Howdy...
First of all, I'm new to the float tubing... I knew I wanted a tube, but I was lost on which one to get and what I needed, until I stumbled upon this website... You guys are great! I can't thank you all enough for guiding me, and you didn't even know you were doing it...
Based on what all I have read, I went with the ODC 420... I am awaiting its arrival... Its seems like they may have slightly redesigned them because the price seems to have gone up a bit... I saw most of the new ones for around $250, give or take... But they are selling at the Creek Company website for $150! (which is over $100 off what its normal going for on their website)
Ok, but for my question...
Does anybody know of tubers getting attacked by anything?
I live down in TX... I'm wondering about snakes, turtles... gators, sharks? [pirate]...
Anybody have any good stories?
... but try not to scare me away, I just bought my tube and would like to not be terrified
I'll be in small lakes/ big ponds most of the time, but I wouldn't rule out trying it in that salty water stuff too...
Thanks again for all y'all have to offer, your helping people in ways you don't know!
TubinTexan
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[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard. We have a couple of other regulars from the Lone Star State who are likely to chime in. What part of the state do you hail from and what kind of fishing will you be doing most...tackle, species, etc.?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Always pays to be careful and to not tempt fate. But if you are familiar with your surroundings...and the "wildlife" you are likely to encounter...you shouldn't need to worry about too much.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some waters are worse than others for reptile problems. Depending on what part of the state you are in, and which waters you fish, there is always the potential of meeting a rattler, cottonmouth or copperhead. You are more likely to see them along the shoreline, before getting in the water, than while you are fishing. So be extra careful if you have to hike a ways to get launched...or if you have to go through brush or reeds. No different than shore fishing precautions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Gators are a potential problems in the waters further south and around the gulf. Fishing in cold weather is a good way to help avoid them. But if there are lots of toothy lizards in a water you want to float you would be well advised to find a safer pond to fish. I don't know of any tuber who has ever been munched by a gator but that potential always exists. I would hate to be the first.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sad to say, but just like on the freeway your greatest potential source of disaster is from others sharing the same waters...especially the power squadron...water skiers and jet skis. That's why tubing is such a great way to fish. You can take your fishing to waters that aren't plagued by the idiots.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You also need to pay attention to the weather forecast...and the tides if fishing coastal waters. Wind and rain can literally put a damper on your day and can blow you a long ways from where you want to be. Ditto for tides going the wrong way. Use them to your advantage.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Turtles CAN munch you...and they will if you put a finger within range. But they are not known for coming up under your tube and chomping a hole in you or your gear. However, if you leave a stringer of fish dangling over the side don't be surprised if a big ol' turtle thinks you are serving a buffet lunch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sharks? I have waded and tubed a whole lot of the gulf coastline without ever encountering sharks. But, I have also been out in boats when schools of bull sharks were so thick we couldn't get a fish in close to the boat without it being attacked. Not much concern about lemons, blacktips or nurse sharks. But if bulls or tigers are in the vacinity...I'm not. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You will find a lot of great fishing for specks and reds inside Laquna Madre and outside the passes along the flats. Wherever you can launch you will usually find some action close by. And at times there are lots of other species that show up within easy range of waders and tubers too. Love the Gulf Coast.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let us know if you need any help getting set up and put up some reports on your first trips.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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Great response guy. Love ya.
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Hi Tex,
I was fishing a couple of weeks ago and med size turtle seemed to be following me in the wake created by my fins. It was pretty neat and strange. I had never had that happen before. He really seemed to be following me! I don't think he was planning a meal. I had no fish hanging over the side.
Beavers seem annoyed by my "waterwagon". They come up and slap the water while I looking the other way and scare the daylights out of me!
Looking forward to reading about your adventures!
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Hi, I live in SA TX and was on the Guad just yesterday on the ODC 420 light (I also own the PVC model). The best part about the ODCs is that all parts are interchangable and available frequently at great discounts, so you can custom build several versions cheaply around the basic unit. The inflatable seat is lighter, adjustable for comfort or to carry much heavier loads, plus can be partially deflated with the main pontoons hard, so that the whole thing fits inside a subcompact hatchback. As an example the black Friday price was 25% off plus free shipping on parts.
Anyway, TD is right on the mark with animal threats being a low ranking danger. If you just use some outdoor common sense and are alert to your surroundings, animals are essentially zero threat especially in Winter when everything is subdued. I do carry a stick when packing a distance through brush in the Summer for snakes, gators and such. Only had to use the stick once about a year ago- to nudge on an owners unleased dog that nipped my heel.[laugh] I would rank loss of flotation from punctures as the highest threat (collisions, dragging, hooks, fish spines, etc.), then inproper inflation, unexpected weather (tides at the coast), and power squadron if you are out when and where they are. No "wild" animal problems in decades of tooning.
Pon
[quote TubinTexan]Howdy...
First of all, I'm new to the float tubing... I knew I wanted a tube, but I was lost on which one to get and what I needed, until I stumbled upon this website... You guys are great! I can't thank you all enough for guiding me, and you didn't even know you were doing it...
Based on what all I have read, I went with the ODC 420... I am awaiting its arrival... Its seems like they may have slightly redesigned them because the price seems to have gone up a bit... I saw most of the new ones for around $250, give or take... But they are selling at the Creek Company website for $150! (which is over $100 off what its normal going for on their website)
Ok, but for my question...
Does anybody know of tubers getting attacked by anything?
I live down in TX... I'm wondering about snakes, turtles... gators, sharks? [pirate]...
Anybody have any good stories?
... but try not to scare me away, I just bought my tube and would like to not be terrified
I'll be in small lakes/ big ponds most of the time, but I wouldn't rule out trying it in that salty water stuff too...
Thanks again for all y'all have to offer, your helping people in ways you don't know!
TubinTexan[/quote]
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Leaches.
So I wear breathable waders, most of the time.
Also while just sitting on the tube, not waving the hairy legs, small crappies will come and peck the hair moving in the water. Surprises you when you don't expect it.
But no shark, and no turtle encounter yet.
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First of all, Thank all of you for chimming in and giving your input... TD, your the man!
I live a bit north of Houston... Sounds funny, but I live in a large and very nicely developed community that has lots of little residential ponds, a reservoir, and some bigger lakes near round... but you'd be surprised at the bass, catfish, and pannies you can catch in some of those lakes... You can't take boats in most of these bodies of water, but the homeowners association does not say anything about a float tube... [
] I have also been scouting some nice little inlets and shoreline spots that the "power minions" do not typically get to on Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Lake Houston. On the occasion, I am planning on making my way east a bit, my family has membership to a dear lease in Louisiana, and there are some thriving little lakes on the lease... all of which we have seen gators in. And like I said, after more saltwater research, I would really like to take it to the Gulf... But before I plan that trip, I'm going to educate myself better (which means more questions for my new tubin buddies... thats all of you!)
I always pack my common sense when I head out to the water... thank goodness for the big pockets in the 420! I'm a much safer person than I am a risk taker... so I have that going for me.
Again, I can't thank all of you enough for all of your help! I love reading the posts and replies... This forum is like my Sportscenter for tube fishing... dada da, dada da... keep up the good work!
Have a great day and tight lines!
Tex
Oh, and Poon, that was an awesome video... Imagine adventuring out, turning a corner, and seeing that while sitting in a float tube... I think if that happened my float tube would turn into a hover tube because I'd be kicking so hard!
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