04-01-2007, 06:15 PM
Over the past couple of years Pontoons have become increasly popular. Many fisherpeople choose them over float tubes today. Toons have there +s and -s I have one and like it just fine. I also own a float tube that I like just fine.
With that being said there are a few things a new tooner should know and do. These come from my experence and for old hands I'm sure there are many more.
Pick a toon that is right for you. One that will float you and your gear safely. Buy and use a PFD on every trip until you are confortable and experenced with your float. Not that I advocate never using your PFD. There are times WE ALL should be wearing ours.
Leave the fishing pole at home on your first few trips. At least until you can row effenceintly. Buy a pair of fins! It will be the best investment you can make. It will increase your enjoyment 10 fold.
If you think they are a waste of your money ponder this. A light breeze comes up. You mark a school of fish holding near the bottom of a hump. But the wind keeps blowing you over the spot. You grab your oars maneuver back into position. Grab you rod to drop a line and the fish disappear off the sonar as the breeze pushes you past the hump. Hard to work rod and reel and the oars at the same time.
Ask a fellow tooner if they would be willing to go with you on that important 1st outing. You'd be surprised how many would be willing to go. What you can learn from observation of another tooner is invalueble. Sometimes we do not express ourselves well, but you can see what we are doing. Control of you toon is the most important part of tooning. Suttle little things like oar angle, depth, lenght of stroke, forward backward gently stroking the water . All of these are easy to say but may be harder to understand until seen in use.
Check the weather, choose a day that there will no wind if at all possible. Here in the high country that may mean going between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm to get the windless period.
Equipment is more of a personal thing. There are certain things you need. PFD, oars and the toon. Everything after that is an option and will depend on how YOU use your toon. If you choose an electric Trolling motor then you need to mount it so you can operate it. It is not like mounting it on a boat! How you do it is up to you , but try it out before venturing on any trip. You may find it mounted in the wrong place for you. What works for one may not work for another. Most toons come with aprons and gear bags (pockets). They may suit your needs and they may not. You will not know until you try them out. Where you place you seat is also very important. Too far forward and ya can't row well, too far back and your pushing water over the top of your floats. Do you need a single rod holder or multiple holders? Do you even need one at all? Net? Stringer? Fish basket? Or will a rope do?
Just a few thoughts and a few things to consider when deciding on wether to float or not. Float Tubes and Pontoons are among the safest water craft on the market today. But they are only as safe as the people that use them. Learn your craft and your skill level and stay within them. As you become more experenced there will be more that you can and will be able to do safely. Have fun and enjoy what I consider to be the best part of fishing,doing it from a float............Getting up close and personal with your quarry. The stealth you will enjoy is like no other. Have fun
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With that being said there are a few things a new tooner should know and do. These come from my experence and for old hands I'm sure there are many more.
Pick a toon that is right for you. One that will float you and your gear safely. Buy and use a PFD on every trip until you are confortable and experenced with your float. Not that I advocate never using your PFD. There are times WE ALL should be wearing ours.
Leave the fishing pole at home on your first few trips. At least until you can row effenceintly. Buy a pair of fins! It will be the best investment you can make. It will increase your enjoyment 10 fold.
If you think they are a waste of your money ponder this. A light breeze comes up. You mark a school of fish holding near the bottom of a hump. But the wind keeps blowing you over the spot. You grab your oars maneuver back into position. Grab you rod to drop a line and the fish disappear off the sonar as the breeze pushes you past the hump. Hard to work rod and reel and the oars at the same time.
Ask a fellow tooner if they would be willing to go with you on that important 1st outing. You'd be surprised how many would be willing to go. What you can learn from observation of another tooner is invalueble. Sometimes we do not express ourselves well, but you can see what we are doing. Control of you toon is the most important part of tooning. Suttle little things like oar angle, depth, lenght of stroke, forward backward gently stroking the water . All of these are easy to say but may be harder to understand until seen in use.
Check the weather, choose a day that there will no wind if at all possible. Here in the high country that may mean going between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm to get the windless period.
Equipment is more of a personal thing. There are certain things you need. PFD, oars and the toon. Everything after that is an option and will depend on how YOU use your toon. If you choose an electric Trolling motor then you need to mount it so you can operate it. It is not like mounting it on a boat! How you do it is up to you , but try it out before venturing on any trip. You may find it mounted in the wrong place for you. What works for one may not work for another. Most toons come with aprons and gear bags (pockets). They may suit your needs and they may not. You will not know until you try them out. Where you place you seat is also very important. Too far forward and ya can't row well, too far back and your pushing water over the top of your floats. Do you need a single rod holder or multiple holders? Do you even need one at all? Net? Stringer? Fish basket? Or will a rope do?
Just a few thoughts and a few things to consider when deciding on wether to float or not. Float Tubes and Pontoons are among the safest water craft on the market today. But they are only as safe as the people that use them. Learn your craft and your skill level and stay within them. As you become more experenced there will be more that you can and will be able to do safely. Have fun and enjoy what I consider to be the best part of fishing,doing it from a float............Getting up close and personal with your quarry. The stealth you will enjoy is like no other. Have fun
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