Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: azafai on March 18, 2011, 01:15:28 PM
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Hi
any thoughts, tips, recommendations...
what is the best you suggest.. Barnds, Types, Sizes....others..
thanks.
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The v boat style like the fish cat 4s are the best, you sit higher out of the water. They are the most expensive though.
If you are thinking about staying on the cheaper, lighter, more packable side, go with a U boat style over the standard round float tube. If you have ever used a round float tube before you will quickly realize how much easier getting in and out of the U boat is, which will be far more enjoyable to use.
Ebay is a great place to keep your eyes peeled on. A few years ago, I picked up a brand new in the box creek company u boat for about $60 us. Just kept bidding on auctions until I got one for what i wanted to spend.
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The v boat style like the fish cat 4s are the best, you sit higher out of the water. They are the most expensive though.
If you are thinking about staying on the cheaper, lighter, more packable side, go with a U boat style over the standard round float tube. If you have ever used a round float tube before you will quickly realize how much easier getting in and out of the U boat is, which will be far more enjoyable to use.
Ebay is a great place to keep your eyes peeled on. A few years ago, I picked up a brand new in the box creek company u boat for about $60 us. Just kept bidding on auctions until I got one for what i wanted to spend.
AGREED, however, there are some good "used" deals on the tubes.
Depends on how much you'll use it.
Not hard to get your feet wet for under a $100 ( and it'll pick up the slack in case of an emergency) BUT you'll definitely want to go with the U if you're going to go out on a regular basis,
Then there's the Toon, then the jon boat, then the..........
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-depends on the intended use or are you just looking for cheapest way to get on the water/
--Back packing... there are hybrids like the Supercat.. not to be confused with the Outcast Fat cat "V" shape.
--Supercat seat folds to form a pack frame and the separate pontoons fold in to make a narrow pack for trail
--Outcast Fat cat.. has foam and I think air inflateable option for the seat in a V shape boat.
--Bucks Bag.
--Bag Maker
--Caddis.. USA made models have warranty.
--You can get light weight tube for back packing could partially deflate and inflate when you arrive or carry light weight plastic pump or tire tube heavier in round or shaped tube have to use bicycle type pump or electric to inflate.
--Some now have built in or after market inflatable seat .. if using neoprene waders you get some floatation from the wader
--round or U shape without floating seats... your bum is in the water thus getting some drag when you try to go any distance at speed... on the other hand you are your own wind anchor and not as likely to get blown around in light winds. I like this low in the water style as you are closer to the water and can observe what is going on .. it is quite a different feeling then sitting higher up.
--Can guarantee you will fall getting in or out of a round boat eventually but I find this the most relaxing for fishing from on a small trophy lake.
-Definitely don't like to be around motor boats in these rigs.
--They come in different tube sizes so get one that as suitable for your weight.
--These are made for still water do not use them in a river.
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thanks very much for all responses.
I am not looking for an economic one. I was looking for one with best options and best stability with reasonable pricing, somewhere in middle or upper middle range... stable and reliable.
Now I know it has to be either a V shape or a U shape one.... I don't know which is the better one based on experience ...
any input, brand names, models, and other inputs ... are still very much appreciated.
thanks again.
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I have this creek company u-boat. This auction is ending soon but they usually relist them. Well priced, easily packable, it even has should straps for carrying it on your back, and easy to get in or out of being a U instead of an O
http://cgi.ebay.com/Creek-Company-Original-U-Boat-Float-Tube-/270382134810?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ef407f61a#ht_322wt_150 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Creek-Company-Original-U-Boat-Float-Tube-/270382134810?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ef407f61a#ht_322wt_150)
Fred's has a good deal on the fish cat 4 deluxe right now. This is what I would probably go for based on your post.
http://www.fredstackle.com/Specials_c_34.html (http://www.fredstackle.com/Specials_c_34.html)
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thanks again
fish cat 4 is the one..
tight lines. :)
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super fat cat:) tons of room, picked one up on this forum a year ago or so and love it! Id suggest getting a scotty anchor mount to strap to the back.............ill try to post pics later
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here are some really easy to do "custom" mods you can do for any float tube
http://www.greenhobbymodel.com/floattubeireland/float_tube_rod_rest_rack.html
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Just my opinion, but unless you are planning on hiking into lakes, you would be much better off getting s pontoon boat. I fished for years out of belly boats and you couldn't pay me to go back...
That said if your heart is set on a belly boat get the fishcat 4 delux. About twice a fast going as the standard donut and the area in the 'bow' can be used to store an anchor. Although as I said before I wouldn't buy one..
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seen this on craiglist.....http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nvn/spo/2277038820.html
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Or for s little more....
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/boa/2277067266.html (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/boa/2277067266.html)
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/spo/2273853777.html (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/spo/2273853777.html)
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If your going to go with a Vboat then get the one with the AIR seat not the foam. you sit higher in the air seat one and the back V part doesnt totally fill with water, of course this depends on how much you weigh. If your around 220-250lbs then i think you may be pushing it for these things and a pontoon would then be your best bet.
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yeah i weigh 245 and still sit fairly high and comfotable in my v boat but yeah would definetely reccomend the blow up seats....
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Just my opinion, but unless you are planning on hiking into lakes, you would be much better off getting a pontoon boat. I fished for years out of belly boats and you couldn't pay me to go back...
That said if your heart is set on a belly boat get the fishcat 4 delux. About twice a fast going as the standard donut and the area in the 'bow' can be used to store an anchor. Although as I said before I wouldn't buy one..
100% agree with the above comments from SC, especially the bolded part.
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I have a small aluminum boat and a Fishcat and it works well for me. Most of my buddies who fished out of pontoons ended up getting boats. They have more storage space, easy too piss over the side, no need to where waders all the time etc. Most lake pontoons aren't well suited for rivers and vice versa, but they'll do in a pinch on some rivers if that's something that might interest you.
If you're just getting into lake fishing and not sure whether you'll get into it seriously, I think a used Fishcat or Caddis pontoon-style float tube is a good choice. About the time you'll get sick of the tube, you'll probably be pony up for a cheap aluminum boat for less than the cost of a pontoon. At this point, keep the float tube for friends or hike-in lakes.
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--big thing is to decide where you want to use it... if in similar areas or even often same area you can really fine tune with specialty craft...
--I think in my lifetime I have only sold one boat.
--I still use my bag maker which at the time I thought was the best available..one of the first to actually have a bit of a shape to it rather than straight round boat.
--Pontoon boat... low profile flat pontoon river rated water skeeter...got a good price... only others I considered were Dave Scadden or Outcast.. for the size i was looking for.
--Old outcast raft.. which has hole (it is supposed to be there) in the floor so can use fins as well as kayak paddle with feet up.
--Frontiersman Canoe.. 16 ft classic lake model from early 70's popular in Williams lk area.
--12 ft aluminium 2hp Honda 4stroke...one of the first Honda's to come out.
--17.5 thunderjet... powerbolt model.. deep V off shore bracket... downriggers etc.
--a few more not fishing boats.
--I sometimes take the pontoon, raft or belly boat on the thunderjet when fishing remote areas.
--There is always a compromise, that's why you have several different clubs in your golf bag and also why different players choose different club for the same shot.
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I have a small aluminum boat and a Fishcat and it works well for me. Most of my buddies who fished out of pontoons ended up getting boats. They have more storage space, easy too piss over the side, no need to where waders all the time etc. Most lake pontoons aren't well suited for rivers and vice versa, but they'll do in a pinch on some rivers if that's something that might interest you.
If you're just getting into lake fishing and not sure whether you'll get into it seriously, I think a used Fishcat or Caddis pontoon-style float tube is a good choice. About the time you'll get sick of the tube, you'll probably be pony up for a cheap aluminum boat for less than the cost of a pontoon. At this point, keep the float tube for friends or hike-in lakes.
I've drifted several class 3 rivers in various pontoon boats, including an 8 foot fishcat 9 and a 7 foot fishcat streamer. More than anything else, safety comes down to common sense and boat handling ability. For 95% of the people out there these boats will be more than ample for drifting rivers. If you are relying on a bigger boat to keep you safe then chances are you shouldn't be there in the first place.
As far as aluminum boats go. Yes they are nice but are not practical for everyone. For starters, you need to have a place to store them as well as a way of transporting them. That alone makes it impractical for people such as myself.