White River Fly Shop Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube Combo

Get more for your boat money with our Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube Combo! This well-priced combo includes our quality Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube, Double Action Hand Pump and a pair of Lost Lake Kicker fins.

The Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube is constructed from durable 420 denier nylon with rugged PVC bladders and features ample tackle storage pouches with dual zippers, removable fly patch, comfortable quick-release seating, hi-visibility back safety panel, mesh striping apron with ruler, hook ‘n loop rod holder, carrying handles, multiple D-rings for tools and accessories and a reliable and easy access Boston valve for quick inflation and deflation.

Plus, all critical seams have been triple stitched, so you don’t have to worry about anything except hooking your next fish! The Double Action Hand Pump will allow you to inflate your Lost Lake Float Tube with in less time and with less effort.

Made from rugged, non-corrosive plastic with foot plate for easy pumping, this small air pump provides a high-volume of air flow on both up and down strokes. The lightweight Lost Lake Kickers fins are fully adjustable and are designed to be worn over your wading boots and attach with nylon cords.

Lost Lake Kickers measure 9” x 20” and provide maximum propulsion and control. One size fits most. Imported. White River Fly Shop® Replacement Open Front Float Tube Bladder sold separately. White River Fly Shop® Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube Combo

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.

White River Fly Shop Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube Combo

Related articles

• The Humminbird Smartcast Wrist Mount (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Hot Lake George, New Brunswick Smallmouth Bass on the Fly (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeI have been thinking about trading in my canoe to buy my first sport fishing boat but it’s so hard to make the right choice as we want to do more than just bass fish. There may be other boats that would serve my purpose and yet be able to do more with it than just fish.

I had a recreational boat a few years back but it was old and needed a lot of work so at that time I decided to just go back to my canoe and I picked up a couple of float tubes. That was great until I had my heart attack and now I need something that doesn’t require so much of my energy.

Picking out the ideal fishing boat is a real art for someone who has already gone through many experiences as far as boating is concerned. However, it seems to be a tougher making a choice for first timers like me.

To make the activity easier for the first timers, here is a list of tips that they can use when choosing an ideal bass fishing boat.

1. It is important to consider the main purpose of the fishing boat.

Buying a fishing boat has only one purpose: to be used in fishing. However, before choosing the perfect fishing boat, it is important to consider also the other purposes.

First, the place where the fishing boat will be used should be taken into account. Will it be in the ocean or in other bodies of water like lakes?

Second, the time of the day it will be used. Will it be for day trips or for overnight fishing activities?

If the fishing boat will be used for ocean cruising and overnight stays, it would be better to buy a fishing boat that has a hull. This is specifically designed for rough waters. This design is meant to ride with the waves, hence, providing more comfort to anglers while on board.

2. The budget

When buying a fishing boat, it is important to know if the buyer can afford to acquire a boat.  Fishing boats, or any boat for that matter, can be very expensive. Hence, the buyer should know how far his budget would go as far as fishing boat prices are concerned.

3. The warranties

It is extremely important to know if the fishing boat has a warranty. It should be analyzed and meticulously scrutinized because not all warranties are created equal.

Hence, it is best to buy a fishing boat from dealers that will provide the necessary services in case their product is found to be defective.

4. The certification

When buying a fishing boat, it is important to take note if it is certified by the “National Marine Manufacturers Association” or the NMMA. This agency guarantees that the certification they give to every boat manufacturer is a guarantee that the fishing boat had passed the agency’s standard of excellence.

The bottom line is that, people should do more than just look around when choosing the ideal fishing boat. They should learn how to look for the important details in order to ensure that the boat they have acquired is definitely worth their money.

Image from WikipediaNot everyone gets the chance to get hooked on fishing at an early age like I did. Even if you are an adult before you ever pick up a fishing rod you still have a great hobby for the rest of your life.

So you have decided that you want to learn to fish. There are several ways of learning, the hardest being trial and error. It would be best to find an instructor for one-on-one lessons. A couple of my fishing buddies never fished until they met me and now they are every bit as hooked on fishing as I am.

Learning the things that will make your fishing experience one you want to remember is key.

1. Buy Sea-Sickness Medication. I have had motion sickness my entire life but I don’t let that hold me back. My advice is to buy sea-sickness medication. If you don’t need it who cares, but if you do and you don’t have it, well trust me it’s no fun.

NOTE: When I take sea sickness meds they knock me out cold, so I take one before going to bed, another when I wake up so my body gets adjusted to them and then I take another before hopping on the boat.

2. Buy a Reference Book. A lot of good books are available at your bookstores and online. The book should give you instructions as well as terms and definitions. Some things you may not immediately understand but you should know anyway. Learn how to tie different kinds of knots. This knowledge will be invaluable for other purposes throughout your life.

3. Give Group Fishing on a Boat A Try. There are party boats that carry from fifteen to as many as sixty anglers. The boat provides everything like bait, rod, reel, sinkers and hooks. They assist you in fishing and take the fish off the hook for you. Mates will spot you and will generally stay close to assist you. Party boats generally will cost you $25 – $70 a day, and the fish are yours to keep. The party boat is a bargain for beginners.

My brother Bob and I did this in Florida a couple of times and it was huge fun. We both have fished our entire lives but I would say that 80% of the people there had never fished and they were all like kids in a candy store. Give it a try.

4. Pick Your Pier. Assuming you have already acquired skills to operate a rod and reel, you need to look for a fishing pier. Majority of coastal cities have one public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can rent tackle and buy bait at the piers. If you’re having trouble, there are many pier anglers willing to help and give you tips.

We are fortunate enough to have a pier within 5 minutes of home. A great place to try out your new tackle.

5. The Reel Deal. The conventional reel is probably what you’re using up to this point. The conventional reel is designed for a lot of wear and tear. You may now want to consider other types and makes of reels. Ideally you have met people and perhaps made a friend or two who can assist you in selecting a reel. You can even ask a tackle shop owner for tips.

You need to understand the mechanics of the reel and the other equipment. Learning to cast, tie knots and bait are not that complicated. Secondly, you need to learn where to fish. Successful fishermen know where the fish are located. Fish move from place to place and knowledgeable anglers understand these patterns and are able to anticipate where the fish are located.

Looking for a few great deals on fishing supplies and gear?

Image via WikipediaWhile I and my buddies were in northern Quebec on our fly-in fishing trip there were Lake trout in the shallow bays but my buddies, well except Kerry, were blind to their presence.

The proper sunglasses was made the difference. Kerry and I could look out over the water and see the Lake trout swimming around, just below the surface.

I was out on my own using my Hummingbird fish finder to finds some big Lake trout when I thought I saw a splash in a little bay. Thinking it was a brook trout I headed in to make a few casts with my flyrod.

BAM!! The first cast. It wasn’t a brook trout at all, as it turned out it was a Lake trout at about 6 or 8 pounds. As I was fighting this little surprise I was looking around and saw that he wasn’t alone, there were dozens of them in this little bay.

I had to make a decision, keep fishing and tell my buddies later or stop fishing and take the 20 minute boat ride back to the camp to tell them. Well I love fishing with friends so I stopped, after two more fish, and headed back. Would have been a great time to have a two-way radio.

When we returned I was the only one with a flyrod but both Kerry and I had on polarized sunglasses. Unfortunately the other 3 guys didn’t. But like I said I like to fish with friends and I like us all to be catching fish.

I told Kerry it was time for him to migrate to one of the other boats and we would fish three to a boat for a while. That way I could direct those casting from my boat and Kerry could do the same in his boat.

I little trick we both tried was to switch glasses with a buddy that didn’t have a fish on. That way they could see where they were while we were fighting our fish.

It is so important to have the right gear when you go out on the water.

Knowing the structure that lies beneath the waters that you fish in can be the difference between catching and just fishing.

I remember back when I was a kid I took an old bucket, cut the bottom out of it and glued a piece of glass into the bottom. It took me a while to get it water proof and it looked pretty ugly but guess what. It allowed me to see below the top of the water without sticking my head in the water. I was pretty proud of it and I could see my dad was impressed too.

Way back then I called structure ‘hiding places’. I even took my bucket with me when we went to the ranch where we kept our cattle all summer. They had a lake right in the middle of their property and only one other farm on the whole lake.

I was too young to take the boat out on my own but I would put on my life jacket and sit in the boat with my bucket over the side just watching all the life and activity beneath the boat.

Today I have become a little more suffisticated and use a Hummingbird fish finder. It saves me so much time on new waters. I was sold on fish finders when five of us went on a fly-in fishing trip to northern Quebec. I was the only one with a fish finder and we had three boats.

We had 7 days with an entire lake to ourselves. There was an island in center with a beautiful cottage but no one was there all week. It was a really remote location, accessable only by plane so I imagine it took some bucks to build that cottage.

We got settled in to our cabin had a bite to eat and then it was off to the boats. None of them knew I had a fish finder and of course they all wanted a crack at it but I said no way. I did say that each day I would switch fishing partners so they could all try it out.

Well every single day my boat caught more fish and bigger fish. We eliminated so much water and found other water that we might never have bothered with because the clues were all below the surface.

My partner and I out fished the others so much that they just started following us.

The fly-in fishing trip was my first so it is special but the quality of the fishing and accomodations were less than promised. I was the only one that practice total catch and release while the others wanted trophies. The fridge freezer quite working near the end of the week and they all lost their trophies while mine were still swimming around.

But honestly I would have slept in a tent and used canoes so we had it pretty easy for being so remote.

The happy memories would not have been so happy had I not brought my Hummingbird fish finder.The fact that I out fished the others with my fish finder proved to me that we would have been crying by the end of the week.

I don’t swear by Hummingbird, not at all. I am glad to have it and it works for me but I have never tried any other kind. I think just having one for those times you are fishing new waters is worth the investment.

The five of us were beside ourselves with excitement. None of us had been on a real fishing trip let alone a fly-in fishing trip to northern Quebec. Heck only two of us were experience fishers while the other three we kind of behind the house stream fishermen and maybe a little Mackerel fishing.

We had about 4 months to prepare which probably cost me hundreds more than was necessary but it was a once in a lifetime trip so it was going to be worth it. I wanted all new fishing equipment and so did my buddy Kerry.

My job didn’t give me spending money after all the bills were paid so I had to come up with something else that would help me buy new fishing equipment. But what could I do, I was far too busy at the one job I had to think about a second job, even if it were only temporary. Then it came to me…

I was spending about $10.00 a day on unnecessary things like coffee, muffins and pop. I decided I would give up those things until after our fishing trip. Kerry worked with me and was in the same boat so he decided he would give up the coffee, muffins and pop as well.

Our three other partners in this fishing trip didn’t need the extra money as they didn’t care what they took with them as long as it was beer. I think we had more weight in beer than all our other gear.

Note: I don’t drink and fish and I don’t let any one else either so even though we had a ton of beer it was for after a long hard day of fishing.

I was really blown away by how much I had been spending on food at work when I could have been bringing from home as part of our grocery bill. Live and learn and save.

$10.00 a day, five days a week equals $50.00, man what a waste. It didn’t take very long to start buying new fishing gear. Both Kerry and I bought exactly the same things.

New fishing vests, boots, waders, rods, reels, lures and flies… We looked like twins, well I was about 60 pounds over weight and Kerry wasn’t but other than that we looked a lot a like all decked out in our new gear. The only thing I bought that Kerry didn’t was a fish finder which came in handy for those huge Lake Trout.

The place we were flying out of gave us a pretty detailed list of what we should take. After all we were going into a place so far north it took a couple of hours to fly there so any problems would result in a two hour flight both ways. We didn’t want to spoil our trip so we followed the list as close as we could.

More about our fly in fishing trip in another post.