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Post by morb on Jan 1, 2022 10:49:24 GMT -6
I got a new fish cat 5 for Christmas and am pretty excited about it. I can’t wait to get it out on its maiden voyage. I have never been in a belly boat before, does anyone have any tips for a first timer?
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Post by brian on Jan 1, 2022 17:06:35 GMT -6
Dress in layers.Don't cut circulation off in your feet .loose boots Sunscreen,mostly because your closer to the water[reflections],wind breaker .oars ? Wear a PFD !!!
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Post by morb on Jan 2, 2022 8:28:56 GMT -6
Thanks for the tips. I will be picking up one of those self inflating pfd to use with this boat. This boat doesn’t have oar locks so I will using flippers of which there are too many choices, I thought flippers were flippers lol
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Post by brian on Jan 2, 2022 13:07:12 GMT -6
Force Fins were the best,when i fl tubed.expenseive. Caddis made flipper that allowed you to where your wading boots..Much warmer toes with these..Beware of the wind..
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Post by fishgolf94 on Jan 2, 2022 19:49:18 GMT -6
Agree with Brian, I have Force Fins and they’re great. Very sturdy and last pair I’ll need to buy . . . but very pricey. Paid $100 US in 2007, unfortunately north of $275.00 US now based on a quick online search! Big advantage is they are powerful and really help in windy conditions and for maneuvering quickly. Have fun with the new tube.
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Post by morb on Jan 3, 2022 17:35:57 GMT -6
I saw a pair of caddis power force on sale at cabelas for 60$ but they are out of stock. I still have some time to search for a good pair, I do definitely want ones that go over the wading boots.
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Post by fishgolf94 on Jan 4, 2022 0:00:22 GMT -6
Good plan, flippers will wear out neoprene booties and can be hard on the ankles w/o boots.
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Post by lurker1818 on Jan 4, 2022 6:56:20 GMT -6
Maybe it is just me, but I have never seen force fins that would fit wading boots.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Jan 4, 2022 9:10:26 GMT -6
Force fins are great and durable (had mine for 20 years) the best thing is that you don't need boots with them. Caddis makes fins that fit over wading boots but that can get tiring after hours on the water.
I do recommend flats boots or some sort of light foot wear to put on when out of the boat. I have wrecked a few stocking foot waders on the rocks and gravel at launches.
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Post by fishgolf94 on Jan 4, 2022 20:44:36 GMT -6
My Force Fins are fully adjustable, I usually wear them over my wading boots (like the support) but have worn them without as Rob does. Best advise would be to get a pair of fins that have a wide range of adjustment so you can customize how you want to use them.
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Post by free2fish on Jan 5, 2022 4:39:21 GMT -6
I own a couple of pairs of flippers. One set to wear over my wader booties and another to fit over boots when hiking into a lake with my tube.
Harry
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Post by lurker1818 on Jan 5, 2022 7:56:33 GMT -6
I use scuba diving boots with my force fins and they are pretty tight. Never tried them with my wading boots, so can't say they won't fit, but it would be a struggle. I line the dive boots, they have a rubber sole, so I can walk around on them without the fear of puncturing the wader booties, plus they are much smaller and lighter than wading boots. If going in this direction, take the waders and any socks you would be wearing on the coldest day to fit the dive boots, I wish I would have gotten a couple sizes wider than what I have now.
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Post by morb on Jan 7, 2022 18:49:07 GMT -6
Thanks for the advice, I will keep it mind when I finally pull the trigger on a pair.
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Post by fishgolf94 on Jan 8, 2022 11:45:51 GMT -6
Lurker1818 makes a great point about getting the size right, too tight and your feet get cold quickly. I also find wading boots are much warmer in cold water. 2 sets of fins is a good idea too, eliminates resetting straps which is a real pain to get right! if you switch between booties and wading boots.
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Post by mike on Jan 10, 2022 6:49:33 GMT -6
The best float tubing tip I can provide is go to a good SCUBA shop and ask if they have any used fins for sale. You can often pick up a pair of very high quality fins for a fraction of the price of "float tube" fins. Actual SCUBA fins are really well designed to provide maximum force and efficient propulsion. A couple of my avid float tubing friends have tried mine and immediately switched. There really is no comparison and a good set of SCUBA fins will put Force Fins to shame. No contest. The best ones I've used are Scubapro jet fins.
Enjoy your float tube.
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Post by morb on Jan 11, 2022 18:49:28 GMT -6
Thanks I’ll have to see if I can find a scuba shop in the city next time I’m there.
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