New to float tubing!

Casting Call wrote:

Jerdon wrote:LSUmane87,
I won a CastMate here this month and I had already built my own rack from ABS plastic. The CastMate is very secure with vecro and a strap to hold everything tight. The adjustability is great compared to the one I built, and the availability to "grow" by adding on to CastMate with prefabbed holders is nice.

Jerdon,
Did you have problems getting the ends off?

Yes!
I used a plastic mallet (dead blow hammer)... tap tap tap easy. When you see or feel t move give a little twist. After that you can twist it together.

Got her put together! I can tell storage is going to be a challenge lol gonna test out the force fins and the tube this weekend.

You are going to be hooked bro just you wait and see.

hey man welcome, also these guys have helped me A TON since i got my toon. all the information can sometiems be overwhelming but such a great addiction. i dont think a fish finder is necessary but i want one lol. also fgreat find some fins man. i really hope u enjoy the tube. also next month we are doing a fishing meet up maybe jeff can give u a link and u can join us.

And here is the link to the gatheing should be a fun one.
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I just bought the same tube and am waiting for it to show up so I can outfit her. (Should be here by Wed and in the water Sat or Sun).

For fresh water (All species fishing) this is my setup on the old tube but please remember that I also fish heavy compared to most float tubers:

Rod holder that holds three spare rods and a swivel holder for trolling (Attached to tube using wader belts)
Breathable waders (Neoprene is too hot in the summer, but great for high sierra's).
Cheap water shoes 1/2 size too big. I wear my waders walking to the lake and use these to avoid tears or rips in the stocking feet.
I personally go overboard on the fins and have a pair of split fin scuba fins. They are long but once you adjust to them, they really help out on windy days.
minimum of two rods, preferably 3-4 (Quick switch of lures and swimbaits). This is ideal if you are switching from bass to crappy to catfish and back again.
5 gallon bucket for dry storage (I use an old bromine bucket with a twist off locking lid)
Nail clippers to snip line (I attach this to my fishing license lanyard for quick access)
hemostats or long pliers for those gut hooks. (I attach a key ring floater to mine)
Stringer (Just in case it is a fish fry night)
3-6 water proof boxes of different sizes for whatever hooks, bobbers, plastics or lures you bring (One for wallet, keys, and cell)
floating net
Wax worms (Crappy and sunfish bait)
fluorocarbon leaders
1-3 lbs Frozen Mackerel for catfish
3 lb mushroom anchor and 40 ft of rope
Fish finder/ chart plotter

See, Overboard!~

I just realized you are in Louisiana, so maybe a bat to beat off the potential gator?

fisheromen wrote:

kobra wrote:A pfd and landing net are required to be on board.

What state requires a landing net???

California requires a PFD with you, not on you. Look at SOSpenders, they are my next purchase. Get the manual, not automatic though.

dexter419 wrote:

I just realized you are in Louisiana, so maybe a bat  to beat off the potential gator?

Forget the bat, you'll just make him mad. Pack a 45!