Floating Noob from Nebraska

Howdy from Lincoln, Nebraska.

I was looking for a way to expand my fly fishing with some form of water craft, initially I was set on a kayak. I typically chase the bluegill spawn in Iowa. I like the bass pro 12 footers (sit on top), and was seriously considering spending the coin. The weight and portability were big negatives for me, as well as storage. I decided to do more research, and I am glad I found your site. It seems the cumberland/marshland (I hunt whitetail also) float tube is right up my alley, as I want to stretch my dollar as far as it will go.

I have some strange ideas that I wanted to run by you folks. Has anybody tried attaching an inner tube (car type) to the front of the tube? I was thinking some 1/2 inch plywood cut in a circle, cut out some slots to strap around, and keep your feet out of the water. I understand you would have to paddle, but I am wondering if this is a foolish idea, or if anyone has tried. I understand it could easily deflate or puncture, but hey they are really cheap.

I really like some of the custom mods that have been posted here, especially rod holders. Well, it's nice to be able to post here and let me know what you think of my crazy idea. Not trying to steal anyone else's idea, I sure it has been brought up before. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum half fast!
I'm wondering how you are going to get in and out of the water with a set up like that.
I have the Cumberland and my knees are out of the water. However, my hamstrings and butt are in the water. I'm pretty sure you may keep your feet dry but you butt will still get wet.

Hope this helps

I was trying to avoid using waders and fins in the colder water. Might still be fun to try. Seems kinda hillbilly (no offence to hillbillys), but I like the tube idea better than the pontoon idea. Is there a tube that performs like the cumberland that sits higher and might suit my idea without breaking the bank? As far as getting in/out, I would think when you attach, you use some kind of carabiner or d ring.

Hey half fast, welcome to the forum glad you found us before you pulled the trigger on a Yak. You idea sounds different but hey if it works for you then give it a try.

Welcome to the forum half fast!

I'm from Nebraska as well. I've got a group put together and we're going to start a Nebraska chapter here on the forum. We'll be calling ourselves Hooked in the Heartland. I would love to include you if you're interested. We hit a lot of spots in the state and also Kansas. Plus I'm going to be doing a complete fish/report of the I80 corridor lakes this year. PM me if you are interested.

As tubes go...Float tubes are great for fly fishing, but your butt and feet are gonna get wet. From my perspective it's not an issue. I fly fished from a pontoon craft some years back. You don't get in the water but there are some disadvantages. The cost is one of them if you're on a budget. The killer for me was the paddles. I was constantly having to put down my rig to adjust the craft.

Float Tubing never requires me to put down my fishing rig. Using fins I can make minor adjustments without even thinking about it! This is a huge plus in windy conditions. And the portability and access are simply unmatched.

However...there is a pontoon boat out there that you can deflate. I don't have a link to it at the moment, but if you're interested I can look it up. It still isn't quite as portable as a Float Tube and of course it cost more as well.

Looking to hear from you...Keep your lines tight!

Welcome aboard half fast. I visited my cousin in Lincoln (1972), went to lunch and wore blue. It just happened that Nebraska was playing UCLA that day, I was in a sea of red, need I say more?........enjoy the site........GT

bigfish wrote:Welcome to the forum half fast!

I'm from Nebraska as well. I've got a group put together and we're going to start a Nebraska chapter here on the forum. We'll be calling ourselves Hooked in the Heartland. I would love to include you if you're interested. We hit a lot of spots in the state and also Kansas. Plus I'm going to be doing a complete fish/report of the I80 corridor lakes this year. PM me if you are interested.

As tubes go...Float tubes are great for fly fishing, but your butt and feet are gonna get wet. From my perspective it's not an issue. I fly fished from a pontoon craft some years back. You don't get in the water but there are some disadvantages. The cost is one of them if you're on a budget. The killer for me was the paddles. I was constantly having to put down my rig to adjust the craft.

Float Tubing never requires me to put down my fishing rig. Using fins I can make minor adjustments without even thinking about it! This is a huge plus in windy conditions. And the portability and access are simply unmatched.

However...there is a pontoon boat out there that you can deflate. I don't have a link to it at the moment, but if you're interested I can look it up. It still isn't quite as portable as a Float Tube and of course it cost more as well.

Looking to hear from you...Keep your lines tight!

Thanks for the invite. I would love to join, but my problem is time. My father in law taught me everything I know about fly fishing, hunting and muzzleloaders. He is in his early 70's now, and I take every opportunity to hunt or fish with him. He lives in the country near Red Oak Iowa. That's why I mostly fish in Iowa. I owe him a lot for what he has taught me. I was a city slicker when I met him, but I went through a 10 year redneck apprenticeship, and graduated with honors. Got a couple nice deer on the wall.

I really like the float tube idea, and will probably get the cumberland in about 3 weeks. I am off 5/20-30, I will be going to Iowa fishing the bluegill spawn/prespawn. We hit several lakes within 100 miles of his house. My mother in law fly fishes also (hunts whitetail with muzzleloader too).

I am rethinking my crazy idea, and have come up with a new one, but I think I will try it out before I talk about it too much. I could use some help with dimensions of the cumberland (width, length), and what kind of tubing you guys use for your mods. PVC, abs, ect and do you use 1" or 1.5" or what. Hypotheticaly, if you were going to build a frame from the material, with rod holder type tubes on both sides, what the dimensions would be. I like to experiment with fishing techniques, and muzzleloader rifles.

I picked up a fly rig last fall at a garage sale, it is a st croix pacemaker with an automatic reel. The fella had it rigged up with a small hook for a worm. Got me thinking. I got an 8wt with the first 15' of sinking line, so I rigged it up with a steel leader. I haven't tried it yet, but sounds like fun to me. I have never fly fished with live bait.

To all, thanks for the site, and the mod, you have me thinking. I am real glad I didn't buy a kayak.

Welcome Halffast! enjoy your stay....cant wait for the pics of the set up....

Tony G

Welcome to the forum. Lincoln, Nebraska, been there twice. Its a nice city stayed ad lincoln and visited omaha and council bluffs to gamble lol.

Appreciate all the replies. I am rethinking tube, might go with a pontoon, found a killer deal on classic accessories colorado (not xt) for about 250 off list price (new). The only thing I don't like is the claimed weight of 71 lbs. Seems like a rugged toon for the money. It has good reviews, and I don't want to spend big bucks on my first boat.  I can carry a lot more gear, and I am out of the water. Still thinking and researching.

Anybody own a venture outdoors pontoon? Looking at the light 8t, aluminum frame 50 lbs, but spendy.

Welcome!! Man, I saw Nebraska and new I had to say hi and help you out! I spent a week out there last year, such a cool place with some nice folks. Everything that CA makes is solid. There customer support is top notch, and the quality is up there. There are a few better companies on the market in terms of durability, but they make a very well designed product. With that said, mine (CXT) is around eighty pounds assembled, and gets very heavy when you start adding on to it, at which point the wheel is pretty useless. The other models are just as cool though, and much less in weight. I did a write up on all of the mods I did on mine, hope it helps in your choice!

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If you go the 'tube route, know that you will be on top in regards to stealth. If you are targeting ponds there, it would be killer ...just watch for snapping turtles