What are or were your questions

We all are at different stages of our float tube careers. I have a question for you all. When you were new to float tubing, what were your questions. What did you wish you knew or had asked before you started float tubing.

I did not know much and I wish I would of had more info on PFD's Fins, and Waders. I know that there are many more questions I am just wondering what you would have liked to know when you were new.

I’m fairly new, started about two years ago. Luckily I had found Ornery Bobs videos and Alakai’s videos, and this forum…where many of my questions were answered.

Here are a few I had:
How many rods and how much tackle should I bring?
What should I wear under my waders?
Should I get boot-waders or stocking-foot waders?
What fins to get depending on which waders you choose?
Why it is VERY important it “know before you go”? (Tides, Winds, etc)
Do I really need to bring a net?

My very first session was a solo one, launching pre-sunrise at Mothers Beach, heading south to hit the 2nd st. bridge and the slips on the west side of the channel. I think I ended up with four Spotties that morning and learned a bit more about float tuning with each catch. For me one of the first things I immediately noticed when landing a fish was how I could kick and turn to fight the fish and help pull it out of the docks. I hadn’t even thought to ask a question about that to be honest. And when I was “on”, it was kind of natural to kick gently to have some extra leverage when bringing it in.

Next out was with FTFF [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and it was an evening session. More questions are answered that night. He taught me what to look for when the wind kicks up, where the fish might be during slack tide, and what lights would be good to add to the boat (in addition to my headband light).

still not much out there on what to do about gators in the water with you.

easeup wrote:still not much out there on what to do about gators in the water with you.

Safest bit of advise would be no tubing with Gator's.

common sense right?


trouble is..........I will check local water conditions on the fb pages and there are always people claiming a gator sighting in my areas. The validity of these sightings is always in question. Geographically a little farther south and east they are more common and the tube is a no go there.

easeup wrote:common sense right?


trouble is..........I will check local water conditions on the fb pages and there are always people claiming a gator sighting in my areas.  The validity of these sightings is always in question.  Geographically a little farther south and east they are more common and the tube is a no go there.

That is a crazy situation. I am sure people tube it often with no issues but I just cannot see me being comfortable at all in those water. I will take a sealion over a gator any day.