Well I have 2 boats, but today I started thinking about getting a tube as a secondary means of getting on the water. I only crappie fish, and some times I only go to fish bridges, so was wondering if anybody on here uses tubes for bridge fishing? I won't be casting, but I'll be fishing a while, and will move from one column to the next as far as I can stand to paddle. Just makes sense sometimes to not have to hook up to boat and drive and launch when all I will fish is about 100-200 yards in a straight line from the bank. Plus, if I had a pump, I could go at times I may not could get a kitchen pass, maybe...

Questions - is there a certain kind I need to look for? Is keeping it deflated and in the truck at all times a possibility, or is it best to just inflate it and load it when you need it? Is it difficult to fish bridge columns with? I would think with constant paddle control it'd be pretty easy to fish right on the concrete. I used to fish on some styrofoam 1-man boats that we'd paddle (i think my dad carved these dang things out of block styrofoam), but never used a legitimate tube, and they look pretty nice these days. How are they in the wind, since it seems to blow all the time? I would love to keep my tube cost under $200, so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I probably wouldn't carry more than 1 rod, and limited tackle (just some jigs). Is there a certain kind of fin that's better than others?

Look forward to hearing what you guys say.