09-17-2008, 04:39 PM
Every trip to Starvation this year (five or six I believe) has been different: the water conditions, the weather, the fish behavior, the fishing strategies we have used, etc. I guess that observation is no surprise to anyone. However, it is a reminder to all of us that there isn't any one lure or fishing strategy that will work all of the time on a particular body of water. I think that is one of the fishing challenges that makes fishing an enjoyable pastime for me.
I have a Crestliner boat that I purchased when it was new. I have enjoyed the boat, and I suspect that I will continue to enjoy it. However, I have found that I enjoy fishing from a float tube more. For me the challenges are greater and the catching rate is greater. I started fishing from the doughnut tubes and didn't like it much. When I purchased a U-shaped tube (Kennebec) I began to enjoy fishing from a float tube. When I learned to add rod holders and a sonar to the tube, from TubeDude, I enjoyed the experience much more. After awhile I purchased a Fish Cat 4 tube. For me, the enjoyment increased again. However, I began to notice that TubeBabe and TubeDude moved around the water better than I did. They were also in the water faster than I was, and they had all kinds of freedom on their tubes that I didn't have in mine. I finally figured out that there were at least three things they had that I didn't have. They had better fins to propel their tubes, they were higher on the water, and they had more conveniences on their tubes than I had. I had already spent more money on float tubes than I wanted to spend, but I finally decided to goup one more step. I purchased a Fat Cat (I would have purchased a Super Fat Cat, but for my weight I determined that a Fat Cat would be just as good.), and I purchased some Mares Avanti fins. Then I took advantage of TubeDude's offer to help me with the rod holders, sonar setup, apron setup, etc. Yesterday I had the opportunity to try it all out. I couldn't have been more pleased-- everything worked out great. I had more room, I was higher on the water, I had all of the conveniences I needed so I could concentrate on fishing, and I could manuever better in the wind.
I could have saved myself a lot of money if I had known earlier what I now know about my personal float tube needs. I now have two float tubes I will need to sell. However, I am happy with the end result.
[signature]
I have a Crestliner boat that I purchased when it was new. I have enjoyed the boat, and I suspect that I will continue to enjoy it. However, I have found that I enjoy fishing from a float tube more. For me the challenges are greater and the catching rate is greater. I started fishing from the doughnut tubes and didn't like it much. When I purchased a U-shaped tube (Kennebec) I began to enjoy fishing from a float tube. When I learned to add rod holders and a sonar to the tube, from TubeDude, I enjoyed the experience much more. After awhile I purchased a Fish Cat 4 tube. For me, the enjoyment increased again. However, I began to notice that TubeBabe and TubeDude moved around the water better than I did. They were also in the water faster than I was, and they had all kinds of freedom on their tubes that I didn't have in mine. I finally figured out that there were at least three things they had that I didn't have. They had better fins to propel their tubes, they were higher on the water, and they had more conveniences on their tubes than I had. I had already spent more money on float tubes than I wanted to spend, but I finally decided to goup one more step. I purchased a Fat Cat (I would have purchased a Super Fat Cat, but for my weight I determined that a Fat Cat would be just as good.), and I purchased some Mares Avanti fins. Then I took advantage of TubeDude's offer to help me with the rod holders, sonar setup, apron setup, etc. Yesterday I had the opportunity to try it all out. I couldn't have been more pleased-- everything worked out great. I had more room, I was higher on the water, I had all of the conveniences I needed so I could concentrate on fishing, and I could manuever better in the wind.
I could have saved myself a lot of money if I had known earlier what I now know about my personal float tube needs. I now have two float tubes I will need to sell. However, I am happy with the end result.
[signature]