Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[troutbreath]

Was thinking of getting a float tube for a trip were I can't bring much weight, but will be fishing some rivers of slow to moderate flow. Anyone had experience with this. I read on some float tubes it says not to use them on rivers, are they that sluggish that you can't fin them out of harms way? I have a pontoon boat but it's like 57 pounds (but has beer holder) so I may drag that along. I've used those cheepo vinyl rafts on class 3 rapids so I'm no slouch to fast water. Just didn't want to look like a goof in one of those vinyl's while I'm holding up trophy fish.

[Rp3Flyfisher]

I used a float tube in a few rivers, BE VERY CAREFUL if you plan on doing this.

I floated the Nicola a few years back and that was nuts, as well I floated the Skagit all the way to Ross lake (8 Hours) and would NEVER do it again. I ended up walking with the tube more than floating. My A** was soooooooo sore at the end from hitting it on the bottom.

I would highly recommend that you re-think the Idea of floating a river, unless it is a VERY slow moving one.

Just my 2 cents

Rick

[coryandtrevor]

Troutbreath,

Be very cautious if you do. If you do it, buy a Outcast FishCat or similar style boat. The others would be a death trap. If you flipped in a round boat or one with a stabilizer bar, you would have a hard time getting free of it if an accident happened and your waders filled to the waist. Basically like a Drennan, floating down the river a** over tea kettle. I got lucky when I bailed my FishCat on the Skagit. I was able to get free of the boat and cling to the trees but with a different boat I could have easily drowned. 

Of course I wringed my stuff out and kept on goin. It was fun as hell, and I will never forget it. 

[troutbreath]

Thanks for the advice.

I was going to get the open ended type as I wouldn't want to be trapped in the round one. It will be early May and the water is probably a bit cool for dipping into. Looks like I'll bring the pontoon and pay the extra poundage. Or I'll make a raft out of empties.