Gorilla floatilla at Da Knolls 4-26-10

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Several of us tubing and tooning types had new PVC mods and other new stuff to try out so we all hit the Knolls this morning for some shaky down cruises. Also caught some fishies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe and I showed up first, about 6:30. Hnaf, Wagdog and DrVeha were soon unloading on the beach too. Then Wildcat94 made it down from Ogden. Only AnglerDan with his new toon mods was not there yet, but he showed as we were all pulling offshore.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I helped TubeBabe get set up and launched before I did...for two reasons. One, I didn't wanna get run over. Two, I had to set up my new Tube Taxi for it's trial run. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water temp at launch was a chilled down 52. But as the sun hit the water it started to warm up and was almost 60 by the time we left about 1:30. Almost flat calm all day. Made for good fishing even if the catching was a bit slow for some. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe caught the first fish about 8:30...a cookie cutter kitty. I followed with it's twin about 10 minutes later. Then we all had a long spell of no bites or pop and drop. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Finally the water warmed up past about 56 or 57 and the kitties came out to play nice. Lots of hits for almost everybody. But some of the fish were not as experienced and did not know how to hang on. Still, I think everybody got rid of the skunk smell before leaving today. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I guess I was top rod for numbers, with six cats. Three over 20 inches and 3 under. TubeBabe got 3, with one chunky 27 incher that was about 7 pounds.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Big fish honors go to Angler Dan...twice. Two big ol bigguns that were both over 10 pounds...one over 11. Those new PVC blingy thingies on his toon must have helped. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My Tube Taxi was a reincarnation of an old Super Fat Cat float tube that was retired when we got new ones. Still worked fine so I rigged it up with a frame for the motor and battery, added a plastic bin in front to hold the anchor and fish basket, added some ropes and clips and I was set. Took a few minutes up front to get the main connector rope adjusted so I could kick around handsfree when not using the motor. But, once I had it in place I could kick around pretty much without even knowing it was behind me...snugged up tight to the pointed bow of my main ride.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I didn't really need it much for getting anyplace fast or fighting the wind. So once we got down into the kitty zone I unbuckled it and anchored it close to shore while I fished without it. Then, after I had six in the basket and the bite had slowed down, I kicked back over to "Sharkey", hooked up and headed back to the vehicle. Stopped to offer TubeBabe a ride about halfway back. She accepted so I threw her a rope and kicked the motor up to 5. We did not exactly fly across the water but even with both of us towing fish baskets we left a pretty good wake. Also, it was easy to steer just using my fins. No real need for the long extension handle I bought in anticipation. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Great day on the water with some great BFT tubers and tooners. [/#0000ff]
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[Kent]

Alright who highjacked TubeDude's logon and made this post? He never uses a motor to pull him around.
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[ironworker]

i'll bet that there motor makes it alot easier to get around. you and tb ROCK! great report and pictures. thanks for sharing. [cool]
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[TubeDude]

[quote kentofnsl]Alright who highjacked TubeDude's logon and made this post? He never uses a motor to pull him around.[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Yeah, yeah, I know. But, in case nobody besides us has noticed we ain't gettin' any younger. Some of our trips to the far off spots are getting longer every year...especially when we have to kick back against the wind.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The main purpose is as "tuber support". Still do our fishing "freestyle" but have the option to motate there and back.[/#0000ff]
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[Kent]

My faith is shaken. Next you're going to tell me that there isn't an Easter Bunny or a Tooth Fairy.
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[TubeDude]

[quote kentofnsl]My faith is shaken. Next you're going to tell me that there isn't an Easter Bunny or a Tooth Fairy.[.img][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/...n.gif[/img][/quote]"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/...n.gif[/img][/quote][/url]

[cool][#0000ff]Not me. Not after the fuss you put up when we suggested that there was no Santa Claus. I hate to see growed men cry.[/#0000ff]
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[ripnlip]

Sweet, nice catch. looks like fun out there with all da boys and da girl.

Keep that taxi ready, I will add a rope to my tube "just in case".

days off this week do not look inviting. maybe next we4ek will be better.

getting close to the WB spawn at AF?
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[Therapist]

Okay, neat set up, but which tube will have to be registered ?????

PS: I really envy you, getting to get out when the weather is so nice. All my weekends have been so screwed up by nasty weather, it really sucks, but I shall prevail, I hope !!!

[pa]

Nice job as usual. How deep were the bigger cat's? We drove by the knolls today and saw you on our way to Millford. Will be out next week after I visit your tackle shop.
pa
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[MisterCompletely]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#500000]OK, you've got me jazzed to go do that now. Nice fish, couldn't have happened to some nicer cats. Time for me to get out the SFC and get to it too. [/#500000][/font]
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[rincon_madness]

t.dude, you are really turning this into a science. Thanks as always for the cool post and great pics.

rich
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[TubeDude]

"getting close to the WB spawn at AF?"

[cool][#0000ff]I am thinking that by next week the whities will be storming the beaches and swimming up the flows. Of course the weather plays a big part in that, but they are READY.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]We did not see any whitie-like marks on sonar until the water began warming, later in the morning. Then there were lots of small schools suspending at mid-depth. That is characteristic white bass behavior when they are in an inactive feeding mode and we could not buy a bite on anything. A couple of us got strays by bouncing plastics on the bottom...and the males were dripping.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I predict that once the average low temps for the day stay above 60 degrees the whole lake is gonna go bananas...white bass, carp and catfish. Then the walleyes will go on a major post spawn feeding binge. May will be magic. June will be just wonderful.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Get your schedule straight and we can go do something...even if it is wrong. Probably will be.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

"Okay, neat set up, but which tube will have to be registered ?????"

[cool][#0000ff]I am sure you know that answer...the one with the motor on it..."Old Sharkey".[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Yesterday was just a shakedown cruise, to see if my engineering would provide the tube support system I envisioned. It worked great and I have plans for making some further mods.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Lest you chide me for taking an unregistered motorized craft upon the waters I assure you that the next time it gets wet it will have numbers on it.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]A big part of the reason I gave Sharkey a repaint job on the teeth was just to see the look on the faces of the folks at DMV when I show them a picture of what I want to register. Hope they don't charge by the tooth.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

"How deep were the bigger cat's?"

[cool][#0000ff]Almost all the cats we caught were taken in water between 6 - 8 feet. They went deeper when the recent cool spell chilled the water a few degrees. Just before that, when water temps were bouncing over the 60 degree mark the fish had started moving into the shoreline and were being taken next to the reed beds in shallow water. They will be back when the water warms up again. But the next few days does not look good for the kitty fambly.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When we first hit the water it was just over 52 degrees. Bites were very light and we did not start getting real action until about 9:30 or 10:00...after the water had warmed to over 57 degrees. Then the bites were more substantial and we got more hookups.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Earlier in the day our fish came mostly on minnows. Later they began taking chunks of carp or perch meat more aggressively. But strangely, they would not take fresh white bass meat. That's why it always pays to have several kinds of bait on any given trip. You never know what might be on the menu for any given kitty meal.[/#0000ff]
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[ParrMark]

Great report as usual Pat. Glad you were all able to get in on some bubba-cat wrasselin'.

I noticed in a photo or two that you put a couple of beads ahead of your hook. Would you mind 'splain' the thinking behind that? Are they floaters or just plastic?

Thanks!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You evidently missed a similar discussion from a week or two ago. Those are plain old solid plastic chartreuse walleye rig beads. I started adding a couple of those ahead of crawlers or minnows sometime last year to try to improve the walleye bite. Only a couple of wallies on them so far but lots of additional cats and wipers. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When I fish two bait rods...one with beads and one without...I seem to get more bites on the beads...especially on days when the fish are a bit more finicky. Cats have a lot better eyesight than most folks think and are sometimes very visually oriented in their dining habits. They do smack lures, ya know. The added bling adds a few extra fish on most trips. Only two of my six cats yesterday came on beadless bait.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a variety of colors, but chartreuse and hot orange...sometimes in combination...seem to work the best. I also have some "glow" beads but don't fish at night that much anymore so have not really tried them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am betting they would work for trout or perch too but have not rigged them for those species.[/#0000ff]
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[ParrMark]

Yeah, I've been on outta town quite a bit lately and haven't been keeping up. No fishin'. And with what little free time I have had I've been pedaling my bike to get ready for a century ride next month. At least my legs will be ready for some paddlin' when I hit the water.

Thanks for the excellent info.![cool]
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[AnglerDan]

I will start by saying that we all are aware that the use of a tube/toon, spare tire, etc... to float the variety of waters adds a great deal of versitaliy and increases the areas that one can fish. I have been tubing/tooning now for 8 years and still remember the feeling of freedom I enjoyed in my first U tube when I was able to get to spots on the shore line that where otherwise unaccessible.

After several upgrades in product I finally thought I had it all with my new kick boat, a store bought strap on rod holder and a rack to hold my tackle boxes. But alas I ran into Tubedude and his tricked out tube and the envy began all over again. His PVCness took mercy on me and was nice enough to invite me over to his magic imaginatorium and the wish list began. It was fun to see his face as I listed off all the items I wanted to create and he soon replied with "Oh so you want a fishing machine". I grinned and the work began.

After 4 hours of blood, sweat and a lot of PVC dust the final product was brought out for its close up opportunity. All I can say is I could not be more pleased with the results. As my fishing partners of Monday have mentioned, I found it hard not to express my new found pleasure multiple times and in a not so quiet tone...lol.

The holders, racks, and especially the hard apron made a huge difference in the perfomance and functionality of the toon. No more fumbling with big fish in my lap as I watch my rod, pliers, etc... to make sure they are not going in the drink while trying to wrestle with 11 pounds of pure muscle. Lure changing and tying was as easy as doing it at home on a table. Couldn't be happier...for now. (Always something around the corner. Mabye a toon tug??)

As always a huge thanks to TubeDude for lending his labor and his mad tube scientist mind to build yet another great fishing monster. It's alive!!! And I love it.

Dan
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[flygoddess]

But alas I ran into Tubedude and his tricked out tube and the envy began all over again. His PVCness took mercy on me and was nice enough to invite me over to his magic imaginatorium and the wish list began. It was fun to see his face as I listed off all the items I wanted to create and he soon replied with "Oh so you want a fishing machine". I grinned and the work began.


I was going to say...OMG get a room, but I guess you did....the garage....LOL
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You should know that we are both responsible tubers and practice safe PVC.[/#0000ff]
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