Since the issue is the walk up and down, which really is a geographic given, unless one could levitate in there by helicopter, for example, the only other solution is to diminish the weight of one's equipment. After all, a good float tube may weigh up to 10 pounds, waders three or so, fins one or two, so that by the time one includes liquids and lunch we may have a total of about 20 pounds. So it occurred to me, maybe there IS a way to in fact lighten the weight of the gear. The other problem running parallel to this thought was a recent experience I had at Crane Prairie. Taking a tip from an old Crane Prairie regular, a friend and I visited it one morning during the season of the damselfly hatch. We were staying at Sunriver resort with our wives and children, and for packing space I had deflated two float tubes for Erik and myself, should they become necessary. Otherwise we would wade and cast the shoreline. As luck would have it, one hour before we had to be back for babysitting duty, big fish started to show and roll just out of casting range. So we returned to the car to inflate the tubes. Well, the reality is that with one of the usual low volume, high pressure inflators, it takes about 20 minutes to really fill up a tube. Since I was the host, Erik got on the water in 20 minutes, and me 40 minutes after the decision, 40 minutes during which those big fish rolled and slurped just out of our reach. On the 41st minute the wind came up and put the whole rise down, and 20 minutes later we had to deflate the tubes again leave for the sake of marital peace. The issue is, as wonderful a device as a float tube is, without a large volume air source they are hardly an "instant" boat. I began processing a list of potential sources of air. I quickly mentally discarded the liquid CO2 canisters that cost $150. Too expensive! Plus, it occurred to me, CO2 is heavier than A tube filled with it would actually weight more. Then the weight problem thoughts suddenly merged with the air source thoughts and I had a stroke of true genius..........HELIUM! Now think about it. I rhapsodized and wallowed in mental images of all those helium balloons my four year old cries and throws tantrums for in a grocery store, each tugging and straining to rise against the tether string. A float tube FILLED WITH HELIUM! Certainly the volume of gas in an inflated tube is considerable. With a really light tube, the thing might actually float, rise, need tethering. I envisioned myself walking over the ridge into Bobby Lake, my tube supporting my waders, fins, etc., five feet above my head, led by a short rope. BY JOVE, I'VE GOT IT! WATSON, COME HERE, I NEED YOU! But where does one get a source of helium? Those large, commercial cylinders hardly qualified as "portable". I shelved the idea for awhile.
									More Text =>
			<= Back
		Table of Contents				Fishtales Start		Order/Contact