap that frees you from the tube or something?

What is the purpose of a life jacket when tubing because if you flip I don't think it will help. And is a u tube safer than a round one? thanks

[Chris]

bump

[WAeyes]

I like to wear a cheap pair of tennis shoes over my neoprene waders which slip into the fins. Make sure you get atleast 1 size larger to fit over the stocking foot waders. I have a round tractor tire tube that I use. I am told by many that they are safer than the plastic U-boats. If you get a leak with the plastic it is likely to deflate much faster than a heavy duty rubber tire. On the other hand having the big inner tube in front of you on the round one really causes your arms to tire out when casting because you have to hold your reel higher up over the tube. I have never felt close to flipping and I never go out on a rough day. It is too hard to paddle against a strong wind. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with about float tubes.

[Starfish]

Ditto all WAeyes answers-- I use almost the same setup for similar reasons, and, coincidentally, in some of the same waters. Anyway, you asked about getting water in your shoes-- remember, your stocking foot waders keep the water away from your feet so there's no discomfort. Also, if you flip over, a life vest keeps your torso from sinking straight under the tube. You'll still be lying on your back with your legs tangled up, but it's much less urgent for you to slide your legs out.

WAeyes mentioned discomfort from a high wrist position due to the round tube instead of U-tube. I find that it's a trade-off between some wrist discomfort in a round boat-- very real; I bring both a spinning rod and a casting rod so I can switch hands when my wrist tires-- and upper-arm pain from holding your arm suspended in a U-tube. Both have advantages and drawbacks.

[Gunga Din]

I bought my float tube while I was in college, and now that I have a nice boat I find that the float tube is still fun to use. Though now I typically only use it while floating the Green River. The Green where I fish it is a cold, clear river with its flow controlled by the output of the Flaming Gorge dam. So to float it safely and comfortably you need to be warm, dry, and safe.

As stated, you need chest waders, and I would only go out with neoprene waders because they float. Also, I use a 5mm thickness, so they're warmer that some of the thin ones available. I wear wading shoes because I frequently stop and fish shallow ripples (neoprene waders have a stocking foot to keep your feet dry, but you need a shoe to wear over them).

As covered in a recent post, don't skimp on the fins. There are some good designs that provide power and maneuverability--I wouldn't wear a scuba diving fin. Also, the Green River requires that you take a spare fin and wear a life jacket. I've seen pontoon boats flip backwards upside down in some rapids.

If you flip, you could release the buckle in the seat, or just swim out underneath. The u-shaped tubes are nice because they're easier to get in and out of. After a day in a tube I've fallen on my face trying to get out of my tube. I don't think you'd buy a u-tube because it's safer, but because the ease of entry/exit.

Lastly, strap your pole to your tube when going through rapids. I had a friend once go through the first set of rapids on the Green, camera held high in one hand the rod held high in the other so they wouldn't get wet. He almost tipped and wound up dropping his rod. He had to float the rest of the river not being able to fish.

It's a lot of fun--go for it!

[Chris Krikorian]

My main question is can can you swim with neoprene waders and fins if you had to? Wouldn't water fill your waders and cause you to sink or drown? I know some of them have a belt device but that does not look like it would work well.

[Steve(CO)]

Cinch your belt up tight around the waders and you really don't get a lot of water down your waders. You8 might be wet, but you don't "fill up." And yes, you could swim just fine. The fins would help in that regard. Just lie on your back and kick your way to shore, if necessary.

[WAeyes]

If you want to know what it would really be like to have your waders submerged then go out in some shallow water and lay down in them and try to swim and move around. This is the only way you will know for sure. Don't let this issue keep you from float tubing, accidents can happen anywhere land or water, in a boat or in a car. If you wear a life jacket and also have a separate backrest bladder you should always have something to keep you afloat.

[Fin Addict]

It's actually the opposite. the waders will float and pull your feet up. This makes it tough to keep your head up if you do not wear a life jacket. If you wear a life jacket on top, you will float very nicely.

[WAeyes]

Gunga Din is correct on ease of entrance being better with a u-boat. I learned the hard way on how to get in and out of my round float tube with fins on, I still have a scar on me leg from falling onto some cement stairs going into the water. Another tip is to tie a strap from your tube to your rod handle while fishing...don't ask! Still yet, it is best to slightly dehydrate yourself before you go out, unless you don't mind going in your waders...I prefer the dehydration thing!!!

[mlc]

Hi Chris. Tubing is a very special way to enjoy fishing. It is the first "water craft" that I could afford. My new boat will not replace my tube, it will just add another dimension to fishing.

The above posts are right-on concerning safety. I've never fished a river from a U-boat or tube style model. I personally do not recommend it. They are for still water. If you do fish rivers I would move to a pontoon style, or a "Water Master" make. To put things in perspective, I purchased my first insul-dri model in '73 and have never come close to turning over, even in very rough water. The funniest thing I have seen happened in Utah while attending college. Some of us were fishing a popular lake for trout. One of the guys decided to clean a couple of fish while out in the middle of a large bay. A stupid mistake with his knife put a 4" slice in his tube. Luckily, the air pressure is rather low in tubes and he was able to hold his hand over the splice and make it back to shore without consequences.

Enjoy!

mlc

[hockeybum66]

Chris,

I fish 95% of the time out of my tube. When the water is cold 55 and below, I wear sweatpants and/or thermals under. I also wear two pairs of socks to keep the toes toasty. In terms of turning over in the tube, the life vest will keep you afloat and get you to shore. I have had three different tubes and all have been safe. the things I have to ALWAYS be aware of is the idiots on jet skis, and the weather. I have been caught in the wrong spot when an opposite wind has forced me to paddle to shore and walk back to my car. On that note, get a good pair of wadding boot with lug soles just incase you have to do some hiking.

So far, the tube i have now which is a pontoon style is the best. It is like sitting in a lounge chair and fishing. I have a u-boat in the garage and enjoyed it also.

I would not trade my float tube for anything, It is a great way to enjoy some peace and quiet on the water.

[Gunga Din]

Where did you go to school? What lake was it?

[mlc]

Went to the U of U.

Good old Strawberry, before they commercialized the place.

Are you getting some pre-spawn activity down south of Spanish Fork? I left before that lake was established as a walleye fishery. I learned to fish for walleye on Utah Lake and the Provo River. Willard also. Went to high school just south of you(PGHS).

BTW, I learned to fly fish back in the early 70's when Gene Snow, Byron and Emmett were working the early Angler's Inn. I think Emmett is guiding for a living on the Green. I learned fly tying and casting from Emmett.

Take care,

mlc

[Gunga Din]

I'm a BYU grad myself, but I grew up in Texas and Arkansas. I fished Strawberry quite a bit from my float tube. Now, with downriggers and graphs, you can limit out daily in a few hours. Even my kids get tired of catching Strawberry trout. However, it has a good Kokanee population now, so that's the only reason I'll go there, other than to take a friend who wants to go there. I live in Alpine, so I good views overlooking Utah Lake.

Utah Lake is popular for walleye during the spawn, but that's it. The rest of the time they're tough to locate. The regular spots are the Provo harbor, Lincoln Beach, the Geneva bubble-up, and Bird Island. The SF River inlet does okay. The rivers are closed this time of year, and the rest of the time there are closely regulated snagging laws.

Deer Creek also has good walleye, and holds the state record. But Yuba is the hot spot. It has good structure and fishes excellent all summer. Yuba also has huge perch, but they're waning due to the walleye population increase. Starvation has a good population too--in fact there are so many small ones in there that last summer they gill netted tons of them and destroyed them. Willard and Powell don't produce much.

The Green River is as commercial as ever. Now, it's controlled by the guides and they don't like us float tubers fishing their holes. Dennis Breer is the main information resource for the Green. But the fishing is better than ever. They featured one of those guys you mentioned recently on the local outdoors show, he was fighting a battle with some disease. Can't remember his name, but he was one of the early guides for the Green.