I went out fishing in my tube last weekend and did great but lost a few because it took me a little time to figure out how to get the fish off the hook without dropping my rod in the water(which I almost did more than once). Does anyone have a technique they use? Should I just get a rod holder? Thanks!

With both hands free, I prop the rod against the tube while holding it with one hand so that the rod won't fall in. Then I grab the line close with one hand and use locking retractors to hold the imbeded hook with the other to gently turn or shake the hook barb loose from the fish. I try not to touch the fish so the protective slime in unaffected. I built my rods short for float tubing since long casting is usually not necessary. I also have 2 flat storage holders made from velcro and 2 made from "U" bolts that hold the rods for trolling on my ODC 420 as well as my pontoons.

Porta

I use a net if it's a nice crappie. Never had any problem losing my pole. Except once and that was a totally different situation.
I lay it between me and the side of my tube while I take the fish off and put it in the basket.

Great! I will try that instead of winging it and hoping my rod doesn't end up on the bottom of the lake. If you decide to go to Fork, I put in at the HWY 515 East boat ramp. Hope you get the chance to get out there.

Not sure if I'm gonna get down there. Wife's car needs some attention.

I took my tube out a few weeks ago and only got two sandies.....honestly they were the biggest ones(13-14 inches!)I have caught in ages and I love my tube too !
Are there pics of rod holders on the forum ? I am going to try and fashion one from PVC tubing this weekend. I'll letcha know if I do this and how I do......

Is it someones birthday ?

There's lots of pic on the national forum of pvc rod holder contraptions, sometimes up to 8 holders called spider rigs. http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=337775;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread I don't care for this kind myself because they are bulky and stick in the water along the sides to slow you down. Some commercial products can be found that strap to the tube, are completely adjustable and stay out of the water, but you still have the bulk to deal with. Keeper fish are stored in floating wire mesh fish baskets which you drag alongside and have to be pulled out to make any kind of forward progress. You can also study some pontoons to see how to get the kind that sit flat with velcro.

P.

This was the best picture of my rod holder I could find...and that's not saying much. How's your eyesight? Works well on either toon, though, and is all one piece with the fish finder mount.

Heres the style I prefer with all the advantages of being adjustable and quick release, while not bulky: http://beereadyllc.com/index.asp
Doesn't work with fly rods though.

P.

Samsonsworld, that is one sweet rig!

Thanks! I've really enjoyed it. Since I live so far from water, I needed something I could haul with my camper. And THIS[/url] beats the heck out of a tent (which I'd be stuck with if I had a big boat). For day trips, I prefer my one man for the quick set up.

My spare rods lay flat, which I like for casting, and I used a piece of an old dog collar to snap around the middle of my rods to hold them down. I just attach it to the frame with zip ties or velcro.

IMPRESSIVE