Maiden Voyage

[luckyrob]

Well I wish I could say it went went well and was fantastic and all that, but it wasn't. I went out to Tarryall Res. on Friday afternoon and was lucky enough to get a campsite that was a mere 30 feet from a sandy, beach type area that I knew would be good for my first launch.

Just getting myself on the seat without having the craft float away from me was a learning experience. Once I managed to get into paddling depth I could not seem to get control of the thing and most of the time I seemed to be fighting to not turn in a counter-clockwise circle.

At one point I did manage to propel myself in a fairly straight line, and was feeling pleased until I realized that the mild breeze and current were pushing me farther from my launch point than I really wanted to go.

Anyway, back to the main issue, the fins! I could not figure out how to go whre I needed to go; mostly kept turning in circles or going sideways!! I don't know what I was doing wrong. Do I need to keep the fins as level as possible? As parallel to the desired direction of travel as possible? As you may be gathering, my experience as a waterman is zero. If it helps any: the fins I was using are the [url "http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=110&Department=Boat%2FTube+Accessories"]basic fins[/url] from Creek Co. and I did notice at one time that they were getting loose so I put in and tightened them up, which did not seem to make much difference.

I'm very frustrated... very disappointed. Any help is appreciated.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Don't be discouraged. You are using equipment and muscles that you are not used to using. You have to experiment with kicking styles to learn how to propel yourself and how to turn the direction you want to.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you have decent fins, properly tightened and adjusted, your kicking will become natural and you will not have to focus on it or worry about it. But, you do need to learn how to turn partially sideways sometimes, and to kick harder with one fin than the other, to make turns. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For straight line propulsion, you simply point both fins to the rear and kick them up and down. Be sure to apply pressure on the down kick as well as the up kick to get maximum propulsion. It takes practice to get used to kicking rhythmically. To move faster, you kick faster and harder. You will find your own level for efficient motion.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You mentioned wind and current. Those are not good to have as a part of your learning experience, especially if you have not mastered control yet. Next time, try to launch in a a spot where there is neither. Once you have experience and confidence you can take on some of the more challenging factors.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Above all, relax. It is seldom that you will actually need to kick hard or rapidly to keep yourself moving and moving in the right direction. If you try to force things that causes stress, tension and muscle spasms. Not good.[/#0000ff]
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[luckyrob]

Thanx, Dude.

I keep thinking that the issue with control begins and ends with the fins. So I read up on fins a little and found that this cheap powerful fin may not be good for me.

The fins I was using are very stiff (powerful) and if I had some more practice with what I need to be doing with my legs to get things done they might be okay. I'm strong, so pumping powerful fins is not going to be an issue. But, as with many other things, using something that is more powerful/faster is great when the user has great familiarity with the item, but can be a hindrance when employed by a novice. Thus, maybe I should try some weaker (more flexible) fins? Does this make sense or am I just making excuses?


FYI: It was not a total loss off a day. I was hauling in 10-13" Rainbows all day, from the bank, with a bronze Castmaster. :-)

Rob
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]At this stage of the game, I would not advise running out and buying several pairs of fins to try. Practice technique and learn the movements. Then you can better evaluate whether or not you need more flex or more "power".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The choice of fins is a personal thing, just like picking a rod, reel, line, lure, etc. And, just like those things, it will ultimately be based upon what works best for YOU and what you are most comfortable with.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have used probably 20 or more kinds of fins over the years. I have settled on the Mares Plana Avanti divers fins for a variety of reasons, which I cover in several past threads. Mostly I like the balance between flex and stiffness, and the soft foot pockets. I also like the instant adjustablity and the comfortable heel straps.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are quite a few reasonably priced fins that work for either diving or tubing. If you know others who have different kinds of fins, see if you can go along and try what they are using to see if it works for you. Some dive shops have reasonable rental rates to try their fins for a weekend.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good to hear that you were at least catching some fish. That makes any trip better.[/#0000ff]
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[zonker]

Hey Rob,

Don't give it up. Hang in there and work the bugs out. It will be worth it. All of us had some learning to do when we got started. Tubedudes guidance is the best. What he says is right. Pay attention to his words.

I think a person should spend the first trip or two doing nothing but working with the tube, fins, waders, etc. to get things right and get the hang of piloting the tube. No fishing. Just shaking things down. Wind and current only complicate things and you indicate you had both. It is discouraging to all of us to have to fight excessive wind. Next time try to work in a sheltered area or on a calm day. You can add the wind later.

This sport is too good to give up after the first try. If you'll stick with it you'll soon be finning with the best of them. Since it sounds like you already have the fish-ing part down, you need only master the tube.

By the way, I have a pair of the Creek Company Fins. They worked OK for me. I didn't have the trouble you mentioned. Make sure that you've given them a good trial before you replace them. I have the Mare's Plana Avanti diving fins now and like them a lot.

Think of your tube as a nice, comfortable lazyboy that you're fishing from. Ya don't fight it. Ya enjoy it!

zonker
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[Fishhound]

[black][size 3]Hey Rob,[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[size 3][black]Don't sweat the non-stellar first outing. I had my tube for months and took it out half a dozen times before I could get it to go where I wanted it to. And then, at that point, my solution was to just go with the wind. I would hike my tube over land to the windward side of a lake, then drift fish with the wind and then get out when I reached the shore and hike it back again to repeat the process until I was tired. Not a great resolution but, I wanted to fish instead of fight my tube. [/black][/size]
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[black][size 3]Anyway, I got together with TubeDude one day and saw him kicking around with not problems at all. I looked at his fins and everything started to made sense. So, I went out and bought some diving fins for around $40 and within one or two hours of practice on my first day out with the new equipment, I was able to manuevre. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]Listen to TubeDude when he says PRACTICE. Also, it is a good suggestion that you try to rent some fins from a dive shop before you buy. But, one warning about TubeDude and his fin advice - He could kick his tube against a gale force wind with his bare feet almost as fast as I can oar my pontoon boat. On a glassy water day, he can almost get up on plane and tow a skier.[/size][/black]
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[bassguy64]

Thanks for your report luckyrob. Sorry to hear about you being disappointed.

I have yet to try the fins out myself so in a way this is an interesting post for me. Great information from all of these guys will surely help.

Keep trying I'm sure you will get the hang of it pretty quick.

Bguy64
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[ATFISHING]

HEY ROB I TOO WAS VERY FRUSTRATED THE 1ST TIME OUT. LIKE YOURSELF GOING IN CIRCLES, TRYING TO TURN LEFT AND GOING RIGHT, AND WORST OFF FOOT CRAMPS BECAUSE I WAS NOT RELAXED[mad].
SO TO ADD MY .02 STAY AS RELAXED AS POSSIBLE SPCIALLY YOUR FEET, USE BOTH THE DOWN AND UPWARD STROKE TO HELP YOU TURN, AND LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED GET OUT THERE A FEW TIMES TO GET THE KINKS OUT AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT FISHING UNTIL YOU DO.

ATFISHING
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