New Tuber in Alaska

Actually I haven't even bought a tube yet. I hope to get some good input about that here.

I initially hope to fish the local lakes for trout but this is Alaska after all. I might even want to try a little salt water in areas where the tidal currents aren't too dangerous.

The water is still solid here so I have a little time but hope to order something soon.

Any ideas of what a newbie should get. I've been fishing all my life but never from a tube. I'm 60, in need of exercise, and thought tubing would be a good match.

Dang! Tubing the salt in Alaska?! This I want to see.

I would think for open areas up in your neck of the woods you would want to stick with a pontoon style float tube.

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I'm quite fond of this one since you can kick and paddle with it. It'll be good for an upper and lower body workout. For those windy days a oar definitely works much better than your legs. Some of the guys here will disagree with me, but hey that's their opinion.

Thanks, what makes that a pontoon style, the longer tubes?  Obviously I'm a noobie.  I do like the option of oars.  The wind can pick up quickly around here.  I do like the looks of that boat.

The only area that I might feel comfortable in the salt is in Whittier.  That is in Prince William Sound and the tide is not strong their.  Cook Inlet has 30 foot tides and the current gets pretty hairy, I think I'll stay out of that.

There are a lot of lakes with some pretty good fishing.  But I do want to get into salmon too.  The salmon are in the rivers and the salt.  It would be a kick to get a big halibut but I'm not sure where that would be possible.  Most guys go out pretty deep for those.

You're welcome. Dang, I'm not use to looking at so much forest and so little development.   It was a little troublesome to find Whittier. It looks like a cool place to tube.

I'm no expert either for tubes, but from what I understand about pontoon-styled tubes is that they have longer bladders.

Oh and by the way, I wouldn't recommend tubing the salt by yourself. Even in the safest areas it's never a good idea. It seems a especially risky since your area looks like a person wouldn't be seen for days if he/she got blown away.

One last thing.    What kind of fish can you get at Whittier? Rockfish? Or is it just salmon? Thanks!

Welcome to the forum Marty...and im no expert...but im sure plenty of peeps here have great info on what pontoon to use or float....good luck........  

Tony g

Welcome to the boards.

Float tubes are mainly for smaller bodies of water like lakes and harbors/marinas. That we you can get close to docks/structure with out crashing into them since you are powered by your legs. People have been known to go long distances on them but they are not the ideal vessel for that.

If you are mainly fishing open water I would recommend either a pontoon (since they have oars) or even a kayak. I don't like fishing kayaks in confined spaces because when you hook a fish they will pull you into the a boat or tree or whatever exposed structure is around.

I rambled a bit but I hope it makes sense LOL. Good luck with your purchase.

Hello Marty and welcome to our cave.
I would agree that up there a pontoon would be nice as your up and out of the water more. You can also hook up a motor to you pontoon as well. I have a Cumberland float tube and love it!! However I live in San Diego and in the winter it can get below 80 degrees sometimes, so being in the water is not that bad. I started tubing when I retired and never had so much fun. My wife and I will be traveling to Alaska some time in June and I am taking my tube and polls with us. Perhaps we could meet up? My uncle was the 11th govenor up there, his name is George Parks so we want to see where he live etc. There are some good YouTube clips of guys tubbing in Alaska you may want to see as well, all good information.
Good luck Marty

Welcome to the boards and I could not agree more that a Pontoon Style tube will be the best choice up there in Alaska . I used to go every year in my Teens with the Grandparents and we always had a blast fishing he lakes and also going on charters out into the Sea and hooking some big Halibuts ! Beautiful remote Country to fish anywhere .. Welcome again and don't forget once you get that first tube to post us some pictures up and a report on how the outings went . Be safe

WES

Hey Marty, sounds like you are getting some good advice on what you should be getting. You mentioned wind and I think if on a pontoon the wind might mess with you more being that you are not in the water creating drag. But that is what an anchor is for correct. The water temps there would make me say the Toon is a better bet for you. Plus with the distnace or size of the waters your talking about Pontoon make sense.

Now you are talking about ordering, there are a lot of great options and deals, don't forghet though that as a member you get a 15% discount from out sponsor Cover Bonanza. Check them out they might have what you are looking for. Welcome to the board looking forward to some pictures and reports from your neck of the woods.

welcome to the forums be awesome to get some huge halis from a tube out there

Fisher wrote:welcome to the forums be awesome to get some huge halis from a tube out there

What would you do with it once you got it up, shoot it???

Welcome aboard glad u found us