Came back from a trip and found this thread. Good comments and I'll add a couple more from my CD. 1) Put a couple of kiddie hand fins in one of the pockets for extra propulsion. 2) Kayak anchors are light and efficient. 3) Depending on shoreline conditions, it's often easier to walk back to the put-in point along the shore than to fight the wind. If you pack a pair of oversize boat shoes you won't damage your neoprene booties. 4) While the aging bladder problem is real, take along some liquids to avoid dehydration. This problem is lessened considerably if you wear Goretex and Polartec underwear, but in the days when I wore neoprenes I had some nasty dehydration headaches from excessive sweating on a sunny day. 5) Never clip anything on the outside of a tube without a safety cord. 6) If you expect to do any "distance" casting, a rod of at least 9' will make your life much easier.
I use the hemorrhoid cushion in a boat but that's a good idea for float tubes as well. While I'm two years shy of Wes' experience, I can't agree that Force Fins are the answer for all tubing. They work very well (I use them) for small ponds, but for big water they don't do the job. Competitive swim fins do a much better job of moving you along. Wes is right on the money about when you lose your fins, seems I'm always trying to come out where the cattle water (out West), i.e., the muckiest place in the pond. Cheers, Paul -- Paul Marriner Outdoor Writing & Photography. Member OWAA & OWC. Author of Stillwater Fly Fishing - Tools & Tactics (CD), Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon.
