Couple of questions for you pro tubers out there

[srsnow]

I am starting to get back into fishing after sevral years away and am very intrested in a tube. But I was wondering how hard it was on your kness/legs. I have had 2 diffrent surgeries on my leg and still have a plated bolted to my shin because of this walking tends to annoy it which means I can't fish from shore very well or at least not like I like to which is staying mobile. So I was thinking a float tube would be cheaper and easier to store than a boat. Any info you guys could share with me would be awesome. And I did think about a toon but they seem to be almost as much as a small used boat.

[tacklejunkie]

Tubing can be rough on the legs at times.

If you need to get to your favorite spot fast, it's probably better to walk there and then launch the tube. You don't really go anywhere very fast without kicking yourself crazy. As it is, my legs already click and pop in the tube without any leg/knee problems. If your not in a hurry and just want to tool around, you should be OK, but get some good fins and don't skimp on them, as this can help make it easier on you.

Windy days might also give you a good workout while trying to stay in one spot or kick against the wind.

[eldo69]

sspecially in saltwater because ur always battling the current

[Socal Bassman]

I've got a bad knee, but it hasn't bothered me when tubing. It hurts like a mofo though, after a few hours fishing on shore or off the dam though. One thing to avoid is really long dive fins. They have a lot of power in them indeed, but you can at times feel it in the knees. Not much though.

[CatchthatTrout]

I have a replaced left knee (two years in Oct.), a bad right knee and a hip that'll need to replace in the near future.
I've tubed as long as 5 hours continuous without pain in my knees.

Of course I really feel it later in the evening and next day, but a few Motrin and I'm ok.

Good luck to you.

[Skyler]

If you have a good kicking technique, it really doesn't affect the knees nearly as much as the hips and ankles. One piece of adviece I'll give is don't push it too hard. A steady relaxed long stroke kick will cover just as much water as a furious flurry of power kicks. And you'll have energy left to fish for the whole day.

[vanillagurilla]

my knees start to bug me but im usualy in the water for 10+ hours. i would look in to a pontoon!

[srsnow]

Thanks for the input guys. I will have to start looking at tubes but I think I'm leaning towards the Fish Cat 4. That seems to be a good one for the price. I already have the fish finder to put on it I got the Humming bird Piranaha max 215 for using on rental boats, just need to figure out how to mount it now. I need to wade through all the pimp your tube post everyone has made in the past.

[Socal Bassman]

Is your fishfinder the portable one like bassguy has? If so, it might be a little tricky to mount it on the FC4 since they don't leave you much space in front of the cargo pockets to work with. I just added a fishfinder to my FC4 using a RAM mount and PVC. Other than the lack of space I mentioned, the FC4 has proven to be great craft.

[srsnow]

Yeah its the portable one. I have been looking at pics of how people are mounting them but mine doen't have a base that would it self well to mounting so I need to figure something out.