High Lakes

Don't hike in your waders. Ask me how I know. I've spent the past 25 years fishing high lakes from an original Curtis Raft (about 24oz) as well as an ancient U-boat (can't recall the name of the company, but it was made somewhere in Oregon). The u-boat, stripped down by removing both backrest air bladders, comes in around 5.5lbs. Perfectly reasonable and it beats the heck out of the raft for casting. I use an old external frame backpack to haul the u-boat, waders, fins. etc. If the trip is going to be overnighter, or a couple of days, I use my raft, and it beats the hell out of the u-boat for pack weight and ease of use.
 

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Do you pack raft users let your hiking boots get wet when launching, or do you go barefoot or something?

Taking spare footwear is 2/3 of a float tube setup!
 
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jaredoconnor said:
Do you pack raft users let your hiking boots get wet when launching, or do you go barefoot or something?

Taking spare footwear is 2/3 of a float tube setup!
Click to expand...

Croks weigh ounces…wet hiking boots suck.

I do 25-50 mile hunts every spring! Every ounce is critical when you’re going that far. I wouldn’t dream of leaving the trailhead without Croks and I change into them if I have to cross water that would soak my boots. Wet sock and boots will wreck your feet if you have to go very far.
 
jaredoconnor said:
Do you pack raft users let your hiking boots get wet when launching, or do you go barefoot or something?

Taking spare footwear is 2/3 of a float tube setup!
Click to expand...
My thin neoprene volleyball shoes only weigh several ounces. Combine that with the weight of 3mm-4mm neoprene socks to provide a little more protection and warmth for the waders' thin coated nylon stocking feet is under a pound. But you'd have a hard time finding those waders today.

But I'm still carrying more weight than @Cliff . 17# total for a great fishing platform ain't too bad though..
 
jaredoconnor said:
Do you pack raft users let your hiking boots get wet when launching, or do you go barefoot or something?

Taking spare footwear is 2/3 of a float tube setup!
Click to expand...
The crocs mentioned below sound good. I used an old pair of water shoes for kayakers. The crocs are probably lighter.
 
jaredoconnor said:
Do you pack raft users let your hiking boots get wet when launching, or do you go barefoot or something?

Taking spare footwear is 2/3 of a float tube setup!
Click to expand...
I'll usually go barefoot and roll my pants up a bit, but I've done shoes on too, if i find a good flattish launching rock with water at least a foot deep next to it. Never bring extra shoes unless its foam flip flops on a backpacking trip.
 
speyflyfisher said:
For me it all boils down to a weight proposition. While I'm not totally a weight weenie but I'm not getting any younger and all those lakes are up hill. So I look at my route (distance and elevation gain) and make a decision. My pack raft is 2 lb vs 3lb wilderness lite tube plus waders and fins. I do take a small double action pump for inflation for both the raft and tube. I have considered a small rechargeable electric pump as well. My typical raft total pack weight is a little over 10 lbs. For overnights the tube/waders doesn't come into the equation.
Click to expand...
Ditch that pump and get one of these. - one of the several included rubber nozel things will snap right into the packraft valve.


Have it auto-inflate for you while you rig up your fly rod, taker your shoes off, ties your fly on, etc.

The tiny battery will easily inflate a raft 6x (and works on thermarests too)
 
BlakeHerrington said:
Ditch that pump and get one of these. - one of the several included rubber nozel things will snap right into the packraft valve.


Have it auto-inflate for you while you rig up your fly rod, taker your shoes off, ties your fly on, etc.

The tiny battery will easily inflate a raft 6x (and works on thermarests too)
Click to expand...
Those little pumps are great. I find that they, well the one I have, don’t do the complete job. They may only get you 90% there. For topping off I use a mini hand pump. A foot long, weighs ounces, and works perfectly.
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Sir Homey said:
Those little pumps are great. I find that they, well the one I have, don’t do the complete job. They may only get you 90% there. For topping off I use a mini hand pump. A foot long, weighs ounces, and works perfectly.
View attachment 183929
Click to expand...
Does anyone know if there is an adapter that will let me use my mini K-Pump on my Wilderness Lite float tube?
 
BlakeHerrington said:
I'll usually go barefoot and roll my pants up a bit, but I've done shoes on too
Click to expand...
I have a friend I fished with for many years with who didn't pack waders on a trip to a 4000' elevation lake and wound up with a rather uncomfortable case of swimmer's itch for a few days. My waders, neoprene socks and sand booties weigh 28oz and take up very little pack space. The booties and socks can double as acceptable as camp shoes. I've heard that pants or a base layer and socks can help prevent "itch" but have prefered using waders for the extra protection and wamth of dry base layer bottoms underneath.

BlakeHerrington said:
Ditch that pump and get one of these. - one of the several included rubber nozel things will snap right into the packraft valve.


Have it auto-inflate for you while you rig up your fly rod, taker your shoes off, ties your fly on, etc.

The tiny battery will easily inflate a raft 6x (and works on thermarests too)
Click to expand...
I use one of those USB pumps for my SFC but need a K-Pump to get it firm enough.
Back in the day I fashioned an UL 6' long Bernoulli bag pump out of a roll of Seal-A-Meal bag stock that would sufficiently inflate my U-Boat with the PU bladders but it had straps that came around from the back to hold the tubes apart. I sat lower in the water though because the tubes still weren't firm enough so there was more drag. The BB pump would not get my Outcast Trinity firm enough for the tubes to hold themselves apart. It would fold in on my legs and the stripping apron would collapse.

Wilderness Lite acknowledges the use of a USB pump for convenience if you want to carry a few more ounces (yes, especially for deflation!) but recommends carrying their small exercise ball pump to top off.
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@Sir Homey beat me to it about the Intex pump while I was typing

Amazon.com : Intex Double Quick Mini Hand Pump, 11 1/2 in (29cm) : Sports Inflation Devices : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Intex Double Quick Mini Hand Pump, 11 1/2 in (29cm) : Sports Inflation Devices : Sports & Outdoors
us.amazon.com
 
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Zak said:
Does anyone know if there is an adapter that will let me use my mini K-Pump on my Wilderness Lite float tube?
Click to expand...
Too heavy @ 1# and waaay too expensive when the mini exercise ball pumps work.
 
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Zak said:
But I already have the mini-K and I don't hike far.
Click to expand...
The WL comes with a pump that weighs ~4 ounces. You already have that...
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The electric pumps that will get them to ~90%, weigh 4 ounces, and will deflate the bladders that is the worst hassle for me, so why carry the extra weight?:unsure:
 
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Fishing high lakes from shore without waders is very fun. In spring post thaw the cutts are stacked near shore at spawning creeks. Late summer and fall fishing is the best though. Scree slopes forming deep water drop-offs give access to plenty of fat cruisers.

The highest elevation lake I've caught cutthroat was 12,000 feet in late August. Not in Washington of course. That was a very long hike!
 
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Zak said:
I guess I'm being silly. I have the pump that comes with the WL. I just like my kpump. I'll look into the electric mini pump.
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While you were quoting me I was adding that the $25 electric pumps will also deflate the WL tubes which is more hassle for me than manually pumping them up.
 
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One of the things I like least about the wilderness lite tube is the valves. They just suck. I've been thing about if for a long time
and I will probably do it soon is to cut a hole in the opposite storage pouch from the one with the stock valve. Cut a hole in the
cover to accommodate a Boston valve, inflate the tube and mark the position of the hole one the bladder. Cut a hole in the bladder then using the self-adhesive boston valve replacement designed for kit boarding add a second bladder valve being a boston valve. Easier to inflate and deflate and some of the light rechargeable pumps could fill it in short order.

www.flextail.com

MAX PUMP 3 - High Speed 2-in-1 Rechargeable Air Pump

FLEXTAIL MAX Pump 3 is the best camping gear for inflating mattresses and toys, a lightweight, rechargeable air pump for camping, hiking & travel. Fast inflate/deflate in seconds—compact, powerful, and adventure-ready.
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FixMyKite.com Ozone Big Boston Screw Valve Inflate/Deflate | Self Stick Valves by FixMyKite.com

The Ozone Big Boston Inflate/deflate kiteboarding Valve will replace the inflate/deflate on 2011 and newer Ozone Kite. This valve is also a compatable replacement for the Max Flow Valve from Liquid Force Kite (2011 and later) and All Switch kites.
www.fixmykite.com
 
jaredoconnor said:
Do you pack raft users let your hiking boots get wet when launching, or do you go barefoot or something?

Taking spare footwear is 2/3 of a float tube setup!
Click to expand...
Nah. Croks. Never go into the woods without them.
You could go barefoot too.

The mesh bag for an anchor is how I anchor. Highly recommend getting one.
Trolling from a pack raft is tough unless it's glass calm.
 
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