I was asking today in the fly shop their view of float tubes. They commented first on the sharks but all the fishing areas they mentioned were out where you wouldn't find yourself floating in a float tube. So I still don't think sharks would be an issue here. Their second comment was the boat traffic made it not a good choice. If sharks were an issue where you're setting yourself up to become a "shark donut" as someone on this list one put it. They said they witnessed a boat jump a kayak last year in the harbor. In their view the kayak was in the wrong because a boat can't stop that quickly and he didn't belong in the boating lane. That is the problem I run across here all the time. You shouldn't be operating your boat so fast in the harbor that you can't stop for a kayak. I told them if a boat was going the correct speed not to produce a wake in the harbor I would have no problem staying out of his path. It could've just as easily been someone in a dingy trying to get to their mooring. Many of the large boat owners even use kayaks now as transportation to their mooring. They just drive their boats too fast here and ignore common courtesy to smaller craft. Even if you have the right of way you have to use extreme caution. So a float tube would be out of the question here for me. Deb
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sofla Flyfisher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 10:12 PM Subject: RE: [VFB] Saltwater Flies I'm a kayaker as well. In fact I'm getting ready to hit the Keys for a weekend of kayaking & flyfishing! Yay! Same thoughts as Deb, bright colored kayak. Also, bright colored paddles. Kayaks sit so low that sometimes they can't be seen regardless of their color. Those paddles can stick up in the air though. I have bright orange aquabound seaquels and my wife has bright yellow aquabound seacludes. They really do make a difference in visibility. I also have a "sunset fade" (red/orange/yellow but really tie-dyed orange) ocean kayak drifter. My wife has a red perception swing. I don't see a lot of float tubes down here in South Florida. Jet skiers, powerboats, sharks, barracuda, gators & crocs seem to work against them. Ken
