06-07-2009, 10:20 AM
Pon, you raised excellent points there. I agree with all, but would like to add my slant if I may, on why I might go out of my way to deal with conditions that are hard to handle, or possibly dangerous if not figured out, and prepared for.
Pon ... I am surprised to read so many of you guys will tube while mixed close in with power boats. I have seen many close calls over the years, but not from flipping. Young 12 year old kids or booze impaired teens and adults on PWC can't hear your yells or see your tube ...
I agree with you totally. Those are the sort that have single vehicle crashes. Sharing water space with them in a smaller water craft, be it tube, pontoon or small sailing dinghy, is not a nice experience. I generally go to other lakes, or arrange to fish early and return in as they arrive. They arrive late to the water in my experience.
Here in Ireland complaints from anglers, swimmers, and the tourism industry resulted in many lakes being legislated jetski/PWC free zones. This was tough on the well behaved PWC fraternity, but their wild boy clique were completely out of control. Now they have to travel to a greatly reduced number of locations to use their particular craft.
Pon ... if you manage to flip somehow ..., the ... "cork" effect works in reverse, keeping your head trapped underwater. Maybe best to have your quick release from bib or other restrictions practiced. ....
Good suggestion. A kayaker has to have the exit rehearsed, or know the eskimo roll escape well in advance. The newer SOT (sit-on-top) kayak design reduces the need for these skills, by allowing an instant parting from the craft if capsized. In our tubes we are somewhat like the sit inside kayakers. If for any reason the tube ends up inverted, we can't argue that it's highly unlikely to have happened. We must exit the tube without more than a few seconds delay, get into a heads up attitude, and then sort things out. I'm sure that not many tube users have mentally or actually rehearsed the sequence of actions that will accomplish this safely and quickly, or what items of tackle might block and tangle and have to be dealt with. They should at least make an exit plan/preocedure. It's necessary, just like an office fire drill.
Pon ...surprised to read some will go out in "surf" like conditions. There is almost no danger of capsizing, but how do you keep from being miserable, with all the bouncing and getting splashed? How do you hold positions and keep from being blown away with only fin power?...
This is my experience here and my friends may see it differently: The tube handles the waves. Going up and down is fun, but makes line control very difficult. That undoubtedly reduces the effectiveness of my fishing technique, particurly bite detection and successful striking. Sonar display is compromised making a sawtooth bottom.
On the other hand, the fish bite far better and this makes up for much.
In a bigger wave the finning action while seated in the tube is quite difficult, often while kicking, the tube will pitch up where it was going down or vice versa and this leaves a fin deeper than planned, or popping out of the water surface making an unwanted splash and losing the power of that kick. I don't like that, and it does take from the fun.
Four things are relevant: 1: that's fishing, 2: I could have brought a boat that day, but chose not to. 3: I can mentally file away the weather and plan going to a smaller water next time in that wind strength, or 4: fish a more sheltered bay in the water I'm about to get blown around in.
Most important points about tubing in a bigger wind and "lee shore" rough water wave. We stick in much nearer to the shore. We go upwind so we will be blown back home when we finish. We bring one or two anchors so we can go out 30 - 100 metres, no more, drop anchor and fish back into the lee shore we left from, where fish feed. There's not much need to go further in those conditions. The waves might break over the tube from behind but at anchor that's ok and if you're dressed or it quite exhilarating fishing.
The truth is, a tube handles waves well. But a tube does not go against a wind well, it's very tiring.
Be aware that after an hour a fresh wind will setup a current on the surface layer of a lake flowing downwind at about 1/10th to 1/4 the windspeed. So kicking fins against a 15mph / bft force 4 / 22kph wind, then involves simultaneously kicking "upstream" what is effectively, a 5mph river at the same time. And a tube does 1 - 2mph max cruise speed, all higher speeds being "sprint" and unsustainable for an extended time, so you won't beat that current for long, just a few minutes. If caught, go across and downwind to a landing place, as going upwind will cause your to run-on-the-spot with no benefit until you tire and lose it drifting downwind anyway.
So that's the downside. The upside is: most of the fish food in the lake is travelling by wind and current to the lee shore, and the fish go there to feed, and they are close to the shore, where the downwind current/breeze takes them, before the water dives down and goes back upwind underneath along the lake bottom.
One important point: if you can't handle the breeze on an exposed windy wavy lee shore in your tube, don't try, and in so doing put yourself in danger.
Now for the one the pros and books don't mention:
You can alternatively go upwind to the windward shore which is sheltered and calm, at least it is near the shore, and as you move out it becomes a ripple, and then a wave as the wind picks up strength the farther you go away from shelter.
Anyway, the lake's sunken wind driven upwind current upwells in this zone. Bottom dwelling insect food items get lifted up to the surface here against their better judgment, and get eaten by fish that wait for them.
Also, quantities of terrestrial insects from trees and bushes will be blown onto the water and get eaten. There are two places to watch: the edge of the ripple which is where the terrestrials land, and the "flattening" of the wave which is at the shelf dropoff where the upwelling occurs and midge pupae and bloodworms are brought up. In a stratified lake this zone might be deoxygenated and easily dismissed. But trout have been proven to enter both warm and deoxygenated water for easy pickings, in conditions that are lethal to them if they stay there. But they are willing to do a snatch and grab and retreat to the cooled airy ripple, then come back.
In a shallower and windy lake no stratification occurs, or a previous storm a fortnight ago, can be used to predict a turnover midsummer turnover that anglers don't realise has happened.
In a diamond or square shape lake the upwelling can be funnelled into a narrow spot, and what a transient hotspot it is! Perfect for tubing, in the calm or slight ripple, and on a day when you have the lake to yourself. But be most careful not to be swept out, because you chose the upwind side.
I reckon on windy days surface feeders go 50% downwind to the lee shore, 30% upwind to the upwelling zone and 20% to where terrestrials land beside the upwelling zone, and the rest of the lake is cleared out with the exception of minor "holding areas" around reefs, headlands and islands which exhibit some of the wind driven attractions mentioned above. The bottom current moves bottom feeders onto these places, but many will go into the windy zones to predate on the smaller fish feeding there.
In short, it's a time to fish, if you can.
But a warning for beginners: in those conditions everything must be organised, pre-figured out, and good equipment used, both tubing and clothing. You have to have tubed for years and thought about it while you were doing it, and built up skills and adequate fitness.
Call it advanced float tubing. I would not call it extreme tubing, but it would be that if all was not organised, the equipment unreliable with no spare capacity for case of need, or the skills not already learned.
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Pon ... I am surprised to read so many of you guys will tube while mixed close in with power boats. I have seen many close calls over the years, but not from flipping. Young 12 year old kids or booze impaired teens and adults on PWC can't hear your yells or see your tube ...
I agree with you totally. Those are the sort that have single vehicle crashes. Sharing water space with them in a smaller water craft, be it tube, pontoon or small sailing dinghy, is not a nice experience. I generally go to other lakes, or arrange to fish early and return in as they arrive. They arrive late to the water in my experience.
Here in Ireland complaints from anglers, swimmers, and the tourism industry resulted in many lakes being legislated jetski/PWC free zones. This was tough on the well behaved PWC fraternity, but their wild boy clique were completely out of control. Now they have to travel to a greatly reduced number of locations to use their particular craft.
Pon ... if you manage to flip somehow ..., the ... "cork" effect works in reverse, keeping your head trapped underwater. Maybe best to have your quick release from bib or other restrictions practiced. ....
Good suggestion. A kayaker has to have the exit rehearsed, or know the eskimo roll escape well in advance. The newer SOT (sit-on-top) kayak design reduces the need for these skills, by allowing an instant parting from the craft if capsized. In our tubes we are somewhat like the sit inside kayakers. If for any reason the tube ends up inverted, we can't argue that it's highly unlikely to have happened. We must exit the tube without more than a few seconds delay, get into a heads up attitude, and then sort things out. I'm sure that not many tube users have mentally or actually rehearsed the sequence of actions that will accomplish this safely and quickly, or what items of tackle might block and tangle and have to be dealt with. They should at least make an exit plan/preocedure. It's necessary, just like an office fire drill.
Pon ...surprised to read some will go out in "surf" like conditions. There is almost no danger of capsizing, but how do you keep from being miserable, with all the bouncing and getting splashed? How do you hold positions and keep from being blown away with only fin power?...
This is my experience here and my friends may see it differently: The tube handles the waves. Going up and down is fun, but makes line control very difficult. That undoubtedly reduces the effectiveness of my fishing technique, particurly bite detection and successful striking. Sonar display is compromised making a sawtooth bottom.
On the other hand, the fish bite far better and this makes up for much.
In a bigger wave the finning action while seated in the tube is quite difficult, often while kicking, the tube will pitch up where it was going down or vice versa and this leaves a fin deeper than planned, or popping out of the water surface making an unwanted splash and losing the power of that kick. I don't like that, and it does take from the fun.
Four things are relevant: 1: that's fishing, 2: I could have brought a boat that day, but chose not to. 3: I can mentally file away the weather and plan going to a smaller water next time in that wind strength, or 4: fish a more sheltered bay in the water I'm about to get blown around in.
Most important points about tubing in a bigger wind and "lee shore" rough water wave. We stick in much nearer to the shore. We go upwind so we will be blown back home when we finish. We bring one or two anchors so we can go out 30 - 100 metres, no more, drop anchor and fish back into the lee shore we left from, where fish feed. There's not much need to go further in those conditions. The waves might break over the tube from behind but at anchor that's ok and if you're dressed or it quite exhilarating fishing.
The truth is, a tube handles waves well. But a tube does not go against a wind well, it's very tiring.
Be aware that after an hour a fresh wind will setup a current on the surface layer of a lake flowing downwind at about 1/10th to 1/4 the windspeed. So kicking fins against a 15mph / bft force 4 / 22kph wind, then involves simultaneously kicking "upstream" what is effectively, a 5mph river at the same time. And a tube does 1 - 2mph max cruise speed, all higher speeds being "sprint" and unsustainable for an extended time, so you won't beat that current for long, just a few minutes. If caught, go across and downwind to a landing place, as going upwind will cause your to run-on-the-spot with no benefit until you tire and lose it drifting downwind anyway.
So that's the downside. The upside is: most of the fish food in the lake is travelling by wind and current to the lee shore, and the fish go there to feed, and they are close to the shore, where the downwind current/breeze takes them, before the water dives down and goes back upwind underneath along the lake bottom.
One important point: if you can't handle the breeze on an exposed windy wavy lee shore in your tube, don't try, and in so doing put yourself in danger.
Now for the one the pros and books don't mention:
You can alternatively go upwind to the windward shore which is sheltered and calm, at least it is near the shore, and as you move out it becomes a ripple, and then a wave as the wind picks up strength the farther you go away from shelter.
Anyway, the lake's sunken wind driven upwind current upwells in this zone. Bottom dwelling insect food items get lifted up to the surface here against their better judgment, and get eaten by fish that wait for them.
Also, quantities of terrestrial insects from trees and bushes will be blown onto the water and get eaten. There are two places to watch: the edge of the ripple which is where the terrestrials land, and the "flattening" of the wave which is at the shelf dropoff where the upwelling occurs and midge pupae and bloodworms are brought up. In a stratified lake this zone might be deoxygenated and easily dismissed. But trout have been proven to enter both warm and deoxygenated water for easy pickings, in conditions that are lethal to them if they stay there. But they are willing to do a snatch and grab and retreat to the cooled airy ripple, then come back.
In a shallower and windy lake no stratification occurs, or a previous storm a fortnight ago, can be used to predict a turnover midsummer turnover that anglers don't realise has happened.
In a diamond or square shape lake the upwelling can be funnelled into a narrow spot, and what a transient hotspot it is! Perfect for tubing, in the calm or slight ripple, and on a day when you have the lake to yourself. But be most careful not to be swept out, because you chose the upwind side.
I reckon on windy days surface feeders go 50% downwind to the lee shore, 30% upwind to the upwelling zone and 20% to where terrestrials land beside the upwelling zone, and the rest of the lake is cleared out with the exception of minor "holding areas" around reefs, headlands and islands which exhibit some of the wind driven attractions mentioned above. The bottom current moves bottom feeders onto these places, but many will go into the windy zones to predate on the smaller fish feeding there.
In short, it's a time to fish, if you can.
But a warning for beginners: in those conditions everything must be organised, pre-figured out, and good equipment used, both tubing and clothing. You have to have tubed for years and thought about it while you were doing it, and built up skills and adequate fitness.
Call it advanced float tubing. I would not call it extreme tubing, but it would be that if all was not organised, the equipment unreliable with no spare capacity for case of need, or the skills not already learned.
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