02-16-2005, 12:43 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Man, if I had a quick and acceptable answer to that question, I could have retired rich a long time ago. Tubing and "calls of nature" are two things that do not go together well. It is an indelicate subject, and I hope we don't offend anyone by dealing with it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TN2 gave some good advice. It all comes down to a basic law of human physiology: WHAT GOES IN, MUST COME OUT. Although, I have never been able to figure out how a 12 oz. container of your favorite liquid intake can quickly turn into at least a gallon of "bilge water"...especially when you have just kicked your way out to your honey hole and the fish are biting.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Forget all of the contraptions and contrivances (like the Gladder Bladder) that supposedly allow you to "take care of business" while afloat. They are just something else to "catch fishermen". When confronted with "urgency", you have only three choices: 1. Do the right thing and head for the head (shoreline "comfort station"). 2. Go to shore and get well away from the water line before "downloading" (environmentally concerned). 3. If you are in a craft (like a pontoon) in which you can lower the front of your waders...well, you get the idea.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Perhaps more importantly than a solution to urgency on the water is planning ahead. Most of us know at least a few hours before leaving that we are going to go afloat. That allows us to consciously restrict our liquid intake. It may seem like a great sacrifice to not finish off that six pack the night before an early morning tubing trip, but your bladder will appreciate it. Similarly, even though you may think you can't function without that morning coffee, you will be happily surprised at how much longer you can stay out fishing before you have to download, if you do not start the morning off with a giant cup of Joe.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most of us tubers do it automatically, but I am amazed at how many floatation fishermen fail to make a "pit stop" before launching. Hey, even if it has only been an hour since you left home, that last "drain" can buy you some time.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In addition to the pharmacological input from TN2, let me add that biological forces work against us tubers too. First of all, the physical exercise of launching and kicking around in the water work the muscles and make the kidneys function harder to clean the lactic acid and other chemicals of muscle activity from our systems. When the air and water temps are cold, our bodies need to produce more warmth, and that means oxidizing more nutrients...producing more waste...and creating more "output".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That was a whole bunch of words (as usual) just to say that there is no way to completely avoid the "need to bleed" while tubing, but you can minimize the problems with proper planning...and by paying attention when Mother Nature issues her first warning. As we all discover, some things do not improve with age, and will not go away if you ignore them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If this was not a family forum, I might divulge how I used to use plastic bags (to protect the environment), and then lobbed them at boats or water skiers that got too close while I was tubing. But, since this is a "refined" audience, I won't mention it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]TN2 gave some good advice. It all comes down to a basic law of human physiology: WHAT GOES IN, MUST COME OUT. Although, I have never been able to figure out how a 12 oz. container of your favorite liquid intake can quickly turn into at least a gallon of "bilge water"...especially when you have just kicked your way out to your honey hole and the fish are biting.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Forget all of the contraptions and contrivances (like the Gladder Bladder) that supposedly allow you to "take care of business" while afloat. They are just something else to "catch fishermen". When confronted with "urgency", you have only three choices: 1. Do the right thing and head for the head (shoreline "comfort station"). 2. Go to shore and get well away from the water line before "downloading" (environmentally concerned). 3. If you are in a craft (like a pontoon) in which you can lower the front of your waders...well, you get the idea.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Perhaps more importantly than a solution to urgency on the water is planning ahead. Most of us know at least a few hours before leaving that we are going to go afloat. That allows us to consciously restrict our liquid intake. It may seem like a great sacrifice to not finish off that six pack the night before an early morning tubing trip, but your bladder will appreciate it. Similarly, even though you may think you can't function without that morning coffee, you will be happily surprised at how much longer you can stay out fishing before you have to download, if you do not start the morning off with a giant cup of Joe.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most of us tubers do it automatically, but I am amazed at how many floatation fishermen fail to make a "pit stop" before launching. Hey, even if it has only been an hour since you left home, that last "drain" can buy you some time.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In addition to the pharmacological input from TN2, let me add that biological forces work against us tubers too. First of all, the physical exercise of launching and kicking around in the water work the muscles and make the kidneys function harder to clean the lactic acid and other chemicals of muscle activity from our systems. When the air and water temps are cold, our bodies need to produce more warmth, and that means oxidizing more nutrients...producing more waste...and creating more "output".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That was a whole bunch of words (as usual) just to say that there is no way to completely avoid the "need to bleed" while tubing, but you can minimize the problems with proper planning...and by paying attention when Mother Nature issues her first warning. As we all discover, some things do not improve with age, and will not go away if you ignore them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If this was not a family forum, I might divulge how I used to use plastic bags (to protect the environment), and then lobbed them at boats or water skiers that got too close while I was tubing. But, since this is a "refined" audience, I won't mention it.[/#0000ff]
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