Image via WikipediaI love fishing from my float tube. I have two float tubes so I can take a friend fishing with me. If you have been reading my blog for long you probably know I have way more fun with friends.

About 6 years ago, the last time I was fishing before my heart attack, one of my buddies broke one of the flippers in my second set. Well I never replaced that set, plus my health was so poor at that time I really didn’t think I should bother picking up another pair.

I didn’t have the energy to use my float tube last year but I will be using them this years so I have to get another pair of flippers. Oh, wait a minute I just got an email from Jamie. He is looking at flippers on eBay, one of my favorite places to buy things.

I like the flippers Jamie is looking at because they fit over your wading boots allowing you to tie them on pretty snug. That is the style I have now but the other set I had were more the scuba type flippers and after being in the water for a while my feet would hurt from the pressure of the flippers. I never get that with the ones that go over my wader.

The flippers that fit over your boots don’t pinch my feet and toes so I can fish all day without being in pain.

BTW: Jamie is in for a treat in the 2009 fishing season because we will be hunting pickerel on the fly and from the float tube. We will be right at the water level and that is when pickerel fishing gets really exciting.

Are you really ready for this Jamie???

Image via WikipediaThe summer of 2008 was a real blessing for me. After spending 4 years without fishing, trying to survive an inoperable heart attack in 2004, I had all but given up on ever being able to go fishing again.

The most fun I had during the 2008 season was fishing pickerel with my fishing buddy Jamie. We only used our spinning rods so Jamie didn’t get the opportunity to experience what fly fishing for pickerel is like. Look out 2009.

I fish a lot from my float tube and pickerel is one of the most fun fish to catch on the fly here in New Brunswick. I know the Atlantic salmon can’t be beat but they sure come in a close second in my books.

I have had a few days fishing with friends from float tubes where we just had our arms pulled off all day long. It makes for one of those days that your face hurts from laughing and your throat hurts from yelling “FISH ON” all day long. Jamie is in for a treat he will never give up.

Fishing for pickerel almost always takes us to the weeds where it becomes important to have flies that are weedless or 95% of the time you will be hung up on the smallest of weeds. That tends to take a lot of the fun out of fighting pickerel as they fight a whole lot better than those darn weeds.

I am scouring the net for pike and pickerel flies for 2009 but I would appreciate it if you would take a minute and give me your opinion and best choice for artificial flies that catch pike and pickerel.

Trout Unlimited Kennebec Float Tube The Kennebec pontoon/float tube hybrid from Trout Unlimited has storage galore: a back storage pocket, 2 dual compartment armrest pockets, 2 reel/spool pockets, and 2 sloped gear pockets with flat mesh pockets. The Kennebec Float Tube also offers the added stability and high-riding comfort of a pontoon boat; includes an anti-slip reinforced seat and quick-release stabilizer bar. Manufacturer’s one-year warranty. Imported.

For years I had a canoe and it took me to a lot of fun places fishing. The only thing about having a canoe is just how tough it can be to control it in the wind. I am not a professional paddler and many times found myself being blown about without much control and that would take the fun out of fishing in just a few minutes, about the same time my arms would give out.

Then I saw a fishing show where they were using float tubes. The first thought that came to my mind when I saw the float tube was just how easy it would be to get into some of the fishing holes I fish.

Just as fast my mind went back to a few fishing trips that had me exhausted before I ever got to the water. The float tube looked like it would be so much lighter and easier to get through the dense bush I sometimes go through to get to the ponds and lakes I fish.

I picked up my first float tube about 10 years ago, I am just guessing here, it’s been a while. My first trip out was so much fun I could hardly wait to go again.

The second time out I had to navigate through some thick weeds. It was a very hot day, very hot. Well I dragged my butt through those weeds and thought I was going to melt by the time I got through. It was the hardest work I had done in a while.

Later I found that I didn’t inflate the float tube enough. The next time I did inflate it correctly and I just breezed over the weeds like they weren’t even there. I couldn’t help but to laugh as I was going through the weeds because I kept remembering the time I had getting through a week before.

Now when I had my canoe I would take a friend with me as often as I could as it’s more fun fishing with a buddy but it was also a lot easier to control my canoe when I had someone in the other end willing to help paddle through any wind.

I still like to take a friend fishing so I bought a second float tube from one of my computer students. He bought it for his dad after he had a heart attack hoping he would still be able to enjoy fishing. Unfortunately the float tube wasn’t for him, a bit of a blessing for me though.

It is so much fun floating around and getting into spots that are tough to get to any other way.

One spot I was fishing near Chipman New Brunswick was right at the road side. The road was about 20 feet above the water. A trucker was driving by and saw me in my float tube. He stopped his rig and hollered at me asking if I need any help.

He thought my boat had sunk.

Next year I want to introduce my newest fishing buddy, Jamie, to float tube fishing. I am sure he will have an experience that he will want to experience again and again.

My float tubes each have an inflatable back support to keep you comfortable all day long and I have spent many hours in my float tubes without getting uncomfortable at all.

The float tubes also have side pockets where your arms rest so that you can bring food and supplies with you. No need to go back to the car at all.