Float tube thoughts

[Flyfisher for men]

Here's the scoop. I've got $150 in bass pro gif cards and thought about a float tube. I would be using this on small lakes and ponds in Kansas. I have a life vest but nothing else as far as accessories.

What else do I need to consider?

[Diver Dan]

Fins. Waders if you don't already for when the water cools down. I have an anchor but you don't really need it. I have it for a specific thing. Still you may think of a reason to get one. An air pump that runs on the 12 volt system of your vehicle so you don't pass out trying to blow it up. A leash for your rod so if you go all butterfingers you don't need to breakout the scuba gear to get it back. Maybe a rod holder. Waterproof boxes/bags for your misc. stuff you may want to haul around with you. I have a portable fishfinder that comes in handy sometimes. There's a lot of things that you may want. Joni and Mojo use stuff like this a lot, so hopefully they will jump in and help also.

[rubberguy]

Diver Dan beat me to it !!

you'll also need fins. force fins are excellent but also around $125.00
i had an old caddis float tube that had a strap between your legs holding up the front of the seating area. if they still have this, look for one with some type of padding on it, so it won't rub the crotch of your waders. storage? fly rod holder? backrest? ease of inflating? weight? maybe a small anchor for brezzy days? be safe and have a blast.

[caseywise]

fins....diving fins.
and a sweet electric air pump

casey

[Flyfisher for men]

Thanks guys!

The car I drive has a pump that you'd use to air up a tire in an emergency. Would that work?

[Diver Dan]

Not likely. If you had the adapter to do it maybe. The fastest way is a shop vac. Put the hose on the exhaust and it will blow it up in about 12 seconds. It will do an air mattress in under 20 seconds.

The pump I have for mine has the adapter to fit the inlet on my tubes and my air mattress. I can make the adapters work on my shop vac. It works so well and so fast it is actually fun. Not fun enough to do when I'm bored.... but close.

[kayo]

A sail would be nice.

[Flyfisher for men]

Originally Posted by Diver Dan

Not likely. If you had the adapter to do it maybe. The fastest way is a shop vac. Put the hose on the exhaust and it will blow it up in about 12 seconds. It will do an air mattress in under 20 seconds.

The pump I have for mine has the adapter to fit the inlet on my tubes and my air mattress. I can make the adapters work on my shop vac. It works so well and so fast it is actually fun. Not fun enough to do when I'm bored.... but close.

Gotcha! I have an air mattress pump for camping. I'll check it out. This might just call for some Red Green Duct tape engineering!

I've been toying with the idea of how to spend those gift cards and this is looking better and better. I'd been leaning towards a .22 pistol for plinking. Then I got to kibbitzing with my father about little camping/fishing/traveling adventures we've taken over the years, some together, some alone as I got sent out for ministry/pastoral duties.

The fun and good memory in those is a lot more than any target practice I've done. This thing could set me up for some cool adventure.

[Rip Tide]

Originally Posted by kayo

A sail would be nice.

I use an umbrella in my kayak

[webrx]

Just be careful, once you float tube you'll never go back

I have a cumberland, love it, use it all the time, from ice out to ice in, just gotta dress warm, with merino wool socks over some poly socks.

I used my boats abouts 6 times last year, used my float tube just about every other weekend.

Dave