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Lahontan


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float tube or pontoon ... any advise for either...
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Hi Gang,

I've not posted in a while ... simply not had time to get out.

But, I am seriously thinking about getting a float tube.

Kind of excited about it!  Any advice on brand? Approach to learning?
Safety?  (I plan to wear some sort of appropriate floatation device...
I am a pretty strong swimmer, but not an idiot.)

Will likely start out on Lafayette Reservoir.  Open to other good "low" tech
learning locations. Would like to learn to fish the large, open deep, slow pools of putah at high flows.

Any advise or thoughts from you all are appreciated.

Cheers!  Ed.

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Flying Dutchman


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Lahontan,

Not sure if you read the posts Float Tube vs. Pontoon or How to Choose a Float Tube in Equipment and Product Review.

I'm completely sold on Outcast's Fat Cat!

PM sent.


-- Edited by Flying Dutchman at 17:18, 2008-09-06

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AbelBoy


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Click here for float tube or pontoon topic in the equipment section.  There are good points in that thread.


I have both a float tube and a pontoon boat.  My float tube is mainly used on smaller lakes, since I don't need to cover a lot of water.  Fuller Lake in Nevada County is a perfect example of a smaller lake.  If I want to cover a lot of water on a lake, I'll use my pontoon boat.  Red Lake in Amador County is a bigger lake that I will take the pontoon boat on.  I bought my pontoon boat primarily as a river runner.  I have used it on the Lower Yuba and the Rogue.

Any advice on brand?
Outcast.  The price pointed series, Fishcat, are good for the money.  But their mainline boats, Fatcat series float tubes (Fatcat and Super Fatcat) and PAC series pontoon boats, are the best on the market.  For a stillwater or mild stream pontoon boat, look at the PAC 9000.  For a river runner, look at the PAC 800, 900, or 1000.

Approach to learning?
Start on smaller waters.  Get a feel on how to propel and manouver the boat.

Safety?
Wear a life vest.  I like the CO2 inflatable ones since they don't feel bulky.  Always fish with a buddy.

Other thoughts?
Spend the money on Force Fins.  These kick fins were designed for finning in a seated position.  Other fins on the market won't propel the boat as efficiently.  This means that there will be less strain from kicking around.

AbelBoy



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Lahontan


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I appreciate you guys!

Jeff ... thanks for the insight (and PM) ... AB...thanks for the link and the specifics.

Outcast comes up a lot.  A clear front runner.  Probably won't spring for the pontoon now. Everything in the fat cat series is looking good.

I checked out the thread in equipment.  Sorry I missed that before starting this one.  Nic asked almost the same question and the conversation there is dead on topic.

I think I read here somewhere that Brian C. has a hobie fish cat that he likes. May chat him up a bit too.

Thanks for the help.  I'll post back as I make decisions, and take my first "death drop" into the tube seat.

All the best,  Ed

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Nohackle


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Ed, before you fish Lafayette reservoir, check in with the lake headquarters.  You will need a fishing permit and, I believe, a float tube permit.  You have to launch your tube at a designated ramp near the dam and you are restricted to one section of the lake; they will give you all of the details.  I haven't float tubed the lake in several years, but I did have a little bit of luck with a wooly bugger and a sinking line.  This time of year you will may have more success fishing for bass than trout.  Another lake I used to fish years ago is Contra Loma reservoir in Antioch.  Take the Lone Tree exit off of highway 4, drive in a couple of miles, and then look for the signs to the lake.  Contra Loma has trout, black bass, crappie, bluegill, and even striped bass.  It's also a wooly bugger/sinking line lake.

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AbelBoy


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Ed,
I tell my friends who get started in tubes or 'toons to fish Fuller Lake in Nevada County. It is an hour's drive east of Roseville. If you are willing to make a day trip, I highly recommend it. It's a small lake that is tube and 'toon friendly.  What's great is that the trout are stupid.  You can learn how to use your tube and catch fish at the same time. That's a great way to get started.

Fuller Lake - Delorme Northern California Gazetteer, Page 80, Grid B2.

I80 East towards Truckee
Ca 20 West
Right turn Bowman Lakes Road
Lake is 4 miles up Bowman Lakes Road
I suggest parking at the Boat Ramp area.  It is less than a mile from the first parking area.

The lake will not be accessible once it starts snowing.

AbelBoy

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shon42073


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Last time i was at lafayette reservoir you couldn't use a float tube there, that was about 3 years ago.



-- Edited by shon42073 at 18:24, 2008-09-07

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