[surfnfish]

pontoons boat for rivers, float tubes for still water...looking back over the decades at the things we got away with during much younger years, fair to ask "WTF was I thinking..."

and that's not even addressing some of those gals we woke up next to after a night of partying...lol

 

[zen leecher aka bill w]

Do you have a death wish?

He probably just wants to make the Darwin Awards list.

 

[Lakota]

Seems like it would be safer to use a float tube in the Everglades than most western rivers.

The hybrid type crafts like the Outcast, Watermaster, etc are good options almost anywhere for fishermen who clear the common sense threshold.

 

[Sportsman]

Seems like it would be safer to use a float tube in the Everglades than most western rivers.

The hybrid type crafts like the Outcast, Watermaster, etc are good options almost anywhere for fishermen who clear the common sense threshold.

Dangling your feet in the glades would be like a dinner bell for the gators.

 

[Lakota]

Dangling your feet in the glades would be like a dinner bell for the gators.

Exactly! That is still safer than dragging your feet along the bottom of a high gradient river.

 

[gt]

NO!!!!!!!

 

[sroffe]

Never have, never will...

Although this guy did...

Sturgeon in a floattube

 

[MGTom]

The only river in our area that would be even possible is the snake. The current is stronger than your kick, and if the wind blows who knows where you would end up.

 

[Krusty]

Having your legs dangling down in current (especially a river with big boulders) absolutely violates one of the fundamental precepts of river float safety. Get an ankle caught in a keeper and you'd be pulled over and drowned in moments in even even a moderate current.

 

[creekx]

Having your legs dangling down in current (especially a river with big boulders) absolutely violates one of the fundamental precepts of river float safety. Get an ankle caught in a keeper and you'd be pulled over and drowned in moments in even even a moderate current.

So true. I've done some swimming and snorkeling in rivers - getting an ankle stuck between boulders is the one thing I've been most aware of and most fearful of.

 

[freestonebound]

I've done some relatively short floats on the Missouri in my float tube without incident, but using it with fins to get across the river was a pain in the rear and I wouldn't do it again. However, it's not too bad if you're planning to use it on a slower moving river, like the East or West Branch of the Delaware, as you say you've done, but the difference between them and many of the the rivers in West is that they are shallower, generally speaking, and slower moving.

What you should really be considering is getting an inflatable boat of some type having oars, and perhaps with an anchor (but again, you have to be careful and selective with respect to where you anchor.)

I've owned a couple good 10' and 11' pontoon boats, both of which had fine oar locks and oars, and used them on the Madison, Yellowstone, South Fork, Teton and other Western Rivers, as well as on the Main Delaware, and felt safe in doing so. There are many brands and options available for you to choose from, and that's what I'd suggest you consider rather than using a float tube.

John

I like all your points. As well as most other point people have mentioned in response. I have no experience on Western rivers and it would be foolhardy for me to try to float in a belly boat like I do here out east. You are right... A pontoon boat is the only way to go. I have had one in the past and when I popped one of the pontoons I never replaced the rig. At the time pontoon boats were very expensive and the Orvis water Skeeter I had was pretty expensive. I can get a nice pontoon boat these days for a lot cheaper of a price. Thanks again for your Sage advice.

 

[freestonebound]

Thank you all for your advice. I love this site. Outside of my dealings here I stick to myself and like to live a solitary life. At times like this when a dumb decision I make could cost me my life I appreciate everyone's input. At 43 years old I think it's time to keep a float tube where it belongs. Only in stillwaters. I guess it's time to get another pontoon boat. When I do come out west again I am going to strictly wade. There's no point in trying to float a river that I am in no way familiar with.

 

[Old Man]

Thank you all for your advice. I love this site. Outside of my dealings here I stick to myself and like to live a solitary life. At times like this when a dumb decision I make could cost me my life I appreciate everyone's input. At 43 years old I think it's time to keep a float tube where it belongs. Only in stillwaters. I guess it's time to get another pontoon boat. When I do come out west again I am going to strictly wade. There's no point in trying to float a river that I am in no way familiar with.

You can also make a mistake that will kill you on lakes in a belly boat. If you lean to far you could tip one over Then you are really in trouble. When I fished lakes I used an open end float tube or a pontoon boat.I like to keep out of trouble and not get into it.

 

[Porter]

On the Yakima River during the late summer bikini hatch I saw a Central Washington Coed float by on an inflatable swan.

From time to time you might
See a floating California basement production type
Film event and for free.

 

[O' Clarkii Stomias]

Fishing one evening years ago on Henry's lake. A thunderstorm blew up over the centennials. 3-4 foot whitecaps with darkness looming. Pretty sure the reason we both survived is I decided to bring a pontoon rather than my float tube. He held on for dear life while I rowed my ass off. Scary!

 

[freestonebound]

You can also make a mistake that will kill you on lakes in a belly boat. If you lean to far you could tip one over Then you are really in trouble. When I fished lakes I used an open end float tube or a pontoon boat.I like to keep out of trouble and not get into it.

Especially if your in waders in that belly boat. It's time to get a new Pontoon boat.