Managing line in a float tube

Dennisoft

Dennisoft

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
How are you all managing your stripped/running line in a float tube?

I've got what I believe is called the 'LCS' stripping apron for my Super Fat Cat and can just tolerate it, but there must be better options out there. Is anybody making a linekurv style basket (hard plastic nubs) but in a lower profile for the seated position?

Any conventional or unconventional solutions, advice, or ideas you can share are welcome and appreciated!
 
Having just gone from a belly boat to a fishcat I thought the stripping apron was wonderful. However I can't cast far enough seated yet to worry about much extra line. Don't have an answer for you but I'm curious as to the responses so I'll follow along.
 
If you aren't familiar with holding loops, Google it. That's what I do and I usually keep them off to the side of the super fat cat. Then when I cast I turned the boat a little and cast somewhat over to that side that I've gathered the loops on and released them out of my hand just like those steelhead guys do.
 
Tom Butler said:
Having just gone from a belly boat to a fishcat I thought the stripping apron was wonderful. However I can't cast far enough seated yet to worry about much extra line. Don't have an answer for you but I'm curious as to the responses so I'll follow along.
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It's certainly better than nothing, but yeah, I tend to start having problems once I get head plus 15 or so feet of running line off of the reel. Coils in the line start to catch on each other and knot up, even with a good stretch.
 
Way too much work, and I'm clumsy. No apron or anything else, float or sink, all slack just hangs in the water. Stays nice and loose, rarely to never snags up, and no futzing. Not a popular option, yet incredibly easy and effective.

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The stripping apron on your Fat Cat isn't working? howso? That's going to be far easier for managing than trying to hold loops anywhere, especially if you're throwing sinking lines ever (IMO). On those rare occasions I've forgotten my stripping apron for my FishCat, I have a collapsible stripping basket that goes around my waist that just resides in my car. It's never as good as the actual apron that comes with the float tube, but works in a pinch.

With regards to coils knotting up, I'll occasionally have this happen, but after 15 min or so of fishing, things get worked out. If it's a persistent problem, then a different type of stripping basket isn't going to be the solution, you've gotta figure out what's going on with your line that's causing this.
 
Dennisoft said:
It's certainly better than nothing, but yeah, I tend to start having problems once I get head plus 15 or so feet of running line off of the reel. Coils in the line start to catch on each other and knot up, even with a good stretch.
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Coils in the line make me suspect the line first of all. I have over 15 years of experience in a Super Fat Cat and can't remember having any issues with the stripping apron. That's not to say I haven't had tangles but those usually occur as a result of an unusually hot fish being more active than I can keep up with.

Over the years the stripping apron has saved a lot of things from going overboard never to be seen again.
 
Tim Lockhart said:
Way too much work, and I'm clumsy. No apron or anything else, float or sink, all slack just hangs in the water. Stays nice and loose, rarely to never snags up, and no futzing. Not a popular option, yet incredibly easy and effective.

View attachment 8118
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Are you still able to shoot some line with this method? I imagine you would be fighting quite a bit of drag with any amount of sinking line hanging down in the water.
 
clarkman said:
The stripping apron on your Fat Cat isn't working? howso? That's going to be far easier for managing than trying to hold loops anywhere, especially if you're throwing sinking lines ever (IMO). On those rare occasions I've forgotten my stripping apron for my FishCat, I have a collapsible stripping basket that goes around my waist that just resides in my car. It's never as good as the actual apron that comes with the float tube, but works in a pinch.

With regards to coils knotting up, I'll occasionally have this happen, but after 15 min or so of fishing, things get worked out. If it's a persistent problem, then a different type of stripping basket isn't going to be the solution, you've gotta figure out what's going on with your line that's causing this.
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The apron I have works well enough for shorter casts. Problems with coiling occur when I have more line off of the reel. It probably doesn't help that I've recently been out in lower air temps, around 40f.
 
Dennisoft said:
The apron I have works well enough for shorter casts. Problems with coiling occur when I have more line off of the reel. It probably doesn't help that I've recently been out in lower air temps, around 40f.
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Are you using 10' rods in your Super Fat Cat?
 
Dennisoft said:
Are you still able to shoot some line with this method? I imagine you would be fighting quite a bit of drag with any amount of sinking line hanging down in the water.
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Try it. You'd be surprised how much easier casting and managing line are. The only thing I might catch is my foot and that's maybe once every other outing or so.
 
Dennisoft said:
It probably doesn't help that I've recently been out in lower air temps, around 40f.
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no, it probably doesn't. That's always a "fun" time with regards to line management.
 
Tim Lockhart said:
Try it. You'd be surprised how much easier casting and managing line are. The only thing I might catch is my foot and that's maybe once every other outing or so.
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I'll give it a shot the next time I'm out on the water. When you strip line, are you tossing it over the side of the boat or dropping it between your feet?
 
I use the stripping basket that came with my Outcast Prowler. I cut a few inches off the legs of the basket so it sits right in my lap instead of a couple inches higher.
It works well for me.
 
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Sinking lines which sink around your tube are a significant safety hazard. It is highly undesirable to have line in your fins or around your legs. This means you have to get a leg out of the water so that you can clear it. This entails either kicking to shore or lifting your leg out of the water ( risking slipping into the water) Use your stripping apron.
 
I've used the new LCS stripping apron on both a Fish Cat 4 float tube and on a Fish Cat Scout pontoon. I was initially annoyed with how weak the front of the apron was. However, I came across a couple of threads on the old site that included a number of suggestions for stiffening the front of the apron. I chose a piece of round grey water pipe insulation held on with a couple of zip ties for my Scout. That made all the difference for me. I've put another piece of the same insulation on the Fish Cat 4 stripping apron.

I've being using the Scout almost exclusively for the last 3 years and don't have an issue with height I think because I sit quite a bit higher than in the Fish Cat 4. When I do get back to the Fish Cat, I think I will try Wanative's idea of shortening the legs of the apron to get it a bit lower.

Ken

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8b Stripping Basket Alum Stiffen Kilchis WFF.JPG
8c Stripping Basket Reinforce Ficklin WFF.JPG
 
No safety issues in over 15 yrs, at times 100/yr, line in water (14 of those years in a roundie). Leg/foot contact, other objects not once a safety hazard or incident. Also never once heard of it from another angler. If there have been incidents/conflicting experiences I'd be very interested to hear of them in detail.
 
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