Float Tubing

There is a place I like to fish that is walk in access only. Heavy brush.
Dragging my canoe is not even possible even with a partner and with a canoe
dolly. There is only a small portion of it I can fish from the bank or by
wading. I was thinking I could pack in a light duty float tube deflated in
my pack, but I need to be able to inflate it in a reasonable period of time.
Any of you guys have a suggestion. Something small enough to be packable
and can inflate the tube in a short period of time to full pressure?

Remember I also have to pack in water, (a snack if I stay all day) and my
fishing gear along with reasonable safety gear.

Bob La Londe wrote:
There is a place I like to fish that is walk in access only. Heavy brush.
Dragging my canoe is not even possible even with a partner and with a canoe
dolly. There is only a small portion of it I can fish from the bank or by
wading. I was thinking I could pack in a light duty float tube deflated in
my pack, but I need to be able to inflate it in a reasonable period of time.
Any of you guys have a suggestion. Something small enough to be packable
and can inflate the tube in a short period of time to full pressure?

Remember I also have to pack in water, (a snack if I stay all day) and my
fishing gear along with reasonable safety gear.

I've tried float tubes and don't like them. If you can pack in
a float tube and the fins and the pump and your fishing gear,
you can just as easily carry in a small canoe. One of my canoes
is a 54 lb. 16 footer and I can carry it anywhere I can pack a
float tube and all its paraphernalia.

The only time I'd use a float tube anymore is for fishing a
high alpine lake and traveling there on horseback. And even
then I'd just as soon arrive a half hour late on foot carrying
a canoe rather than riding a friggin' horse and being stuck
in a float tube all day. But that's just me.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
...
Bob La Londe wrote:
There is a place I like to fish that is walk in access only. Heavy
brush. Dragging my canoe is not even possible even with a partner and
with a canoe dolly. There is only a small portion of it I can fish from
the bank or by wading. I was thinking I could pack in a light duty float
tube deflated in my pack, but I need to be able to inflate it in a
reasonable period of time. Any of you guys have a suggestion. Something
small enough to be packable and can inflate the tube in a short period of
time to full pressure?

Remember I also have to pack in water, (a snack if I stay all day) and my
fishing gear along with reasonable safety gear.

I've tried float tubes and don't like them. If you can pack in
a float tube and the fins and the pump and your fishing gear,
you can just as easily carry in a small canoe. One of my canoes
is a 54 lb. 16 footer and I can carry it anywhere I can pack a
float tube and all its paraphernalia.

The only time I'd use a float tube anymore is for fishing a
high alpine lake and traveling there on horseback. And even
then I'd just as soon arrive a half hour late on foot carrying
a canoe rather than riding a friggin' horse and being stuck
in a float tube all day. But that's just me.

--
Ken Fortenberry

I still float tube. Is easier to carry the tube than my kayak or canoe. I
happen to crry mine inflated, but just get a pony bottle for scuba. About
3000psi and maybe 2 pounds.

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
...
Bob La Londe wrote:
There is a place I like to fish that is walk in access only. Heavy
brush. Dragging my canoe is not even possible even with a partner and
with a canoe dolly. There is only a small portion of it I can fish from
the bank or by wading. I was thinking I could pack in a light duty float
tube deflated in my pack, but I need to be able to inflate it in a
reasonable period of time. Any of you guys have a suggestion. Something
small enough to be packable and can inflate the tube in a short period of
time to full pressure?

Remember I also have to pack in water, (a snack if I stay all day) and my
fishing gear along with reasonable safety gear.

I've tried float tubes and don't like them. If you can pack in
a float tube and the fins and the pump and your fishing gear,
you can just as easily carry in a small canoe. One of my canoes
is a 54 lb. 16 footer and I can carry it anywhere I can pack a
float tube and all its paraphernalia.

This is some heavy brush to get through. I don't think so. In some places
I am using both hands to separate the brush so I can push through, and
wading in hip deep water where I am not actually laying on or crawling over
the brush. A light duty float tube will fit in my back pack. I wouldn't
even want to try to get through with a full frame pack.

I suppose it might be possible to drag a one person kayak, but it would be
pretty scratched up., and I would be exhausted by the time I got it through.
Its not a long walk. Maybe a half mile, but there are two or three places
where I can barely fit me through the brush. One of them is about 100 feet
of that type of squeezing through. I have a canoe, and seriously thought
about how I might get it through and gave up on the idea.

Last time I was there I waded in neck deep water and whacked fish left and
right, but I was only able to fish about 1% of the fishable pond/opening.
It was all too deep for any more. There is no way I could pack in my tube
inflated, and I would have to use one of the smaller ones that will fit in
my day pack.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

I still float tube. Is easier to carry the tube than my kayak or canoe.
I happen to crry mine inflated, but just get a pony bottle for scuba.
About 3000psi and maybe 2 pounds.

I was thinking CO2 or something like that. Maybe a paintball tank, but that
make perfect sense.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

I still float tube. Is easier to carry the tube than my kayak or canoe.
I happen to crry mine inflated, but just get a pony bottle for scuba.
About 3000psi and maybe 2 pounds.

I was thinking CO2 or something like that. Maybe a paintball tank, but
that make perfect sense.

I'll have to check pricing, but I think a CO2 Jac Pac might be the answer.
Use a hose nozzle or adaptor to my tube fitting instead of plugging it into
a nail gun or other air tool. Relatively cheap too.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

I still float tube. Is easier to carry the tube than my kayak or canoe.
I happen to crry mine inflated, but just get a pony bottle for scuba.
About 3000psi and maybe 2 pounds.

I was thinking CO2 or something like that. Maybe a paintball tank, but
that make perfect sense.

I'll have to check pricing, but I think a CO2 Jac Pac might be the answer.
Use a hose nozzle or adaptor to my tube fitting instead of plugging it
into a nail gun or other air tool. Relatively cheap too.

Scuba shops will refill paintball tanks. At least Sport Chalet does.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

I still float tube. Is easier to carry the tube than my kayak or
canoe. I happen to crry mine inflated, but just get a pony bottle for
scuba. About 3000psi and maybe 2 pounds.

I was thinking CO2 or something like that. Maybe a paintball tank, but
that make perfect sense.

I'll have to check pricing, but I think a CO2 Jac Pac might be the
answer. Use a hose nozzle or adaptor to my tube fitting instead of
plugging it into a nail gun or other air tool. Relatively cheap too.

Scuba shops will refill paintball tanks. At least Sport Chalet does.

No scuba shops in Yuma, but I just found a paintball shop that will refill
for $5 per pound. Not great, but hey, wadda ya gonna do?

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
...
Bob La Londe wrote:
There is a place I like to fish that is walk in access only. Heavy
brush. Dragging my canoe is not even possible even with a partner and
with a canoe dolly. There is only a small portion of it I can fish from
the bank or by wading. I was thinking I could pack in a light duty
float tube deflated in my pack, but I need to be able to inflate it in a
reasonable period of time. Any of you guys have a suggestion. Something
small enough to be packable and can inflate the tube in a short period
of time to full pressure?

Remember I also have to pack in water, (a snack if I stay all day) and
my fishing gear along with reasonable safety gear.

I've tried float tubes and don't like them. If you can pack in
a float tube and the fins and the pump and your fishing gear,
you can just as easily carry in a small canoe. One of my canoes
is a 54 lb. 16 footer and I can carry it anywhere I can pack a
float tube and all its paraphernalia.

This is some heavy brush to get through. I don't think so. In some
places I am using both hands to separate the brush so I can push through,
and wading in hip deep water where I am not actually laying on or crawling
over the brush. A light duty float tube will fit in my back pack. I
wouldn't even want to try to get through with a full frame pack.

I suppose it might be possible to drag a one person kayak, but it would be
pretty scratched up., and I would be exhausted by the time I got it
through. Its not a long walk. Maybe a half mile, but there are two or
three places where I can barely fit me through the brush. One of them is
about 100 feet of that type of squeezing through. I have a canoe, and
seriously thought about how I might get it through and gave up on the
idea.

Last time I was there I waded in neck deep water and whacked fish left and
right, but I was only able to fish about 1% of the fishable pond/opening.
It was all too deep for any more. There is no way I could pack in my tube
inflated, and I would have to use one of the smaller ones that will fit in
my day pack.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com




We have a rechargeable pump used to inflate the grandkids big tubes that get
towed behind our boat. Fully charged, it can inflate a two person float,
with power to spare. Nice thing is , it's about 5 inches by 4 inches in
size. Comes with nozzle attachments for varying sizes. Does not include
fitting for tire inner tube.

I think I bought it at Wal-Mart. Its box is labeled "Ozark Trail AC/DC
rechargeable pump". Cost less than $20.00. Here's link to walmart.com ad:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4694688

I accept tried float tubes and don't like them. If you can pack in a float tube and the fins and the pump and your fishing gear, you can just as calmly carry in a small canoe. The only time I had use a float tube anymore is for fishing a high alpine lake and traveling there on horseback.