Backing packing float tube?

Hi All U ROFFers,

What is hot now in light weight float tubes for back packing?

Thanks

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com

Bill Kiene wrote:
Hi All U ROFFers,

What is hot now in light weight float tubes for back packing?

Thanks


Here's an interesting alternative to a float tube:

http://tinyurl.com/bteqf

It's expensive, but at 3lb 12oz (not including the paddle) it's very
light, and another big advantage is that you can use it as a lightweight
shelter to camp under at night, and leave the tent at home. REI sells a
4-piece paddle that weight 38oz. (It costs $105!)

A disadvantage for fishing is that you wouldn't have the control of
fins. OTOH, for floating a river to access wade-fishing sites it would
be far superior. You can carry all your gear.

I think a good way to save weight with a float tube would be somehow to
come up with lighter fins. Force Fins are heavy and awkward to pack.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:


I think a good way to save weight with a float tube would be somehow to
come up with lighter fins. Force Fins are heavy and awkward to pack

Force Fins are great but they are heavy. I've got some lightweight,
cheapo "Caddis" fins for backpacking. I've got a "Fish Cat" that's
fairly lightweight but kind of bulky & awkward. I plan to take the
setup up to a lake in the wilderness area that has really big trout
(like Rattlesnake) and camp out until I catch a fish. I've seen them
swimming around but I've never been able to catch one there nor have I
ever talked to anyone who's caught a fish there.

Snoop

wrote:
rw wrote:


I think a good way to save weight with a float tube would be somehow
to come up with lighter fins. Force Fins are heavy and awkward to pack


Force Fins are great but they are heavy. I've got some lightweight,
cheapo "Caddis" fins for backpacking. I've got a "Fish Cat" that's
fairly lightweight but kind of bulky & awkward. I plan to take the
setup up to a lake in the wilderness area that has really big trout
(like Rattlesnake) and camp out until I catch a fish. I've seen them
swimming around but I've never been able to catch one there nor have I
ever talked to anyone who's caught a fish there.

It's a matter of luck and persistence. Just troll a damselfly or
dragonfly nymph around (slowly!) and you'll eventually hook up. In my
experience (two trips, four fish, including the BIG ONE) the area near
the downed timber is best.

Willi and I are going to be fishing some very productive lakes with big
rainbows in May. I'm not at liberty to reveal the names and locations.
:-) We've been studying lake fishing. It's more involved than I thought,
but I think the damselfly and dragonfly nymphs are overall your best bet
at Rattlesnake.

About the most fun I've had fishing stillwater was at last summer's
Western Clave on Quake Lake. We hit it during a rare Callibaetis hatch
and sizable fish (not the big dogs, but more than decent) were feeding
on the surface.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

wrote:


Force Fins are great but they are heavy. I've got some lightweight,
cheapo "Caddis" fins for backpacking. I've got a "Fish Cat" that's
fairly lightweight but kind of bulky & awkward. I plan to take the
setup up to a lake in the wilderness area that has really big trout
(like Rattlesnake) and camp out until I catch a fish. I've seen them
swimming around but I've never been able to catch one there nor have I
ever talked to anyone who's caught a fish there.

Snoop

How do you carry a fish cat, fins, waders, boots plus all the other
stuff you need for a backpack trip? Where does it go? Even discounting
the weight, I can't imagine a pack big enough for all that.

Willi

Willi wrote:
wrote:

How do you carry a fish cat, fins, waders, boots plus all the other
stuff you need for a backpack trip? Where does it go? Even discounting
the weight, I can't imagine a pack big enough for all that.

Willi

Willi,

Well, my outfit isn't heavy, just bulkey and cumbersome. I think I
told you my new tent, bag, pad & stuff is very lightweight and compact.
The Fish Cat isn't all that heavy but it's bulky as the dickens. I
lash this on to an old frame pack & stick the fins and foot pump in the
pack. Waders are rolled up and tied to the pack. I don't use boots.
Intead, I use neoprene feet cut off of some old waders (to save wear and
tear on the feet of my good waders.)

I wouldn't want to spend too much time hauling such a bulky load but
I don't have far to walk, 4 or 5 miles, and it's on a trail so there's
no bush wacking involved. I wouldn't want to go cross country with this
outfit & have to buck brush, that's for sure.

Snoop

rw wrote:

:-) We've been studying lake fishing. It's more involved than I thought,
but I think the damselfly and dragonfly nymphs are overall your best bet
at Rattlesnake.

I think lake/pond fishing is more difficult than stream fishing with
the exception that I can keep my balance better with my butt in a float
tube. The fish have all day to look at your fly when lake fishing. Not
so in stream fishing.

Most of my fishing around here is lake fishing both down here on the
flat and in the mountains in the wilderness area. In the Cloud Peak
wilderness area, there are just small streams with small brookies in
them and these streams get mighty low towards the end of the summer. I
have found a couple of small streams at lower elevations that have some
bigger fish but it's a long drive from home and a longer hike from the
parking area to get there and we had a couple of pretty warm hikes last
year later in the season. We're going to fish these creeks earlier in
the season this year as soon as the roads open to our jumping off point.

Snoop

wrote:
rw wrote:

:-) We've been studying lake fishing. It's more involved than I
thought, but I think the damselfly and dragonfly nymphs are overall
your best bet at Rattlesnake.


I think lake/pond fishing is more difficult than stream fishing with
the exception that I can keep my balance better with my butt in a float
tube. The fish have all day to look at your fly when lake fishing. Not
so in stream fishing.

Most of my fishing around here is lake fishing both down here on the
flat and in the mountains in the wilderness area. In the Cloud Peak
wilderness area, there are just small streams with small brookies in
them and these streams get mighty low towards the end of the summer. I
have found a couple of small streams at lower elevations that have some
bigger fish but it's a long drive from home and a longer hike from the
parking area to get there and we had a couple of pretty warm hikes last
year later in the season. We're going to fish these creeks earlier in
the season this year as soon as the roads open to our jumping off point.

Snoop


What's your snowpack like this year?

I'm planning several short 2 to 3 day backpack trips in RMNP this
Summer. I got some tips from an ex Ranger. If you come down we could
probably get Wilson to come along. July is a good month and during the
week is best.

Willi

Willi wrote:

What's your snowpack like this year?

I'm planning several short 2 to 3 day backpack trips in RMNP this
Summer. I got some tips from an ex Ranger. If you come down we could
probably get Wilson to come along. July is a good month and during the
week is best.

Willi

Willi, we're not very good around here on snow pack. Everywhere else
in the state is normal or above normal but us. I'm seeing way too much
bare rock when I look to the west.

I'd be up for a trip down south, especially if Charlie goes along.
You and I can run his raggedy ass right into the ground. (I know a way.
I have lots of lead ingots that I'll slip into his backpack.) I
should be able to go anytime. I'll let Peggy check irrigation water.
If my new job (as a methane desorption technician) gets in the way
though, I'll have to reschedule.

Snoop

"Willi" wrote:
I'm planning several short 2 to 3 day backpack trips in RMNP this
Summer. I got some tips from an ex Ranger. If you come down we could
probably get Wilson to come along. July is a good month and during the
week is best.

You don't have to twist my arm. I prefer the north side of the park, or the
wilderness areas north and northwest of there.