Which Float tube to buy??

[dryfly777]

Now... I am sure that this same question has been asked a 1000 times, but I am having some kind of personal issue with the search tool...

What type of float tube should I buy to float the Hooch???

I have heard conflicting stories from reputable people.. some say the open front others say the round tube...

What are my options?
How much should I spend?

What other important little things should I consider when making my decision??? Pockets? Paddles?

What kind of flippers?

Can anyone describe the best "way" to float the Hooch?? Float for awhile, then stop and fish... let the fly drift while you drift with the current.. etc

Thanks in advance...

-Justin

[nu2trout]

Justin,
There are going to be many answers for you, and I will just tell you my experience.
I would say a round tube, for stability, would be best for the moving water of the hooch. I would say the tube is just a way to wade more water, so however you would wade and fish will be about the way you will fish from a tube. It allows me to walk around the entire river and have the feeling of being safe when you do get to a deep hole.
You will want to get some type of paddle, and I use ping pong paddles because they are small and will fit in the pockets.
You can spend as much money as you would like on a tube, and with the additional cost comes a few upgrades, like additional pockets, stronger seats, stronger denier, tougher tubes.
You will have people tell you that Buck's Bags are the way to go and the BPS ones are good.
I own a BPS tube and love it. It was about 60$ and for as much as I use it I cant complain about it at all. If I were going to float more often I might like a different one, but after floating with people in more exspensive tubes I cant see much of a need for me to uprade.

Good Luck and you will enjoy the freedom the tube will allow you.

PS - just one other little thing, always wear a PFD and keep a little tube popper (knife) in reach all the time ( I keep my little knife on my vest)
:cheers:

[Buck Henry]

Well, I am one of those guys that says buy the best you can afford. I own a Buck's Bag and would not trust anything else. Cheap float tubes float just as good as the more expensive ones; it is really a question of durability and longevity.

The cheaper tubes have those polyurethane bladders with welded seams that I personally just don't trust. I have seen the seams fail on those things and when they do, your ability to float comes to an quick end! The Buck's Bag comes with a very thick truck tire inner tube that was designed to support the weight of an 18 wheel truck, so I am pretty sure it will carry my 200 pound carcass safely down the river.

Concerning flippers, you don't need them in moving water. A pair of ping pong paddles or plastic dustpans work great on those rare occasions you need some propulsion assistance.

Hope this helps. I will say this, I consider the money I spent on my float tube one of the best fishing capital investments I have made in a long time. It really is a lot of fun and opens up access to a ton of water.

[gonefishn]

I'm happy with my BPS round tube. I don't feel like I'm gonna fall forward like I did with the U boat or open front design. I would get one soon because the new ones are going to be a bright Mango color instead of the tan and green and the price is $20 more.

[dryfly777]

Thanks for all the great replies!

So it sounds like a round tube really is the way to go.... I have heard the opposite.. someone mentioned that it is much easier to get out of the u tube ones in case of emergency...

Has anyone had to eject from a round one???

Also, for PFD... Is it super uncomfortable to wear one of the "normal" ones... like the $25 special from BPS... Is it that critical to get one of the CO2 inflatable ones??

Thanks again,

Justin

[dryfly777]

What's the deal with the pontoon boats.. are they better (more fun) than a float tube...

and okay... if I go to BPS on Saturday and pick one up.. who's going with me on the Maiden Voyage??? I need someone to show me how the hell to operate it.. :)

Oh ya... I guess I need to buy a pump????

[orange_spokes]

ive only used the pontoon boat...i just liked the ability of staying up out of the water...but its personal preference...i use my pfd from my whitewater kayaking days...it gives me full range of motion...but just my .02

[gonefishn]

Get your float tube on Friday evening and join GB and the guys at CS on Saturday morning at 8:00 and you'll get more advice and help then you'll know what to do with.:cool:

[nu2trout]

there will be a pirate invasion on the hooch dh Sunday if you get the tube on Saturday. Check out the Chattahoochee section for more details. most of us will be in a toon though.

And yes people have had emergencies in their tube, just ask Gatorbyte.

The U shaped ones cause you to sit up too high, in my opinoin. I like the ability to walk and just sit down when I need to

[nu2trout]

hey ... hey... i resemble that remark, or should i say GB resembles that remark;)

[dryfly777]

Get your float tube on Friday evening and join GB and the guys at CS on Saturday morning at 8:00 and you'll get more advice and help then you'll know what to do with.:cool:

do you mean Sunday?? or is it Sat and sunday? :)

Most of you have pontoons???

I know much of this is personal pref. but I hate having to buy one thing like a float tube, and then go out and get a pontoon and have the float tube end up sitting... I have a garage full of golf clubs filling that role ;)


What are the prices on a reasonable pontoon boat..

I plan on doing a lot of fishng on the Hooch... I just want to be comfortable, safe, and able to easily land big fish!!! :)

[nu2trout]

gb and i have both, it is not really either or, it is more like with people or without peple to fish with. tubes are portable and you can hike them a ways, and toons are pretty much get out and drive to get the other car and then load up.

we are floating sunday, and you would not be able to get a reasonable toon by this weekend that i know of anyway

[dryfly777]

Okay... I did a little research on the message board with respect to pontoons and learned quite a bit...

I think the tube is the way to go for me...

Now...

Pirates or Ninjas??? Who's winning??? and who do I have to buy a beer for to join the club?? :)

[gonefishn]

You're right, I got my dayz mixed up, it should have been Sunday @ 8:00 not Saturday. But like N2T said....ya never know who's gonna show up and fish on any given day with this bunch of fine folks.

[Trout8myfly]

Has anyone had to eject from a round one???


Paging Dr. Gatobyte, paging Dr. Gatorbyte. Call holding for you!

:D

[watkins]

Only got the pic of aftermath, GB looks like a wet dog walking up the ramp, but smileing though. Thought we were going to have to dial 911. GB has picture. Post GB ? TRW

[Windknot]

Aw, let him preserve a tiny bit of his dignity! :ghug:

[Gatorbyte]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I am as graceful as a rhinoceros on roller skates. and recovered quite well. I was trying to get a below surface view of a run so I can fish it more effectively this Friday.

[fishinbub]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I am as graceful as a rhinoceros on roller skates. and recovered quite well. I was trying to get a below surface view of a run so I can fish it more effectively this Friday.

Before you decide who to believe remember his tube's name is "The Dunkin Donut".:rotfl:

[The Ole Man]

dry---if you are a big guy, or you are going to tube with a bulky thick type pfd, I wud suggest you consider a larger tube with a 22" tire tube instead of the 20". You will appreciate the additional room and/or weight capacity. My older Caddis-Pro uses a 22" tube---but I think maybe they have now switched to a polyv bladder where they used to come with a tire tube (prob for the purpose of lowering the price). You can switch it out if you find the right tube at a tire store (one with a short valve stem).

[dryfly777]

Well... thanks again for the info...

I met StinkBait at CS this afternoon and he might have sold me on a higher quality tube... I plan on getting a lot of use out of it, and I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for higher quality..

I'm going to try and pick one up this Sat.. so I may be the confused guy looking around for friends on Sunday morning.. :)

I drive a gold Jeep liberty..

[nu2trout]

you do not have to buy me a beer as i do not drink, but once you fish with pirates i think that makes you a pirate, especially if you own your own vessel for pilaging!

if you decide to show up on sunday remember two things;
one - the launch for the toons is not the same side as the running tral, it is on the other side of the river

two - float tubes tend to be slower than toons since we can row and propel ourselves a bit faster

with that said you can go as fast as you like

i will have the infamous green wide brimmed orvis fishing hat on and be in the black envoy with a longhorn plate on front

[The Fly]

I'm also new to float tubes. Just purchased a new one at BPS. Does anyone use or recommend an anchor? I'm also going to try to get mine in water this weekend for the first time.

[lewdogg]

Fish Cat 4. The end. Best tube ever made.

[dryfly777]

Well... I thought I would end this great thread with my decision...

A Buck's Bag Cuthroat.. $150 at The Fish Hawk...

Thanks for all your input!

Now I just hope the rain lets up a little so I can try it out on sunday!

Tight Loops,

Justin

:cheers: