Tips and Tricks who's got some

I am wondering of all the members out there who has a tip or a trick they use while float tubing that they would like to share. Something that makes there float tube trip easier, or something that allows them to attach something they would not nornally be able to.
Share your tips and or trick with everyone and maybe you will help someone else's next float tube trip a better one.

I have a few things on coiled carabiner lanyards, stainless Baker hookouts being one, there attached to a D ring on top of my pockets then the hookouts just fit through a D ring on my right side like a holster.
My pike flies get hooked into a piece of 3/4" foam that's cut the exact size as one of the pockets

Mscustomflies wrote:I have a few things on coiled carabiner lanyards, stainless Baker hookouts being one, there attached to a D ring on top of my pockets then the hookouts just fit through a D ring on my right side like a holster.
My pike flies get hooked into a piece of 3/4" foam that's cut the exact size as one of the pockets

Can you post some pics of this?

Sure I'll pop out and get my tube out the garage

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I also have an aluminium comb from the local tack shop for combing chewed up pike flies, drilled the same as the hookouts
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Rigs and leaders in a rig wallet sleeve
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

My phone gets clipped to a lanyard with a yellow foam doughnut so it's visible should it go overboard
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

And my pike flies all in one pocket hooked into foam
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The other spare coiled carabiner lanyard on the left gets clipped onto my floating retaining/weigh sling that sits across the tube behind the seat

Hope that helps

One lesson I learned the hard way is that *everything* is going to get wet.

To deal with this, I use a waterproof pouch, hung around my neck, to hold my phone and keys and wallet. It's like a waterproof "pocket" for whatever I need to carry that can't get wet.

It also works as a convenient place to clip the retractable lanyard that holds my snips and hook sharpener and whistle.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I recently started using braid and have changed over 4 or 5 of my reels. I know this is not a new but I picked up some small round white stickers, and wrote the braid line weight in them. Then I stick them under in the foot of the reel now when I am unsure what I am using I can simply pop the reel off and see the line weight. Simple but effective.

I got a few. The first one I'll share is I roll my waders up and place them on my seat. Then I put my fins and apron ( tote lid) on the seat and pull the straps so the back rest is tight.  Then I use the straps in the bottom and back pack the whole setup in. Leaves my hands free for my rods. I also have a big foot pump I use to fill up at home, then when I get to the water I have a little hand pump in case I need to top off. It fits behind my seat in the stretchy compartment.

joshyouwa.r wrote:I got a few. The first one I'll share is I roll my waders up and place them on my seat. Then I put my fins and apron ( tote lid) on the seat and pull the straps so the back rest is tight.  Then I use the straps in the bottom and back pack the whole setup in. Leaves my hands free for my rods. I also have a big foot pump I use to fill up at home, then when I get to the water I have a little hand pump in case I need to top off. It fits behind my seat in the stretchy compartment.

Cool I would be interested in a picture of your tube all backed up for carry if you have one that sound great.

I'm still in the stone age with my 1.5"-ABS home-made rod-rack.

I own two different float tubes:
*Outcast Fish Cat 4 Deluxe- (burnt orange w/ rod rack, XL Force Fins and 4-Sale).
*Cumberland Classics Accessories

I made the same rack design for both but modified it to fit each of the float tube's personal designs.
It seems that no two bungee lengths matched on either tube nor interchanged between tubes.

THIS FIXED MY PROBLEM!!
I found this at The Home Depot Hardware.
(2) Adjustable bungees with plastic hooks for $3.48

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

You may have other uses for this type of bungees but this is how I use it .... to keep the tension identical on both of the bungees
that are attached between the bottom side of the rod rack and the float tube company supplied D-Rings, located on the tube's bottom side.

I hope that someone out there will find this to be useful to them.

jeffcpr wrote:

joshyouwa.r wrote:I got a few. The first one I'll share is I roll my waders up and place them on my seat. Then I put my fins and apron ( tote lid) on the seat and pull the straps so the back rest is tight.  Then I use the straps in the bottom and back pack the whole setup in. Leaves my hands free for my rods. I also have a big foot pump I use to fill up at home, then when I get to the water I have a little hand pump in case I need to top off. It fits behind my seat in the stretchy compartment.

Cool I would be interested in a picture of your tube all backed up for carry if you have one that sound great.

Yeah I'll get a picture to explain what I'm talking about

Hey sp Dan can I see a pic or two of your "apron" it looks like you riveted some plastic on the sides and I was curious about that set up if you get a chance

Ok joshyouwa.r ... I'll try to get to it tomorrow.

I purchase the package of 3- flexible plastic cutting sheets. I purchased 2- packages in order to have the same color on both sides of the tray and Yes ... I used rivets to attach the tube armor and tray together.

How far northward do you travel to fish? Do you fish NPH? I'd be glad to show it to you.
PM me your phone # and I'll text the pic's to you. Much easier for me.

I'll be heading out tomorrow (Sun) for another session.

Dan

Ok ... here ya go joshyouwa.r,

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Let me know if you need a different picture.

That is perfect. SP Dan wrote:Ok ... here ya go joshyouwa.r,

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Let me know if you need a different picture.

Not at all. That is perfect. So they basically protect your tube on the sides right? So you don't get a fish spine in it?  I left my tube at a buddies house and I'll grab it Tuesday and post a pic of what I'm using. 

Thanks again for the pics. I'll pm you this week.

It protects mostly the top side of each tube from the fish's barbs/ spins as well as when I shoot-the-dock cast; which is 90% of the time, so it also protects my tube from me.
I get my hook pretty close to my tubes at times when shooting and or skipping my way back into the back of the docks.