06-22-2003, 11:13 PM
[cool]Hey, FFM, there is an old (Oriental) saying: "That which does not kill you makes you stronger." With newbie tubers the real "rite of passage" is the first launching and return. The embarrassment and injuries...both to body and dignity...have been enough to make some new tubers hang up their craft and never dunk their donut again. If you survived, and STILL want to fish from your donut dinghy, I salute you.
As a couple of guys have mentioned, I have some written material that can help smooth out the rough spots and get you past the prerequisite boo boos most folks seem to want to make, if they work it out on their own.
One of the most common errors made by those with new "round boats" is putting on their fins first, and then trying to get them inside the tube. I know. I contributed to my share of shore laughs until I finally figured out a better way. Try slipping the front edges of the fins under the tube, while on the bank. Then, step into the fins, pull the straps around your heels, pull the tube up to your waist and walk BACKWARDS...SLOWLY...out into kneedeep water. Then sit down and paddle like a duck stuck in reverse.
To get out, do the same in reverse. Stand up in knee deep water, pull the tube up from around your legs, shuffle backward until you are on the shore, set the tube down, sit on the back of the tube and slip off the straps of the fins. Now step out of the fins, and pack up for the return home.
By the way, for those who find it difficult to bend over to pull up the fin straps...because of too many layers under the waders, weight or back problems, or whatever...I posted a thread on the float tubing board about using a fin strap tool...made from heated PVC pipe (next to duct tape, the best invention ever).
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=42882;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=42882;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread[/url]
Hope this helps.
TubeDude
[signature]
As a couple of guys have mentioned, I have some written material that can help smooth out the rough spots and get you past the prerequisite boo boos most folks seem to want to make, if they work it out on their own.
One of the most common errors made by those with new "round boats" is putting on their fins first, and then trying to get them inside the tube. I know. I contributed to my share of shore laughs until I finally figured out a better way. Try slipping the front edges of the fins under the tube, while on the bank. Then, step into the fins, pull the straps around your heels, pull the tube up to your waist and walk BACKWARDS...SLOWLY...out into kneedeep water. Then sit down and paddle like a duck stuck in reverse.
To get out, do the same in reverse. Stand up in knee deep water, pull the tube up from around your legs, shuffle backward until you are on the shore, set the tube down, sit on the back of the tube and slip off the straps of the fins. Now step out of the fins, and pack up for the return home.
By the way, for those who find it difficult to bend over to pull up the fin straps...because of too many layers under the waders, weight or back problems, or whatever...I posted a thread on the float tubing board about using a fin strap tool...made from heated PVC pipe (next to duct tape, the best invention ever).
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=42882;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=42882;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread[/url]
Hope this helps.
TubeDude
[signature]