Fishing Forum

Hello All, just thought I'd introduce myself.

I'm Joe and live in Gananoque ON. Just got my first tube and haven't tried it out yet (waiting on Bass Season to start). Anybody else from the area?
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Not form your area, I'm from Idaho but welcome.
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hey there im new too. however you are one step ahead of me as i have yet to purchase my tube.... so many decisions.
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welcome New Tewb and davebloomer.. you have both landed on a great board where everyone is more than willing to help you make those decisions of what to get and just about anything else you can come up that is fishing, fly fishing, tubing, and tooning... etc..

MacFly [cool]
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This is a good place to learn how to use and outfit your tube, I am also from Ontario. I have enjoyed my Fat Cat for 8 years and it's still going strong. What kind of tube did you get?
God Bless,
Don
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[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let us know if you need assistance in getting set up and in fishing tube style.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Bass season is a new concept for me. I fish them all year round...even through the ice. Is that a local regulation or just a weather thing?[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard to you too, Dave. Your profile shows you are from the "OK" state. Lots of good tubing potential down there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Keep doing your homework and chime in when you need some input or reviews.[/#0000ff]
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Wow...lots of welcomes all around!


I bought it from Ebay - A Caddis Sierra round tube model. Looked like a good beginners tube and I couldn't say no to the price ($50 w/ shipping).

Bass Season? Up here Bass Season runs from the fourth Saturday in June until the end of November. Right now they're finishing up spawning season and let me tell ya..TEASES..ALL OF EM!! You'll see 3-4 pounders just a few feet from shore!!
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[cool][#0000ff]I went through several Caddis Sierras in my tubing career. In the olden days there were only round tubes. See pic below.[/#0000ff]
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My red Caddis accounts for a basket of crappies and small cats, as well as a 24# flathead that took a small crappie jig on 6# line. Below Horseshoe Dam in Az in early 2002 [/#000000]
[#0000ff]But, once I discovered the benefits of fishing in open front tubes...and the newer high seating models, I would never go back.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As you correctly surmise, it is a good place to start. You can learn the basics and gain an appreciation for what tubing is all about...and just what you REALLY want in a craft for long term fishing pleasure.[/#0000ff]
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If you've got Google Earth Installed you can find me at the link I've attached..at least I think I've attached it properly. Pan out a bit and you'll see the Gan River. Here that's known as "the crik" apparently. Lots of pike and bass lurking around. Lower down I've been fishing off the marina docks as well. HUGE carp and even saw some garpike swimming around
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well, tube_newb im jumping in on your thread again since we both came in at the same time.

I went and purchased my new tube after reading about every thread on this forum and other forums.

I got the trout unlimited trogiak tube. some red head waders and turbo thruster fins. im very glad that i went to bass pro to look in person rather than order. They had the tubes all aired up and on display so you could really compare the differences! I got the chance to use it today but still haven't caught anything in it. (just moved to a new area and i am not used to LAKE fising)



EDIT just saw a thread on here of ppl not to thrilled with this tube.... oh well lol got a 1 year warranty and i think its super comfortable so we will see how it goes
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[cool][#0000ff]Don't start kicking yourself because you bought something that others might not like. You made the decision for your own reasons, and now you just go right ahead and enjoy the heck out of it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Togiak is a good craft, overall. The folks who do not like it are usually those who have had other craft and have a basis for comparison. All craft have differences. Some are positive for some anglers and might be considered negatives for others.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You should get a few years of good service from it. But, if it DOES develop problems within the warranty period, you can change out. No worries.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]At the very least, you will get the opportunity to perfect your tube fishing and learn more about what options are out there. That will allow you to make an informed decision when it is time to get a new tube. In the meantime, have fun and catch some fish.[/#0000ff]
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Hey guys another newb here looking to start floating this summer somewhere around Boise...Thanks too you all for being so helpful and willing to share. Hopefully I will be able to return the kindness.
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I love it ...this post turned into the 'new recruits' section! Fantastic!

Something I thought was important to share..users on a another tube fishing forum suggested the first time I'm out to leave the fishing gear at home altogether....

...waiting for the gasps to subside....

The first trip out should be for getting comfortable with the tube...AND getting out! And not just getting out onshore but dunking oneself a couple times and practicing getting out in an emergency type situation (ie. you somehow flip the tube upside down completely while you're still strapped in)

When taking on anything new it's important to know the dangers and be prepared!
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With a round tube about the only time you might get dunked is getting in and out of it. I started with a u-tube so I never had the fun of climbing in and out of a round one. Once in your really in though.

I almost left my fishing pole at home on the maiden voyage. In the end glad I didn't. Sure it took awhile to go where I wanted to but once I started to get it down was fun to fish at the same time.
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[cool][#0000ff]We often suggest that the "shakedown cruise" should be without fishing tackle. That does not mean that you can't take it in your vehicle and then go fishing once you are comfortable with your new toy. After all, how long does it take to get things adjusted and to get a feel for it?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I do not suggest that you put yourself in harm's way, or deliberately try to create a dangerous situation. If you use proper procedures and do not tube when and where you shouldn't, you should never have to worry about overturning or sinking. Never happens. NEVER.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just get your waders and fins on, adjust everything until it is tight but comfortable and then sit down in the water in your craft. Practice kicking motions, to get a rhythm for efficient propulsion without getting a hernia or a charley horse. Work to learn the motions you need to make a turn...both directions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also, practice launching and beaching. The sitting down to launch and the standing up to get out are important. Launch too shallow and you have to push yourself out with your heels. Try to stand up in water that is too shallow and it is unhandy and you risk toppling. Learn what is the best depth for the procedure you want to accomplish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once you are more familiar with how your tube floats and handles, you can take on some wind. If you are not in good shape and if you are not skilled at handling your tube on calm water, you should not be out there in any kind of wind. At the very least you will get cramps. At worst you could risk getting washed up on dangerous rocky shoreline.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No matter how much you think you know, you will likely learn something new on almost every trip.[/#0000ff]
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bowing to your experience I did not make comment before but I will say I am very glad you made the comments that you did.. especially about not turning yourself over in the water.. when I saw that I was amazed anyone made that recommendation.. maybe in a kayak.. but never seen or heard of that on any board when talking about tubing..

.. you also stated getting used to turning.. and I have to say that is my weak point (as your son and bendopolo can attest to).. any pointers on what is the best way to do that..

lastly.. I can tell anyone who wants to from experience that it is not wise to try to get out of a tube facing the shoreline.. you may be lucky and get out of it with some assemblance of grace and dignity.. but I will guarantee that the first instinct is to try to walk forward with the tube in tube.. if you do this you may get one or two steps and then the trouble starts.. with fins on.. walking forward in a body of water.. even in the very shallow depths (inches) can and usually does result in an embarassing moment that hopefully no one caught on tape to upload to you tube or break.com..

MacFly [cool]
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Turn the tube upside down! That's crazy! The one thing you want to try to avoid. For one thing, it isn't that easy.
I was in a Caddis donut for several years and the feeling of even coming CLOSE to flipping never occured.
As far as taking a day to get use to it, this I don't get at all. I took to it like a duck to water so to speak. First time out I remember very clearly....was stoked to be among the fish. I was doing water ballet...no problems what so ever. Was told when to come into shore back up, I did, no problem. I later got to the point and the fins that I could reach over and take them off and walk out with tube and flippers in hand.
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[cool].. "you also stated getting used to turning.. and I have to say that is my weak point (as your son and bendopolo can attest to).. any pointers on what is the best way to do that.".

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[#0000ff]Anybody who has ever tried to paddle a canoe or row a boat knows that you have to apply equal force to each side in order to keep going straight. The opposite is that if you paddle on only one side, you will go in a circle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It works the same for tubing. If you wanna go around in circles, kick only with one fin. Easier said than done though. You generally have to fight to keep from kicking both legs. I usually (subconsciously) bend around a bit in the direction I want to turn, and just kick harder with the outside fin and lesser with the inside fin. You can move the inside[/#0000ff][#0000ff] fin slowly without pushing a lot of water. But, when you make a "power stroke", with the outside fin, you move quickly in a circle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It does take some concentration at first, but once you do it enough it is all automatic.[/#0000ff]
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Welcome to all the new tubers. I am looking forward to your posts. Stick around this is a great crown. Like TD said take 20 -30 min to get use to kicken around, pick up the rod and start a fishing. I also started in a round tube, and have never felt like I was going to flip and that is a good thing as it is not like a kyack they are not that easy to get in and out of. especially with that very uncomfy crouch strap done up. I have since graduated to a V tubs and love it. the most important thing is that you are out there haveing fun.
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