06-13-2003, 01:57 AM
[cool]Actually, "big macks" are wimps compared to some saltwater fish. There have been several macks over 40 pounds landed from float tubes. But, there are many varieties of inshore saltwater and reef fishes that can kick your gluteus maximi (butt cheeks) even though only 1/4 that size.
The problem with trying to power big fish from a donut is that you just don't have the "lift" you get while firmly planted on a boat. It takes only a few pounds of pull to haul the angler over forward into the water. Hooking a big fish on stout tackle, with a hammered down drag will either get you up on plane...on your fins...or pull you right out of your tube.
That being said, I have handled some big fish from a tube or a 'toon. But, it takes skill and a knowledge of your tackle and how to set the drag and how much you can get away with. In a whole lotta cases, I have locked my rod in the right position, leaned back at just the right angle and let the fish tow me around. It really shakes up the power squadron when they see a float tube leaving a wake, under full power and a bent rod.
But, back to macks, there have been several over 40 landed in Utah, on Flaming Gorge. And, I know of a couple of float tubing safari's to Great Slave Lake, in the Yukon (I think), where big macks are in fairly shallow water all year. I heard there was at least one mack over 50 taken from a float tube on those expeditions. They also got into some twenty to thirty pound northern pike. I don't think I would want those slimy, toothy critters climbing in my craft with me.
If you wanna see a couple of pics of other fishies I don't wanna play with, while dunkin my donut, check this link on the Utah board:
[size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=49125"]Freshwater Fishing Records[/url][red] [/red][/size]
[size 1]Post #5 [/size]
TubeDude
[signature]
The problem with trying to power big fish from a donut is that you just don't have the "lift" you get while firmly planted on a boat. It takes only a few pounds of pull to haul the angler over forward into the water. Hooking a big fish on stout tackle, with a hammered down drag will either get you up on plane...on your fins...or pull you right out of your tube.
That being said, I have handled some big fish from a tube or a 'toon. But, it takes skill and a knowledge of your tackle and how to set the drag and how much you can get away with. In a whole lotta cases, I have locked my rod in the right position, leaned back at just the right angle and let the fish tow me around. It really shakes up the power squadron when they see a float tube leaving a wake, under full power and a bent rod.
But, back to macks, there have been several over 40 landed in Utah, on Flaming Gorge. And, I know of a couple of float tubing safari's to Great Slave Lake, in the Yukon (I think), where big macks are in fairly shallow water all year. I heard there was at least one mack over 50 taken from a float tube on those expeditions. They also got into some twenty to thirty pound northern pike. I don't think I would want those slimy, toothy critters climbing in my craft with me.
If you wanna see a couple of pics of other fishies I don't wanna play with, while dunkin my donut, check this link on the Utah board:
[size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=49125"]Freshwater Fishing Records[/url][red] [/red][/size]
[size 1]Post #5 [/size]
TubeDude
[signature]