Hey Float Tubers!!

Float Tube Fishing Float Tubing General
1

Hey guys ! First post here , been a long time lurker on the ‘Float Tube’ part of the message board …

I too , am here for some mild advice on my first float tube . I’ve been thinking about it for over two years , and have been doing non-stop research on where to buy one , which to buy , and how much to spend .

I’m a student , so I’ve been trying to keep costs to a minimum, but I don’t want to buy a craft that will make me unhappy before its first summer is done .

Right now at the top of my list is the Creek Co. ODC 420 , it looks like an awesome craft , and that’s the feedback Ive been getting from all of those who have one .

Second on the list is a Caddis Pro 2000 (from e-bay) , that usually goes for about 80 USD , similar design that allows you to stay dryer and higher , but I think the Caddis isn’t as well built as the ODC , I don’t know why I think that , but I do .

Those are really the only two crafts I’m interested in at the moment , I have about 100 USD to spend on the entire purchase , with shipping and all that other good stuff … fins and waders I can buy separately no problem , and of course , PVC rod-holder systems to trick-out the float tube , hehe I love the pics I see here !

What I plan to do , is , either wait until the ODC 420’s go on sale like they did at around Christmas , or try to get one for the sale price through different means .

ORRR!!

Maybe if one of you guys has a spare tube that is usable , doesn’t leak , is of no use to you , and you can let go of for less than retail , I can get it off of ya ?

Anyhow , I think this is a long enough post for a first post

Just sayin hello ! :slight_smile:

Greg

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Hiya Greg. Welcome aboard!

-ABT-

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:sunglasses:Welcome aboard. Hope we can help you to become a full-fledged tubaholic.

First…Caddis. I have owned several Caddis craft over the years and have found them to be a good value for the investment. However, as you surmise, they are not the “quality standard” of the industry. Another consideration is that the Caddis company is no longer making or supporting float tubes. It has eliminated float tubes from its line and makes only pet products now. Most Caddis craft being sold in stores or online are the last you will see and when they are gone there will only be used ones available. However, there are some good prices on the closeout models.

If you are a serious angler, and if you think you will get a fair amount of use from the float tube you buy, then do what you have to do in order to be able to buy the one you want. Don’t just settle for what you can afford at the time. You will probably always regret it if you do not buy quality. One of my favorite sayings in business is “It is better to spend a little bit more than you wanted to…than not quite enough.”

As you have picked up from reading our ramblings, the ODC 420 is held in high regard by our members who have bought and used them. I plan to get one myself, after having used a Super Fat Cat for over two years…at twice the price.

You did not include your area of residence in your profile. I do not know if you live in or near a large city, but if you do then watch for the boat shows and sportmans shows that usually make the rounds in the early part of the year. They are good places to find new models and good prices. I have seen introductory models of some really good tubes and 'toons go for half price at a show.

Also, some state BFT boards have local buy and sell boards. We also have a national board where you can either list what you have for sale, or post that you are looking for something…like an inexpensive used float tube.

LINK TO BUY AND SELL

Stay in touch and let us know if we can help you with anything.

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Hey guys thanks for the warm welcome .

You are definately right , I shouldn’t cheap out if I plan to use the tube alot , but the problem is , I don’t think I will use it all too often !!

What I think I will do is wait for the summer , see what kind of schedule I have , how many days a week I get out , and how often I go to a place where a tube is applicable . If I notice that a tube is a must for me because that spot is just so good and I go there often etc etc , I will jump right on the wagon and get the ODC 420 for whatever it costs .

If I notice that I only go once or twice a month to a spot that a tube is ‘recommended’ for , then , well , maybe I’ll get a cheap one or maybe none at all .

Quick question for you professionals !

Those tubes in which you sit basically outside the water, I notice that they don’t have the horizontal bar that prevents you from sliding into the water ! Do you guys ever run into a situation where , you are literally sliding slowly or quickly into the water and you have to think fast and pull yourself back up , or the seats are built in such a way that that problem doesn’t occur ?

I should mention that I’m from Toronto / Ontario / Canada , I primarily fish bass/pike/carp in the summer , but sometimes I go for other species as well . Carping off a float tube , now there’s a fun experience eh !

I’ll keep looking around for a deal … there’s a “spring fishing show” coming up in february , I don’t expect to see many float tubes , because tubers are a clear minority up here in canada , but hey , if what you say is true , and I end up catching a sick introductory deal , you bet ill jump on it !!

There’s also a sportsmans show , about one or two months after the spring fishing show , if anything , I expect to see more tubes THERE , than the spring fishing show , but we shall find out shortly !!!

Keep posting your pictures guys , I love looking at your setups ! the PVC rod holders are something else I gotta say , fisherman are the most innovative and creative beings around , period. :stuck_out_tongue:

Ciao 4 Now !

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:sunglasses:Sounds like an intelligent and scientific approach to me. Just be prepared to toss all of that rational calculation out the window the first time you are not catching anything from shore and the fish are active out past your longest cast. All of your priorities can change quickly.

I fish for all species from a float tube, including carp. A lot of tubers recognize the challenge of catching carp and enjoy the rough and tumble battle they put up. Here are a few tubing/carp pictures.

**That crossbar you are referring to is called a “stabilizer” bar. On most of the earlier U-boat designs it was necessary to keep the two sides from squeezing in around you when you sat down on the old style fabric seats. Today’s models, with the sturdy foam or inflated seats provide enough rigidity from side to side that stabilizer bars are not necessary. I had them on a couple of my earlier tubes and they are a pain. You have to hook them up before you sit down to launch and you have to undo them before you can get back out when you are finished fishing. **

No worries about the lack of a “seat belt” or other restraining device. Most of today’s higher seating craft are designed to keep the operator comfortably seated without sliding forward…under normal fishing conditions. Of course, if you are bound and determined to go swimming, you can arrange it.

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HEY GREG WELCOME ABOARD :sunglasses:

EVEN IF YOU ONLY GET TO TUBE ONCE IN A WHILE YOU SHOULDN’T JUST SETTLE FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT’S CHEAPER, I DID THAT AND ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY A BETTER TUBE AFTER 4 TRIPS…
TOGIAK $100
ODC 420 $150
TOTAL $250

WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER NOT TO SETTLE…MY 2 CENTS

ATFISHING

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TubeDude, carp on a flyrod… what kind of lure or fly was it? Those carp do fight a little hard. How did it feel catching one on a flyrod in the tube? I have never caught one on a rod in my hand, we have caught them by throwing out the line bait with dough and seat the rods in the holders and come back when we see the rods bent. Never ate one but we caught them for the black guys who did work for a friend of mine down in Old Hickory Lake Tennessee as they loved eating them.

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Looking at the pictures, it looked like spinning outfits except the one of Pat which has no rod, but rather tells you. (I’m not doubting this by the way)
Try larger haresears with rubber legs, Red fox squiretail, and some say a bread pattern or even a cigarette butt fly. But, I hear the first two work real well, I will be trying it in the next couple of weeks hopefully. You really gotta wait for them though, they don’t hit like other fish, but, gillman you are probably use to the unusual fish with the ones you’ve posted.

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:sunglasses:**I really have taken a lot of carp on the flyrod too. Only a couple of times I deliberately fished for them. Most times I catch carp on flies, it is on flies being fished for something else…like trout or bluegills. **

Like the goddess lady says, small buggy looking nymphs work well in most places, because carp feed on aquatic insects too. In fact, big carp will often slurp in a streamer or something big like wooly buggers. They eat meat as well as veggie stuff.

I have taken quite a few carp in city park ponds or other places where people throw bread to the ducks (or carp). The carp get used to slurping anything white from the surface. I make up a white spun deerhear or white hackle fly and just plop it on the surface ahead of a cruising carp. Most times it will disappear in a whirlpool into some rubbery looking lips. Fight on.

I have also taken more than a few on regular dry flies. The Renegade pattern, a popular pattern for trout in the west, seems to be attractive to carp too, probably because of the white forehackle.

That big carp in the picture was taken from shore at Willard Bay reservoir, while flinging a little chartreuse marabou fly for crappies. It really tested my little 4 weight rod and 4# tippet before it crawled up on the bank.

Whenever you can find carp cruising in shallow water, clear enough to see them and have them see the fly, you can have some “artificial bonefish” action. They are spooky and you have to be careful in your casts and presentation. But, if you get it right, they DO run like bonefish and really bend your stick and stretch your string.

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When we had one of the Stone fly meetings at Sugarhouse park last year, some were at the pond with a dry fly and accually caught one on a PMD. I believe!

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Welcome aboard. I should have chimed in earlier but I was busy fishing. Sorry.

We do look forward to seeing how you get your craft rigged up once you have gotten all of your goodies together.:sunglasses:

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One year I was in Utah, a few good redneck friends of mine from Santaquin/ Payson went to go wet lines down at (Payson Lake?). The exit water was really low and there were piles of carp like worms crawling in the shallow water.
Being rednecks, these mongrels had their shotguns and hunting rifles in their trucks with them and decided it would be fun to pump some rounds into the scaley entanglement. Lord, what a mess.
Then they jumped into the water with some rebar and began spearing them. It was carnage.
That day made me realize what people mean when they talk about the most dangerous combo in the world is a redneck and Coors.

-ABT-

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The question I got to ask you ABT is, do you still go fishing with them? You ever make it back to Utah (around the S.L.C. area) give a shout and I will take you to some fun spots (No guns, Coors in moderation[;)] Tequila, H###ll ya!)

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I haven’t seen them in a while. Two of them moved to other states and the other is in Iraq at the moment - having a blast firing his m16 at whatever, I’m sure.

I will be there on the 30th of this month for five days - all business I’m afraid. But August i will be there for some serious line assualt. I would love to be at your fishin’ mercy! Thank ya for tha kind offer.

-ABT-

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AUGUST! dang, that feels like an eternity! August should be some good fishing.

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That IS an eternity. You know the old saying though: “the thirstier sailor, the sweeter the rum.”
I’ll just have to brush up on my fly fishin’ before I’z meetz up with yaz, lol.
Lacking a little knowledge is one thing, exuding inadequacy is another. I can just see you rocking back on your ride, head cocked backwards mouth wide open and belowing laughter rolling from your lungs like thunder on a summer storm … because Trevor was trying to use a “whatever fly with a whatever line trying to catch a whatever fish.!”
Next thing I know BFT has an entire sticky thread dedicated to “Trevor’s Flyfishing techniques - what NOT to do”

LOL

-ABT-

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Hon, I am a guide and on the weekends I play R-n-R to a bunch of drunks, I can handle alot and I can be very patient. Can’t wait til we can meet is all, I am always looking to go fishing and with someone you know is even better.